With all the food scares, spinach, lettuce..what do you use to clean fresh fruits and vegies?

Question

Sometimes I wonder if just rinsing apples, strawberries, etc. under cold water to remove bacteria from so many handlers and shoppers isn't enough.

To all of you that think I am overly worried about this, I wasn't until I saw someone sneezing over the fruit in the fruit section of my local grocery store. That is what prompted my question. Yes, I have seen the movie "Boy in a Bubble", it was a true story about a real disease. Anyway it was a sincere question and I appreciate the sincere answers without the insinuating insults.

Answer 1

I fill my sink with dishsoap and water and wash my apples just like i would the dishes.
YOu are right, there are alot of germs out there! you are a smart thinker.
hope you stay nice and healthy!

Answer 2

Start by keeping your kitchen countertops, refrigerator, cookware and cutlery clean.

Always wash your hands before preparing meals and handling fruits and vegetables.

Keep fresh greens, fruits and vegetables away from uncooked meats to avoid cross-contamination.

Choose healthy looking, ripe fruits and vegetables when you shop. Avoid bruised, moldy and mushy produce.

Wait until just before you eat or prepare your fruits and vegetables to wash them. Fruits and vegetables have natural coatings that keep moisture inside and washing them will make them spoil sooner.

Wash all pre-packaged fruits and vegetables, even if the label claims they are pre-washed.

Wash all parts of your fruits and vegetables, even if you don't plan on eating the rind or peeling. Bacteria living on the outside of oranges, melons and squash can be transferred to the knives that cut them and then straight to the parts that you will be eating.

Gently rub fruits and vegetables under running water. Don't use any soaps, detergents, bleaches or other toxic cleaning chemicals. These chemicals will leave a residue of their own on your produce.

Commercial sprays and washes sold for cleaning vegetables really aren't any better than cleaning thoroughly with plain water, so don't waste your money on them.

Firmer fruits and vegetables like apples and potatoes can be scrubbed with a vegetable brush while rinsing with clean water to remove dirt and residues.

Remove and discard the outer leaves of lettuce and cabbage heads and thoroughly rinse the rest of the leaves.

Rinse berries and other small fruits thoroughly and allow them to drain in a colander.


Remember that the fruits and vegetables you buy may look clean when you pick them out at the grocery store, but you can't see bacteria or chemicals. Your fruits and vegetables still need to be washed before you eat them or serve them to guests or family members. This is especially important for produce and greens that are eaten raw.

Answer 3

Water. If there is a problem with something, I just don't buy it.
I don't like to live afraid of every little thing. I know that they sell fruit and veggie wash, but that to me sounds worse than water. You can fill your sink with water, and a teensy bit of dish soap. Wash everything at once, and rinse, then put it in the fridge. That way you don't have to wash things before you use them because you've already done it!
Don't worry so much. It isn't worth it!

Answer 4

One of the best products to use to clean fresh fruit and vegetables is diluted food grade hydrogen peroxide. It can be purchased usually at your local health food store or online. Usually it is 35% and must be handled very CAREFULLY!!
If used properly and diluted it is safe and very effective. You can find more info on this very potent germ killer by doing a search with your favorite engine.
Another potent germ killer is colloidal silver which you can make at home for pennies per gallon and spray your fruits and vegetables with it. It's a lot safer to handle than the peroxide and probably almost as effective.

Answer 5

Good old water is good, but there is a vegetable wash available in your grocery stores. Go to the web and find out what it is. I forget the name of it, but I know it exists. It's good to hear from another Ginger.

Answer 6

My own hands and water. If I freaked out about everything that could happen, I would be hating life.

Answer 7

Have you ever seen the film "The Boy In The Bubble" ??