BEST WAY TO WASH YOUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Fruits and vegetables may always look nice and clean. But do you know that there is always a chance that it's contaminated with bacteria or even insects? Though dirt won't do anything to your health, be aware that bacteria such as E.coil,  listeria, and salmonella that is on your fruits and veggies can cause foodborne illness. Take note that whether we buy organic or non-organic produce, the risk of bacterial contamination remains. For non-organic products, usually, they have chemicals like pesticides and herbicides and organic produce were grown naturally without any chemicals but are more likely expensive. The best thing to do is to learn how to wash your fruits and veggies properly to avoid illness and to remove the residue of chemicals found in it. Some fruits and vegetables have natural coat protecting them so it's best to wash them before eating or cooking. Sometimes washing fruits and veggies with vinegar or soap couldn't kill bacteria or mold.

You first want to know how to store your fruits and vegetables properly to avoid wasting them. You need to separate fruits and vegetables. Why?  Ethylene gas, a natural gas that some fruits release, can speed the ripening process of some fruits and vegetables. But sometimes can be a good thing if you want to ripen some of your fruits faster.  Keep onions together, they love the smell of their neighbors, especially when sliced. They tend to sprout quickly. Most fruits only last 5 days, but some last longer if you just place them in an airtight container. Some fruits like bananas, apples, pears, and avocado are not good for slicing ahead of time since they turn brown quickly.

1.) For leafy vegetables, such as lettuce and cabbage, remove the outer leaves first and discard any wilted or discolored leaves. Wash under cold running tap water. To properly rinse them, put them in a drain and pat dry with a paper towel then store in a sealed plastic bag and store in the fridge.

2.) For your fruits and veggies with a rind like oranges, mangoes, potatoes, carrots, or cantaloupes,  scrub them with a soft toothbrush to prevent bacteria on the rind. Then rinse and pat dry.

3.) Washing your berries can be tricky. They are delicate ones. Strawberries or blueberries should be rinsed on a strainer carefully. Berries hate to be wet so you just want to wash them before you eat them.

4.) With mushrooms, it is better to just wash them with quickly in cool running water or wipe them with a damp cloth. Mushrooms absorb water and it will make it spoil faster.

And an important tip is to make sure you clean all the surfaces where you cut or slice your fruits and veggies before using them like your knives and chopping boards, should be washed and cleaned with hot water too. It is best to have an installed good quality sink soap dispenser. It makes washing easier. It gives you the right amount of soap every pump. Here is an example of a good sink soap dispenser. 

 Kitchen work should never be hard and time-consuming. Do you need more tips about it? Just click this link. Plus!!! Food tips and recipes. CLICK HERE