Quck answer
Washing produce is important for food safety. Here are some key points to know:
1. Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating or cooking to remove dirt, bacteria, and pesticide residues.
2. Use clean running water and rub the produce gently with your hands or a brush.
3. Avoid using soap, detergent, or bleach as they can leave residues on the produce.
4. Dry the washed produce with a clean paper towel or let it air dry.
5. Even if you plan to peel or cook the produce, washing is still recommended to prevent contamination from the outer surface.
6. Store washed produce in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and reduce spoilage.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, it’s crucial to take measures to prevent contamination. This includes washing your hands regularly, wearing face masks, social distancing, disinfecting your home frequently, and cleaning and disinfecting anything you bring inside, including fresh produce.
Since fresh produce is something you consume, you may wonder how you can safely clean and disinfect it. We consulted with healthcare professionals and doctors to answer this question.
Prior to handling your produce, Dr. Shan Soe-Lin, who holds a PhD in Experimental Medicine and a B.Sc in Microbiology and Immunology, both from McGill University, and a Master in Public Health degree from the Harvard School of Public Health, suggests wiping down plastic containers with wipes, removing loose produce from bags (and throwing the bags away immediately), and washing all produce before storing them in your fridge. Once you bring fresh produce into your home, you should eliminate any potential contamination risks. Additionally, be sure to wash your hands before and after handling produce.
Credit: Sanford Creative
According to microbiologist Jason Tetro, author of The Germ Code, you don’t have to disinfect your produce. Instead, you must remove any possible microbial risks. Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting are distinct processes. Cleaning involves removing substances like dirt and dust using soap, water, and friction. Sanitizing and disinfecting, on the other hand, involve germs’ destruction—disinfecting kills more germs. For disinfecting to be efficient, cleaning must come first.
Since disinfecting produce with harmful chemicals that you cannot ingest may be unsafe, Tetro suggests cleaning your produce thoroughly under running water with friction. He states, “Don’t be afraid to get rough with it.” This aligns with CDC’s guidelines for fruit and vegetable safety, which include the following suggestions:
- Discard any bruised or damaged areas before preparing or eating.
- Wash or scrub fruits and vegetables under running water, even if you don’t eat the peel.
- Dry fruits and vegetables with a clean paper towel.
- Store fruits and vegetables separately from raw animal foods, such as meat, poultry, and seafood.
- Refrigerate fruits and vegetables within 2 hours after you cut, peel, or cook them (or 1 hour if the outside temperature is 90В°F or higher). Chill them at 40В°F or colder in a clean container.
Tetro advises against using bleach on food and soaking produce, which may lead to cross-contamination.
While vinegar has not been proven to be effective against the coronavirus, it has been shown to remove certain types of bacteria. To clean her produce, Dr. Soe-Lin uses a mixture of one part vinegar and three parts water for five minutes before rinsing it off with running water. The US Food and Drug Administration recommends peeling the outermost leaves from heads of cabbage and lettuce and washing produce with running water, without the need for soap or produce wash. For produce with smooth surfaces, like apples and bananas, cleaning with cool or lukewarm water and mild dish soap is recommended. Cooking produce is also an effective form of disinfection. After washing, it is important to store produce away from areas that could cause recontamination. The EPA provides a list of products that can be used against the coronavirus. It is essential to clean produce with running water as soon as it enters the home, though using vinegar or mild dish soap is not necessary.
FAQ
1. Why is it important to wash produce?
It is important to wash produce to remove dirt, bacteria, pesticides, and other contaminants that may be present on the surface of fruits and vegetables. Washing produce can help reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses and ensure that the food we consume is safe and healthy.
2. Should I wash all types of produce?
Yes, it is recommended to wash all types of produce, including fruits and vegetables with edible skins or peels. Even if you plan to peel the produce before eating, washing it beforehand can prevent any bacteria or contaminants from transferring to the flesh of the fruit or vegetable.
3. How should I wash produce?
To wash produce, start by rinsing it under cool running water. Use a clean brush or your hands to gently rub the surface of the produce, especially for fruits and vegetables with rough textures. Avoid using soap or detergent as they can leave residues. After washing, pat dry or let the produce air dry before storing or consuming.
4. Do I need to wash pre-washed or pre-packaged produce?
Even if the label says that the produce is pre-washed, it is still recommended to give it an additional rinse before consuming. Washing pre-washed or pre-packaged produce can help remove any lingering bacteria or contaminants that may have accumulated during handling or packaging.
5. Can I use vinegar or produce wash to clean my produce?
Vinegar and produce washes are not necessary to effectively clean produce. Simple rinsing with water is sufficient to remove most dirt and bacteria. However, if you prefer to use vinegar, mix 1 part vinegar with 3 parts water and soak the produce for a few minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
6. Should I wash produce right before consuming or storing?
It is best to wash produce right before consuming to minimize the risk of bacterial growth. However, if you prefer to wash produce in advance, make sure to dry it thoroughly before storing to prevent moisture buildup, which can promote the growth of bacteria.
7. Can washing produce eliminate all contaminants?
While washing produce can significantly reduce the presence of dirt, bacteria, and pesticides, it may not eliminate all contaminants. Some bacteria may be internalized in certain types of produce, and washing cannot remove them. Therefore, it is important to handle and store produce properly, and cook it thoroughly to further reduce the risk of contamination.