How to Clean Fruit and Vegetables | America's Test Kitchen (2024)

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How to Clean Fruit and Vegetables | America's Test Kitchen? ›

solution (1 part vinegar, 3 parts water). Rinse. This. removes 98% of bacteria.

Here's how. Fill a spray bottle with 3 parts water and 1 part white vinegar. Spray the produce, then rinse with tap water. Note: This method can also be used to wash produce with inedible rinds and peels, such as melons, since cutting into a contaminated peel can drag pathogens into the flesh.

Use apple cider or white vinegar for a 10-15 minute soak. Then rinse the fruit well. The benefit of baking soda (besides not having any kind of vinegar smell or taste lingering) is that it removes pesticides.

Add your fresh fruits and veggies. to a bowl of cold water. and sprinkle 2 teaspoons of baking soda on top. Or use one part white vinegar to 3 parts water. Let it all soak for 10 to 15 minutes, then drain and rinse well.

Because most pesticides aren't stable at an alkaline pH, soaking them in a baking soda solution can break down their compounds, and together with a rinse under tap water, can help to wash them away. Note: The baking soda solution will remove only certain classes of pesticides, and only from the produce's surface.

In a large bowl, mix together 3 cups water and 1 cup white vinegar. Immerse your berries in the water and gently agitate them. Then let the berries soak for 5-10 minutes. Drain the berries in a colander in the sink, rinsing them with a light spray of running water.

Step 1: Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with four cups of water and stir until dissolved. Step 2: Add the strawberries to the mixture and toss them with clean hands. Step 3: Let the strawberries soak in the mixture for 10 to 15 minutes. Step 4: Rinse the berries clean and then they're ready to eat.

Holding the fruit or vegetable under flowing water removes more than dunking the produce. Peeling or scrubbing produce like potatoes with a stiff clean brush or rubbing soft items like peaches while holding them under running water works best to remove residues.

Put cold water into a bowl with a little bit of white vinegar (I'm using a cap-full) 2. Add your berries to the vinegar/water solution and let sit for about 15 minutes. 3. Give your berries a quick rinse and lay them out on a towel to dry.

This means “sturdy items with smooth skin will hold up the best (apples, pears, some melons and squash, etc.),” says House. Beyond that, studies have shown that while washing produce in a baking soda solution can reduce pesticide residues by 66.7–98.9%, washing in tap water alone can reduce by 26.7–62.9%.

How to wash fruits to remove pesticides? ›

Hold the fruit or vegetable under flowing water in a strainer. This removes more pesticide than dunking the produce. The FDA does not recommend washing fruits and vegetables with soap, detergent, or commercial produce wash. They have not been proven to be any more effective than water alone.

"You want to make sure that you wash them well before you cut into them. Because, if they are not washed, you'll be introducing the bacteria that are on the outside of them into the fruit or vegetable." If your produce is packaged, carefully read the label to see if it needs a rinse.

Rinsing removes debris and dirt and any microbial contaminants they may contain. Washing also helps remove some of the surface pesticides that may be present, though guidelines are generally the same for organic produce as for conventional produce.

But for fruits like apples, pears, peaches and plums, a vinegar solution is an easy way to make sure all pesticides are removed from the skins. Additionally, smaller, loose fruit like berries and cherries can also be washed with vinegar. They're easy to submerge in water and can be quickly strained when done.