topic Re: Washing veges in Community Chat

Washing veges

michiganredneck — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 20:16:06 GMT

As I was washing fresh broccoli and cauliflower I'm wondering how others do it? I buy frozen often but my supermarket had some veges on sale. I usually put mine in a big bowl with water and a little hydrogen peroxide then rinse well,I know there are vege and fruit sprays but I don't like them. Any ideas?

Re: Washing veges

brandiwine — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 20:23:36 GMT

In my working life I was a food safety specialist. Hydrogen peroxide would never be my first choice when washing fresh fruits and veggies. Most of the commercial ones contain a natural citric acid (grapefruit oil or another citrus oil) They are highly effective at removing debris and wax on fresh items. You can also mix a little baking soda and water to soak them in. Always rinse well after cleaning.

Re: Washing veges

michiganredneck — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 20:27:15 GMT

Wowsa, great suggestions, thanks, I'm doing that from now on!

Re: Washing veges

millieshops — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 20:27:48 GMT

I have never used anything but plain water. I use fresh veggies every day, often twice a day.

Re: Washing veges

SilleeMee — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 21:20:02 GMT

I just wash mine with water.

I also buy frozen fruit and veggies. Just so you know, just because those are frozen that doesn't necessarily mean they are clean so I always run water over the frozen fruit before eating it. I cook the frozen veggies so I'm not concerned about those other than biting into some sand or, on occasion, a tiny little pebble which nearly broke a tooth.

Re: Washing veges

SeaMaiden — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 21:23:29 GMT

I never wash any vegetable....and I am just fine

Re: Washing veges

suzyQ3 — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 21:25:20 GMT

Water. I personally wouldn't use any kind of cleaning product.

Re: Washing veges

SusieQ_2 — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 22:10:57 GMT

I guess I tend to be on the lazy side because I buy almost all veggies other than celery in prewashed, ready to use bags.

I'll probably be opening myself up to criticism, but for fresh fruit I usually get some of the liquid hand soap next to my sink on my hands, pick up each piece of fruit so it gets a little soap on it, and then wash each one and rinse well. I've been doing it for for years with no adverse effects so I figure why change what's working.

Until now I've just used water on berries but after seeing these pictures where the berries look so much better in the after

I might consider picking this up ~

The ingredients are ~

I think it could work well for grapes, berries, and strawberries. Oh, and they say it's great for cleaning makeup brushes too. You know what they say...two birds, one cleanser.

Re: Washing veges

PreKteacher — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 22:57:06 GMT

I plunge them into a pot full of salted water and let soak, then rinse.

Re: Washing veges

CherryHugs — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 12:06:01 GMT

Here is what I do, copied this to send:

Vinegar is a great disinfectant and can be used safely to kill bacteria. Its cheap, easily available and does not contain any harmful chemicals. Use 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. Soak your fresh produce (vegetables, fruits, green leafy greens) for 10 minutes and then wash it with cold water.

Re: Washing veges

CherryHugs — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 12:08:14 GMT

Washing will help remove bacteria, including E. coli, from the surface of fruit and vegetables. Most of the bacteria will be in the soil attached to the produce. Washing to remove any soil is, therefore, particularly important.

Re: Washing veges

tototwo — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 12:59:52 GMT

Just soap and water, or water and scrubbrush, depending on which fruit/vegetable.

Re: Washing veges

deb5555 — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 13:36:04 GMT

I keep a spray bottle in the kitchen, filled with 50/50 water and vinegar, shake and spray, lasts a long time. I always wait a few minutes after spraying on veges and rinse well.

Re: Washing veges

SilleeMee — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 14:41:32 GMT

Usually it's the leafy greens which have the most problems with contamination. That's mainly because of the pores on the leaves (stomata) shield the bacteria from getting washed away. Bacteria, for instance E.coli, go inside those pores. Even using bleach has proven to be ineffective at decontaminating some leafy veggies. It's an ongoing public health problem.

Any type of fruit or veggie which sits on the ground before harvesting is the most vulnerable for contamination, especially the ones with rough skins, for example cantaloupe, which should be vigorously scrubbed before cutting into because the bacteria is found in the nooks and crannies of the rough surface.

Re: Washing veges

shy bobcat — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 22:49:47 GMT

@SusieQ_2

No criticism from me. I also wash my fresh fruit with soap but, I use the dish soap.

For my fresh veggies, I rinse with plain water.

Re: Washing veges

rockygems123 — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 23:04:48 GMT

@SusieQ_2

I've done the same have used dish soap in my case Dawn for many years to clean fruit and veg.

I have figured if little ducks can handle it so can we lol.

Re: Washing veges

goldensrbest — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 23:21:01 GMT

@rockygems123 wrote:
@SusieQ_2

I've done the same have used dish soap in my case Dawn for many years to clean fruit and veg.

I have figured if little ducks can handle it so can we lol.

Dawn is great for so much cleaning.

Re: Washing veges

croemer — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 23:50:33 GMT

@tototwo wrote:
Just soap and water, or water and scrubbrush, depending on which fruit/vegetable.

Thats what I do and then rinse, rinse, rinse.

Re: Washing veges

Mominohio — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 05:01:47 GMT

Soft things like berries and grapes, just a soak in cold water and lots of rinsing.

Things with a hard smooth skin, like cucumbers and apples, and watermelons, and even tomatoes washed thoroughly with soap and rinsed well then dried.

Things with a hard but textured skin, like cantaloupe, citrus, scrubbed with a brush and soap and rinsed well.

I always peel carrots.

Re: Washing veges

Oznell — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 13:34:47 GMT

@CherryHugs, I love vinegar for so many things-- that vinegar solution sounds like a naturally good idea.