With so many people wanting to go as green as possible in their everyday lives, they are turning to innovative technologies for their commercial refrigerators, commercial kitchen equipment, and beverage air equipment. Is there also an innovative way to clean vegetables and fruits properly?
There are a few things that consumers should know when it comes to clean their vegetables and fruits properly. So, let’s take a few minutes to go over some of the do’s and don’ts of cleaning our goodies.
The Do’s and Don’t of Washing Vegetables and Fruits
Vegetables and fruits are all delicate, and we only want to put the best of the pest in our bodies. This starts with the shopping and storing of our fruits and veggies. Before we talk about how to wash them properly, let’s look at some shopping and storing tips.
Do:
- Look for and purchase produce that is free from any signs of damage including bruises and mold.
- Before and after washing and handling your produce, make sure to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water.
- Always wash produce before preparing it.
- Smaller fruits and vegetables should be rinsed under cool and running tap water. Rub them gently while you’re rinsing them.
- Firmer produce should be scrubbed with the use of a vegetable brush.
- Soak produce with uneven/bumpy surfaces in cold water for a few minutes to make sure you’ve removed the contaminants.
- Dry all washed produce using a clean cloth or paper towel.
Don’t:
- Use soap or detergents.
- Feel the need to use specialty products designed for washing produce. Cool, clean running tap water will do just fine.
- Assume organic vegetables and fruits are okay to consume without washing
3 Easy Ways to Clean Vegetables and Fruits
Washing vegetables and fruits doesn’t have to be overly complicated. That being said, take your pick of these three easy ways to clean your produce so you can consume them safely.
1. Rinsing Produce
Simply rinsing produce with cool tap water is an efficient way to rid it of contaminants before consuming it. Remember to wash your hands before and after handling all produce to lessen the change of any cross contamination.
2. Soaking Produce
Soaking larger pieces of produce for two to five minutes helps to lift contaminants from the surface. After soaking, a quick rinse should do the job of removing any leftover contaminants.
3. Using Other Solutions
There are a variety of other solutions that can be used to help clean your produce, but as mentioned before, they aren’t necessary to do the job.
Some choose to wash their produce with distilled water. Others use other solutions like salt-water or water-and-vinegar to clean their produce and rid them of any contaminants.
Clean Vegetables and Fruits Make for Great Snacks
Cleaning vegetables and fruits before preparing and consuming them is not only a good way to rid the produce of contaminants, it is also a great way to practice proper food hygiene.
Clean produce will treat your body better and will, in turn, make you feel better.
