How to wash fruits and vegetables

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How to wash fruits and vegetables
Topic Started: Jun 16 2015, 02:39 PM (522 Views)
Darcie	Jun 16 2015, 02:39 PM Post #1
Skeptic Posts: 31,154 Group: Member Member #714 Joined: March 30, 2010	Quote: Lots of people touch, sniff and sneeze on produce — from the farm to the grocery store. So even if you're enjoying organic and local farmers market fruit and veggies, you're bound to encounter dirt and germs (and some pesticide residues) from all the caring hands it passes through. But don't buy fancy produce washes. Make your own! It's cheaper and avoids plastic containers. Tip: Wash produce before eating, NOT before storing (which will make it rot faster). Tip: Firm-skinned produce, such as melons and citrus fruits, needs warm water, a scrub and rinse. Soft-skinned produce, such as strawberries or grapes, needs a soak for a few minutes. http://www.davidsuzuki.org/blogs/queen-of-green/2015/06/how-to-wash-fruits-and-vegetables/ Good information



Trotsky	Jun 17 2015, 01:24 AM Post #2
Big City Boy Posts: 38,319 Group: Member Member #79 Joined: September 8, 2005	I doubt whether a soak for grapes or strawberries will be of much effect. And scrubbing a watermelon whose rind is going to be tossed seems a waste of time. As for soaping up produce before eating, that strikes me as a bit repulsive. The only thing I rinse is open leafed greens like spinach, endive, non-head lettuces and that is to remove sand. I peel apples but mostly for eating ease, but for oranges I eat them skin and all and toss only seeds and the little end stem...so maybe I'll take to scrubbing them but with plain water. I admit, I do have the image of Pablo, the day worker, taking a crap in the field right between the strawberry rows. But I say Que Sera, Sera. I have had several bouts of food poisoning and I will likely have several more. It comes with eating non-cooked foods. Edited by Trotsky, Jun 17 2015, 01:29 AM.



erka	Jun 17 2015, 04:08 AM Post #3
Gold Star Member Posts: 5,330 Group: Member Member #233 Joined: February 8, 2006	As soon as berries come into the house, they get a vinegar rinse. The berries do not get mould with this treatment. I always scrub cantalope with dishwashing detergent - there are lots of hiding place in their wrinkled skin.



imjene	Jun 17 2015, 04:10 AM Post #4
Gold Star Member Posts: 3,960 Group: Member Member #745 Joined: April 4, 2010	Except for bananas, I almost always wash the outside of fruit, even those that need to be peeled before eating. This way, I figure that whatever pesticide or spray, or germs, or whatever, that was on the skin, does not then get transferred from my hands to the fruit. I keep a non scented hand wash on my counter, and use that. With grapes, brocolli, lettuce, etc., I give them a good spray with the spray from the tap. -- But I will take time to read your link, Darcie.



Dana	Jun 17 2015, 04:17 AM Post #5
WWS Hummingbird Guru & Wildlife photographer extrordinaire Posts: 13,054 Group: Member Member #830 Joined: March 23, 2011	Quote: And scrubbing a watermelon whose rind is going to be tossed seems a waste of time. One friend had a terrible (burned skin on her face) reaction after eating unwashed watermelon. Her doc figured it was something on the rind. Her skin reacts to many things. They make all kinds of veggie washes. I never use them and rarely use soap on produce but I do dry them off and rub the skin thinking that will help remove any residues. Looks like I am half right. And vinegar seems to do the job, as well. http://food-hacks.wonderhowto.com/how-to/you-re-really-supposed-wash-fruits-vegetables-for-safe-eating-0154666/ Quote: A study at the University of Florida showed that rinsing produce with a 10% vinegar solution reduced viruses by almost 95% and bacteria by 90%. You can skip soap, though: the same study in tip # 3 also showed that rubbing produce is just as effective as washing it with soap and water when it comes to removing bacteria and germs.



Trotsky	Jun 17 2015, 05:57 AM Post #6
Big City Boy Posts: 38,319 Group: Member Member #79 Joined: September 8, 2005	Quote: One friend had a terrible (burned skin on her face) reaction after eating unwashed watermelon. Her doc figured it was something on the rind. Her skin reacts to many things. How does one get facial contact with watermelon rind?



Olive Oil	Jun 17 2015, 05:59 AM Post #7
Gold Star Member Posts: 4,747 Group: Member Member #785 Joined: June 10, 2010	After all the hype about germs, the current wisdom is that we should cultivate a more diverse family of bugs in our gut. I rinse vegetable and fruit and dry with paper towel. I read somewhere that the drying removes traces of wax, spray, etc that are left behind. Trotsky, I have never heard of eating the rinds of oranges, outside of a bit of zest. I'll have to try it.



Durgan	Jun 17 2015, 06:03 AM Post #8
Veteran Member Posts: 13,273 Group: Gardening Guru Member #720 Joined: March 31, 2010	I knew a Prof who went on sabbatical to China many years ago for one year. He was a microbiologists and told me he could not eat the fresh produce due to contamination. I mentioned what's the big deal, just wash the bugs off. He told me he had no concern with bugs but the microscopic stuff which was not visible with the naked eye. Commercial endeavors consist of washing all and sundry in a javex, chlorine, solution. You know those pretty value added salads just inside the entrance in all Supermarkets. Most berries are impossible to wash, just look at all the small crevasses on strawberries and similar fruit. So close your eyes and stifle your imagination, and enjoy.



campy	Jun 17 2015, 06:23 AM Post #9
Handyman Extraordinaire Posts: 28,720 Group: no politics Member #204 Joined: February 2, 2006	Trotsky Jun 17 2015, 05:57 AM Quote: One friend had a terrible (burned skin on her face) reaction after eating unwashed watermelon. Her doc figured it was something on the rind. Her skin reacts to many things. How does one get facial contact with watermelon rind? Well if you handled the watermelon and cut it up it would get on your hands ans ome would get on the fruit. And we are constantly touching our face.



Dana	Jun 17 2015, 07:11 AM Post #10
WWS Hummingbird Guru & Wildlife photographer extrordinaire Posts: 13,054 Group: Member Member #830 Joined: March 23, 2011	Trotsky Jun 17 2015, 05:57 AM Quote: One friend had a terrible (burned skin on her face) reaction after eating unwashed watermelon. Her doc figured it was something on the rind. Her skin reacts to many things. How does one get facial contact with watermelon rind? With gusto? Relish? I wasn't there to witness the event, only the after effects. The woman has hyper-sensitive skin and is prone to reacting to things. Seeing her yesterday, I asked what the welts were about. She is not sure. Some creme or ???



Darcie	Jun 17 2015, 08:31 AM Post #11
Skeptic Posts: 31,154 Group: Member Member #714 Joined: March 30, 2010	Speaking of the woman with sensitive skin, I used to have that also but since I no longer eat gluten all that has disappeared. Did read somewhere on the net that these skin problems can be due to gluten. I am surprised about this guess this is what was causing min e.



imjene	Jun 17 2015, 09:10 AM Post #12
Gold Star Member Posts: 3,960 Group: Member Member #745 Joined: April 4, 2010	I can't imagine soaking strawberries, as was suggested in the link. That would make them soggy, as they absorb water. Mine just get a quick rinse just before stemming.



blizzard	Jun 17 2015, 12:34 PM Post #13
Gold Star Member Posts: 4,152 Group: Member Member #1,012 Joined: July 8, 2013	I too knew a microbiologist who spent some time in China. He worried about all sorts of things. How He and his family managed more than a week was beyond me.



Trotsky	Jun 18 2015, 12:03 AM Post #14
Big City Boy Posts: 38,319 Group: Member Member #79 Joined: September 8, 2005	campy Jun 17 2015, 06:23 AM Trotsky Jun 17 2015, 05:57 AM Quoting limited to 2 levels deep Well if you handled the watermelon and cut it up it would get on your hands ans ome would get on the fruit. And we are constantly touching our face. Well, If instead you SCRUBBED it wouldn't you get even more of the bacteria on your hands, face, sink, and fruit? Perhaps washing ones HANDS before eating INSTEAD of the fruit might be a better way. (Brings to mind the process of a guy washing his hands after peeing. Since our penises are safely inside our pants after a recent shower but our hands are everywhere, doesn't it make more sense to wash a PENIS after touching it? Or better, washing hands BEFORE peeing. Perhaps it is a holdover from the days of monthly showers? laugh123 <Only for guys because women have weirder plumbing.>) Edited by Trotsky, Jun 18 2015, 12:10 AM.



campy	Jun 18 2015, 06:42 AM Post #15
Handyman Extraordinaire Posts: 28,720 Group: no politics Member #204 Joined: February 2, 2006	Washing your hands after washing or cutting up of anything is what I do. I never have had a bout of food poisoning.



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