Tips

How to Properly Clean Fruits and Vegetables?

Pesticides are chemicals used to prevent the damage caused by pests on various crops. However, they also pose a threat to human health as they can be harmful if ingested.

Administrator

6 January, 2024

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Pesticides are chemicals used to prevent damage caused by pests on agricultural crops. However, pesticides also pose a threat to human health as they can be harmful if ingested.

Washing fruits and vegetables with a mixture of lemon juice, vinegar and water is the best method – Photo: Shutterstock

So how to properly clean fruits and vegetables? Here are some suggestions from health experts.

Use salt to wash fruits and vegetables

According to the Center for Science and Environment (CSE), washing all types of fruits and vegetables with a mixture of water and salt in a ratio of 10:2 will remove most of the pesticide residues that are often present on the surface of fruits and vegetables.

Illustrative photo: Shutterstock

Soak the fruits and vegetables in this mixture for at least two minutes. Then, use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub the vegetables to remove any pesticide residues on the surface. Finally, rinse the vegetables with clean water and store them in the refrigerator, according to Livestrong.

Use vinegar to wash fruits and vegetables

According to ndtv, another way to clean fruits and vegetables is to use a mixture of water and white vinegar in a ratio of 9:1 and soak them. Stir them and wash them thoroughly. Be careful when washing berries such as strawberries, cherries, and grapes… as their thin skin can peel off. Finally, rinse with warm running water to remove any remaining residue.

Additionally, the safest method is to peel the fruits before consuming, especially for fruits with grooves.

According to Colorado State University (US), adding lemon juice to the vinegar and water mixture for washing fruits and vegetables helps to kill bacteria, including E. coli. In addition, when shopping, it is important to choose carefully and avoid buying damaged fruits and vegetables, according to Healthyeating.