Some of us simply don’t wash our fresh produce. Others wash their veggies only when visibly dirty. Some wash their produce only when they remember; and others only if they aren’t going to remove the peel. There are fancy cloths and brushes, even a “veggie wash”. But is it all worth it? Do we really need to wash our fruit and veg before we eat it?

What is lurking on our fresh produce?

Pesticides, we have been talking about them all week. Washing your fruit correctly can help dramatically reduce pesticides on the surface area of your fruit.

Certain fruits are especially prone to harbouring bugs. Fruit flies can lay eggs on the surface of the fruit. Washing your fruit properly before you eat it can help rinse away these eggs and kill the flies so you don’t unknowingly ingest them.

Think about all the hands that have handled your fruit before you purchase it at the store: the harvesters picking and loading into storage, the worker loading the fruit into trucks,the grocery store worker who puts it on display, even the various customers who handle the fruit while choosing their own. Each person has germs and bacteria on their hands, which is then transferred to the fruit. Washing your fruit can dramatically reduce surface bacteria.

So, how can we wash our fruit and veg naturally??

Many of us use water to wash our produce, while this can be very effective for removing bacteria, most pesticides are designed to withstand the rain. I have posted a quick link below to show how the coating of broccoli in pesticides is used to repel water and then the results after washing the produce correctly – worth a watch. I apologise in advance for the music!

Whilst you need to be careful with “Veggie Wash”, (considering some can contain chemicals that aren’t necessarily good for human health), leading natural brands can be beneficial. Personally I like to use one of the following depending on what stocks I have in the kitchen:

METHOD 1:

Vinegar/Salt Wash
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 Tbsp. sea salt (draws out dirt and insects)

Fill your sink with water, as it fills add your salt, swish it around to be sure it dissolves in the water well. Add a 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar. Add your fruits and veggies. Move them around in the water for about a minute. Leave them in the water for approx 5-10mins. Drain your sink after you feel they have been cleaned well. Finally, just rinse them off with fresh water. Don’t forget to wash your sink down after this process to remove whatever was left over.

METHOD 2:

1 teaspoon of sea salt for every cup of water

Just fill a sink or a large bowl with luke-warm water (be sure to measure how much you are adding) add 1 tsp of sea-salt for every cup of water. Allow to soak for 5 mins and wash clean.

METHOD 3:

Fill an empty spray bottle with 1 part apple cider vinegar, 4 parts water and spray onto your produce. Rinse under water and then pat dry. Vegetable brushes can also help if you have the time.

TIP: As soon as I purchase my fresh fruit and veg, I place it in the sink straight away, give it a good wash (sometimes using a vegetable brush for good measure), set aside to dry and then pop it in the fridge for later use.

If anyone has their own vegetable wash home remedies, be sure to share below 🙂