How to Wash Produce Properly

Are you doing a thorough job of washing your produce before eating or cooking it? Washing produce thoroughly is not only important for removing surface pesticides but it also reduces the risk of developing a serious bacterial infection such as E. Coli which has been linked to consumption of fresh produce in some cases. Contrary to popular belief, even organically grown produce needs to be washed to remove bacteria, soil debris, and pesticide run off. By knowing how to clean produce properly, you can reduce your risk of food borne illness as well as limit potential exposure to pesticides.

First of all, produce should be washed by holding it under moving tap water and rubbing it vigorously with your hands. Although many people try to clean produce by allowing it to soak in a vat of water, this isn't effective for removing dirt and bacteria and won't give you the clean produce you'll want to serve to your family. Never add any type of detergent, cleaning product, or dish washing detergent to the water you're using to wash your produce. Why? You run the serious risk of the detergent being absorbed into the fruit or vegetable itself. Should you use a special vegetable wash to wash produce before eating it? Contrary to popular belief these products provide very little additional benefit. If you want to use something other than water, try washing your vegetables and fruits in a dilute solution of white vinegar and water.

Here are some special guidelines to follow when washing various types of produce:

Leafy vegetables

Leafy vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage should have the outer layers of leaves removed before washing in water. This will remove the leaves with the potential for carrying the greatest dirt and debris. A recent study showed that the best way to remove bacteria from leafy vegetables is to rinse each leaf piece by piece. Although this won't reduce the risk of food borne illness by 100%, it can make a significant difference.

Produce with outer rinds

This includes vegetables such as cucumber, potatoes, and squash as well as the melon fruits such as honeydew. Because the outer rinds on these fruits and vegetables have grooves, it's impossible to reach all the debris and bacteria through hand rubbing alone. It's best to use a brush to thoroughly scrub the crevices before cutting the melon. Remember when you cut the fruit or vegetable, you transfer some of the outside debris and bacteria into the inside meaty portion of the produce.

Produce with wax coverings

Dirt, bacteria, and debris can stick to the sticky wax surface on a fruit or vegetable that has a wax coating. For this reason, the produce should be thoroughly scrubbed with a brush to remove any out layer of dirt or organisms.

By learning how to wash produce correctly, you can significantly reduce your risk of a serious food borne illness and decrease your exposure to potentially cancer causing pesticides. Plus, you can be proud to serve clean, healthy vegetables to your hungry family