Are you washing your produce? If not, you might want to consider doing so. According to the FDA, nearly 48 million people end up sick from contaminated food each year. We’re all well aware we should be careful when handling raw meat, but equal care should be given when handling produce.
Your fruits and veggies pass through countless hands from the time they are picked until they end up on your plate. Washing produce before eating removes or reduces debris, soil, bacteria and pesticides.
Produce washes like the one pictured here look like a simple solution, right? The FDA actually advises against using them because they haven’t evaluated the safety of the residue that is left behind.
Bummer, so now what do we do? Follow the tips below:
? Wash your hands with soap and water before food prep.
? Rinse produce before you peel it, so dirt and bacteria aren’t transferred from the knife to the fruit or vegetable.
? Gently rub produce under running water.
? Be careful with porous produce like berries and mushrooms.
? Remove the outermost leaves of cabbage or lettuce.
? Use a clean vegetable brush like this one to scrub firm produce, such as cucumbers and potatoes.
? Make a DIY solution: Use a dedicated spray bottle or soak produce in 1 cup vinegar mixed with 4 cups water and a tablespoon of lemon.
? Dry with a clean cloth or paper towel to further reduce bacteria.