Best Way to wash your vegetables

Almost everyone should be eating more fruits and vegetables. In our modern world, almost no food is 100% free of pesticides which is why washing the fruits and vegetables WELL before we eat them is just as important !

Surprisingly, even organic produce may contain some pesticide residues.

Washing fruits and vegetables is important to prevent foodborne illness and reduce your exposure to pesticides.

The best way to reduce your pesticide exposure is to choose organic food when you can (bonus points if it’s homegrown!), especially for the foods most likely to be contaminated with pesticides.

But whether buying conventional or organic produce, it’s also important to wash your store-bought fruits and veggies before eating or cooking with them.

Washing your raw vegetables before cooking is essential in any kitchen. There are so many basic methods such as mixing vinegar, salt or baking soda into the water before you soak the produce in them. There are also those who  turned to chemical rinses and treatments.

The question is – are they really that effective?

You could be in one of two group – either you believe that a vigorous rinse of your vegetables with cold water in a clean bowl is good enough,

or you find yourself doling out extra cash for chemical rinses.

WHICH IS MOST EFFECTIVE IN REMOVING CONTAMINANTS FROM OUR FRUITS & VEGETABLES?

A team of researchers at the University of Maine’s Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition just proved one method is more effective than the other.  They have suggested that distilled water is the most effective (and cost-friendly) cleanser in your home kitchen.

They tested Proctor & Gamble’s Fit Wash, a fruit and vegetable produce wash that’s also part of a larger product line including dish washing detergent, as well as two different commercial water and food sterilizers.

Both the commercial Fit vegetable wash and distilled water were found to remove the same amount of harmful microbes from vegetables during a wash.

The same researchers acknowledged that cold tap water is often good enough to keep your veggies clean. Most vegetables would do well to be soaked, rinsed away from a contaminated sink or drain, and then patted dry with paper towels.

While there are other methods that such as vinegar or baking soda, the University of Maine’s team maintains that distilled water is the most effective method of rinsing your veggies.

Turns out, in a market saturated with vegetable washes, the best purchases you can make are distilled water and a good vegetable brush.

Source: www.cookinglight.com/eating-smart/clean-eating/distilled-water-is-the-best-way-to-wash-vegetables-clean