This Is the Only Way to Wash Fruit

The long and winding road that delivers your fruits from the field to the grocery store includes several points of potential contamination, which makes these five steps for washing fruit vital in ensuring your family ingests the nutrients and not the pesticides, insects, and pathogens lurking on that apple.

If you loathe the waxy exterior on fruits like apples and pears, pre-soak them in equal parts cold water and vinegar in a shallow tub or bowl for about 10 minutes. This technique will remove the artificial wax and any residual dirt so you can enjoy your fruit as Mother Nature intended.

 

A 2005 study that looked into different vegetable- and fruit-washing techniques concluded that thoroughly washing fruits under potable running water was effective in removing salmonella from the surface of the produce. 

This handy kitchen tool is effective in removing stubborn dirt and scrubbing the tough exteriors of melons and waxy fruits. Once you see all the extra dirt that comes off with this tool you’ll be convinced you’ve been washing your fruits all wrong.

 

Every time you slice open a fruit with a rind without first washing the outside, you introduce all the bacteria that was living on the outer surface to the fruit you eat. It is important to wash the whole fruit to prevent contamination.


 

For those fruits with leaves or layers, it is important to remove any obstacles that might prevent a thorough cleaning. Basically, removing the dirt is only half the battle when washing fruit. Insects and bacteria lurk in the crevices.