Clean Vegetables & Fruits In 6 Steps – H&S Homes & Gardens

How To Clean Your Vegetables & Fruits

So in case, you have been wondering ‘have I been cleaning my veggies and fruits correctly before consumption’ whether you have OCD or whether you are one of those who don’t care now is the time where almost everyone has this question on their minds. With the current situation, almost everyone is desperate to know the right way of cleaning fruits and vegetables! Yes, COVID-19 has made everyone aware of our daily hygiene practices and has made us question whether we are doing it correctly or not. This is not bad at all, because it is important to understand that there is a lot of dirt and microbes such as E. Coli, that can make you sick, some also have wax, pesticides and other chemicals on their surfaces that are not supposed to be consumed, and it is, therefore, important to master the fruit & veggie washing technique regardless of COVID-19 & implement & practice this daily. It is also important to keep in mind, that most fruits and vegetables are cooked such as potatoes, onions etc with the outer layers removed but it is still good to take precaution when dealing with tubers especially because they are full of dirt. One also needs to remember that even if it says ready to use on your veggies, it is still advisable to give them a good rinse as you don’t know how the handler has cleaned it and you have no control of where those hands may have been 🤔

Step 1  Begin With Washing Your Hands

Before handling anything it’s best you make sure your hands are washed with soap & water and you have all the things you need a colander, baking soda, vegetable brush and some cool running water.

Step 2 Sort Those Fruits & Veggies

It’s best once your hands are clean to separate your fruits and vegetables as this makes it so much easier to clean & sort accordingly such as berries, carrots, leafy veggies etc.

Step 3 Inspect

Inspect your fruits & veggies thoroughly before beginning with the cleaning. Get rid of rotten ones or any holes, spots, damaged bits. For the layered leafy veggies remove the outer layer before cleaning.

Step 4 Soak Leafy Veggies In Water, Changing Until Water Is Clean, Before The Baking Soda Bath, The Rinse Again

Clean leafy vegetables, like spinach, in a bowl filled up with water and soak them in for a few minutes to loosen up all the grit, you can change the water a few times until the water is clear with no visible grit. For the last step, you can soak them for a few minutes in baking soda bath and then rinse and leave in a colander to drain.

Step 5 Use A Colander For Delicate Fruits & Veggies To Rinse Then Dip & Remove From Baking Soda Bath, Rinse Again And Allow Water To Drain

For delicate fruits such as raspberries etc use a colander to delicately rinse them using your hands gently and avoid smashing them. For the final step, you can dip the colander in the baking soda bath and remove it quickly then rinse again with water and set aside in the colander to drain and dry.

Step 6 For Hard Fruits & Veggies, Wash Under Running Water (30 seconds), Soak In Baking Soda Bath (5 minutes), Rinse & Pat Dry

For the rest of your hard fruits & veggies such as carrots, potatoes, apples etc wash them under running water thoroughly for at least 30 seconds. If you have a vegetable brush you can use this for thorough cleaning and removal of dirt, wax etc otherwise you can also use your hands. Instead of buying an expensive vegetable wash, you can make one at home that is so much cheaper and safer to use. All you need is 4 tbsp of baking soda to a sink full of cold water. You can use this after thoroughly washing your produce. Soak them in for a few minutes (5 mins) then rinse and pat them dry and store in clean baskets or containers.

Points to Remember:

1. Avoid using hot water when cleaning your produce as it can cause the pathogens to enter in. Running cold water for 30 seconds is all that is needed.
2. Avoid washing with soaps or detergents or other chemicals as most fruits & veggies are porous and these harmful substances can seep into your produce.
3. Use a baking soda bath which is the safest option for sanitizing them rather than other expensive vegetable washing liquids. All you need is about 4tbsp to a sink of cold water!
4. For tough veggies and fruits such as apples, carrots, potatoes use a vegetable brush as it helps getting rid off the grit wax or any other chemical that might be on the hard surfaces.
5. Use Colander and your hands very gently to wash delicate fruits to avoid smashing them.
6. Remember to only wash your fruits & veggies, when you are about to consume them, as washing in advance causes moisture retention and that will attract bacteria, but if you do wash them in advance then pat dry, chop in desired pieces and store in the fridge but make sure to consume in a couple of days. For tomatoes, you can also store in the freezer, so they last longer.
7. Always pat dry your veggies before use unless delicate leave them to sit in the colander until all water is drained and they are somewhat dry.
8. For cabbages, lettuces and other similar veggies get rid of the outermost layer & then follow the cleaning steps.
9. If there are any holes or bad spots or any damaged bits, remove them before cleaning.
10. Always wash your hands with soap before and after dealing with your produce.
11. For proper cleaning don’t crowd you can do it in batches instead.

 

How have do you clean your fruits & vegetables? Have you been doing it correctly or do you have an alternative method? Share with us your thoughts in the comments section below!