Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet, but they can sometimes pick up bacteria and other contaminants during the journey from farm to table. So how can you make sure your produce is clean and safe to eat? There are many myths swirling around about the best way to wash produce, but we’ve got the facts to help you sort out the truth from the fiction.
Myth: The best way to clean your fruits and vegetables is by spraying or soaping them.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), washing fruits and vegetables with soap, detergent or commercial produce wash is not recommended. Soap or detergent residues can stay on produce, and the FDA has not evaluated the safety of residues left from soaps and detergents if ingested.
Myth: You should still wash pre-washed produce.
Pre-cut, bagged, and packaged fruits and vegetables that are labeled "pre-washed and ready to eat" do not need to be washed again. In fact, washing them again may contaminate them more because you'll take them into multiple places in your kitchen, including your sink.
myth: to clean fresh produce with bleach, mix 1 cup of bleach with
1 gallon of water. Soak produce in the mixture for 1 minute. Rinse produce with clean water and dry.
You should never wash your produce with bleach or a diluted bleach solution because it can be harmful. The Partnership for Food Safety Education, recommends cleaning produce properly by gently running it under cold running water. If you do have a tough exterior to your products, like melon or pineapple, use a clean stiff bristled brush under running water.