Since childhood, we know that unwashed vegetables and fruits cannot be eaten. The surface of such products may contain dangerous bacteria and other pathogens that cause diseases and poisoning. However, every tenth person in the world suffers from eating low-quality products every year. About 46% of cases of foodborne diseases are due to the consumption of vegetables and fruits. The reason is that many people underestimate the danger that unwashed products pose. In addition, many simply wash them poorly, which also leads to poisoning.
Many people put their lives at risk because they don't know how to wash fruit properly. Photo source: dzen.ru
Contents
- 1 Why unwashed fruits and vegetables are dangerous
- 2 How to properly wash food before eating
- 3 How not to wash vegetables and fruits
- 4 Washing fruits does not help get rid of pesticides
Why unwashed fruits and vegetables are dangerous
Everyone knows that raw meat or fish can be deadly, but the danger of fruit is often underestimated. For example, people often consider fruits and berries picked from a tree or bush with their own hands to be completely safe. In fact, the origin of the products does not matter much, in any case, eating them unwashed can result in serious health problems.
The fact is that fruits, berries and vegetables can contain bacteria, as well as viruses, fungi, worm eggs and pesticides. For example, they can be infected by insects or birds. The latter also like to feast on fruits, and sometimes carry diseases that are deadly to humans, such as ornithosis. Therefore, simply wiping the fruit or rinsing it under running water is not enough to protect yourself from infection.
Even fruits grown in your own garden can be contaminated by birds and insects. Photo source: fotokto.ru
How to properly wash food before eating
Before you start washing fruits, vegetables and berries, you need to wash your hands thoroughly so as not to infect them with germs that are on your skin. We have previously discussed in detail how to properly wash your hands.
You shouldn't put food in the sink, as it is likely to be full of germs. Therefore, you need to prepare clean dishes in advance, especially if you want to soak fruits for a while. The easiest and most reliable way to wash food is to do it by hand under cold running water. Scrub them from all sides to remove dirt, pesticides and some surface germs. You need to wash until the surface looks clean. If the vegetables are heavily soiled, use a brush.
Each fruit should be thoroughly rubbed with your hands on all sides. Photo source: novostipmr.com
If you wash berries, put them in a bowl, fill with water and add one teaspoon of baking soda or salt per 100 ml of water. Soda and salt will kill small insects, so you won't have to eat products with “protein”. In addition, soda and salt will help get rid of germs and pesticides.
Stir the food occasionally, and after 15 minutes, rinse thoroughly with clean running water. You can wash fruits in the same way, for example, if they are heavily soiled. However, you should not keep the products in the soda solution for more than 15 minutes, as the alkali will affect their texture and taste.
As an alternative to soda and salt, you can use vinegar, for example, wine or apple cider vinegar. Just pour half a glass of vinegar into a glass of water. However, this method of washing has one drawback – vinegar changes the taste and texture of soft fruits and berries. But you can soak the products for no longer than two to three minutes.
It's better to wash lettuce leaves separately. Photo source: kaipkada.lt
Before washing leafy green vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli or cauliflower, separate them into leaves or florets, then rinse them individually under the tap, rubbing them together with your hands for about a minute. Any outer damaged leaves should be discarded, as they may be contaminated.
How Not to Wash Fruit and Vegetables
Never use detergents such as dishwashing liquid to wash produce. It does not rinse off the surface of fruits and vegetables well and may be absorbed into the surface. Otherwise, the produce may become unsafe to eat.
Also, you shouldn't wash some fruits before you put them in the refrigerator. For example, cherries, grapes, strawberries and other berries should be stored unwashed. The fact is that the high water content inside these fruits makes them perishable, and additional moisture will only increase the growth of microbes and shorten the shelf life. Therefore, they should be washed only before eating.
It is better to peel off the skin of fruits bought in the store. Photo source: de-online.ru
Washing fruits does not help get rid of pesticides
Pesticides are toxic substances that are used to kill pests, plant pathogens, various parasites, etc. A recent study on apples found that washing does not completely remove pesticides. The reason is that they penetrate through the skin into the fruit.
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Therefore, if you are going to eat fruit bought in a supermarket or market, it is advisable to cut off the peel after washing. If you are sure that the fruit has not been treated with pesticides, you should not cut off the peel, as it contains many useful substances, sometimes even more than the pulp. But keep in mind that no method of washing vegetables and fruits can completely get rid of microorganisms. Therefore, only heat treatment can protect 100% from pathogens.