How to properly wash your produce

Why should we be washing our produce? Water-and-baking soda or water-and hydrogen peroxide solution can remove dirt and insects and reduce bacteria and pesticide residues on produce.

For efficient produce washing, use cool running water and a gentle scrub or brush for firm items like root vegetables and melons, and soak or dunk delicate items like leafy greens and berries in cold water. Always wash certain produce right before eating-like berries, as moist surfaces can promote germ growth. Then dry items thoroughly with a clean paper towel, cloth or salad spinner to further inhibit bacteria.

Here are two options for washing your produce:

3% Food-grade hydrogen peroxide or Baking soda

3% Food-grade hydrogen peroxide is a powerful antimicrobial substance that can help remove toxins like bacteria, tiny insects, and pesticides from produce.

1) Wash your sink well. Or purchase a separate large bin to soak all your fruits, vegetables, herbs, and greens.

2) Add your produce to the sink and fill the sink with filtered water.

3) Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of 3% food-grade hydrogen peroxide solution.

4) Let produce soak in the sink for 15 minutes.

5) Drain the water.

6) Wash and scrub with a vegetable brush, especially all the fruits well and near their stems.

*For your herbs and leafy greens: use a salad spinner to remove excess water.

*Make sure to: Soak all your citrus! You can easily contaminate your citrus by cutting an unwashed lemon or lime.

*Tip for efficiency: Once you return from purchasing your produce, do not put all the produce in the fridge. You can easily succumb to being lazy and then just rinsing the produce under water without proper soaking.

*Alternatively you can do the same process with baking soda using a teaspoon per every 2 cups of water.