Various hygienic practices are essential when it comes to handling fruits and other foodstuffs. Based on previous statistics, food poisoning is one of the most common illnesses in adults and children.
Therefore, all homeowners should observe maximum cleanliness when preparing routine snacks or meals. In particular, fruits should be clean before getting consumed.
Remember, fruits do not need any boiling or preparation procedures. You consume them directly. Thus, if the fruit is contaminated, there is a high chance that your health will be adversely affected.
Moreover, think about the massive quantities of pesticides and fertilizers that may have come in contact with the fruit. Although fruits can be highly nutritious, always clean them thoroughly before you ingest them.
But how do you wash fruits in your kitchen?
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Conduct the fruit washing preparation process
There are several steps you have to incorporate before you start washing your fruits. They include:
- Ensure your hands are clean: The COVID19 pandemic has made washing hands multiple times a daily ritual. So, before handling any fruits, make sure you sanitize or wash your hands with soap. Consequently, you won’t be able to transfer any germs or bacteria to your fruits.
- Find a suitable place where you will wash your fruits. It could be your sink or kitchen counter. Ensure that the washing area is clean and spacious. This way, you can thoroughly clean your fruits without difficulty.
- After getting the ideal kitchen area, pull out the fruits from the grocery bags. Dispose of all the plastic bags appropriately.
- Note that you don’t need any soap, detergent, or disinfectant for washing your fruits. Plain water is enough.
Washing fruits in the kitchen
The technique of washing your fruit in the kitchen largely depends on the type of fruit. Currently, kitchen experts have invented two main styles of washing fruits. Both methods are effective and ensure your fruits are free from any bacteria or germs.
Let’s take a look at each of these cleaning techniques below.
Soaking your fruits in a vinegar solution
The first method you can use to wash your fruits is soaking. This is placing your fruits in a bowl of warm water and vinegar for a certain period. Soaking fruits effectively eliminates all microorganisms and chemicals that may have been in contact with the fruit.
Even so, soaking is not ideal for all kinds of fruits. The washing technique best works for fruits that are tightly packaged, such as berries. Such fruits are close together, thus can hide dirt in the spaces between them.
If you enjoy juicing, it is also important to ensure your fruits are clean so that you do not ingest contaminants with your juices.
Follow the below steps when washing closely-knit fruits.
- The first step would be to wash your hands using soap. When you do this, it is impossible to pass germs to your fruits.
- Next, ensure that your washing area is clean. Use appropriate disinfectant to clean the sink or washing area. If you are going to use any utensils during the cleaning process, ensure they are all disinfected.
- Block the drain area of the sink and fill the sink with warm water. Add a little quantity of vinegar to the water. Vinegar is safe for consumption and can get rid of any microorganisms present in your fruit. Even so, you can use plain warm water. It still works well.
- Insert the tightly packed fruits in the water with a vinegar solution. Then, let them sit in the water for about a minute.
- Afterward, place the fruits in a colander and rinse the fruits using cold water. As you do this, rub the fruits to ensure you eliminate all dirt particles.
- Then, place your fruits on a paper towel or wide tray and allow them to dry. You can proceed with storage. Also, you can start enjoying your fruits.
The soaking method best suits fruits like strawberries, grapes, raspberries, and blueberries.
Spraying technique of washing your fruits
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The other technique you can use to wash your fruits is the spray method. Typically, this method entails spraying your fruits with water and vinegar to get rid of all dirt. The spray method is ideal for large fruits like melons.
All you need to do is purchase a spray bottle, fill it with water, and proceed to clean the fruit. Below are the steps you should follow when using the spray method to clean your fruits.
- By now, you know that you need to wash your hands before coming in contact with any foodstuffs. So, before you begin washing your fruits, make sure your hands are clean. Also, ensure that the washing area is clean. Additionally, disinfect all the utensils that will get used when washing the fruits.
- Take your spray bottle and fill it with a vinegar solution. Then, remove your fruits from the plastic bags. Throw the plastic bags in your kitchen trash can.
- Then, spray vinegar using the spray bottle on all the fruits. As you do so, make sure the fruit’s outermost surface is wet before you proceed to the next step.
- Then, leave the water to stay on top of the fruit for approximately 30 seconds.
- Afterward, rub the fruit in a circular motion as you place it under running water. For big fruits like melon, consider using a vegetable brush to scrub off the surfaces.
- Allow the fruit to dry. You can now consume it or store it in your refrigerator.
Fruits that are mostly washed using the spray method include apples, melons, oranges, and lemons.
Is it safe to wash fruits in vinegar?
As seen earlier, you can use a vinegar solution to wash your fruit. Vinegar is ideal for getting rid of several microorganisms that may be present in your fruit.
Besides, vinegar is safe for human consumption. So, it does not pose a danger to your health. Moreover, some experts report that using vinegar to clean your fruits helps them last longer.
Luckily, you can use vinegar for both the soaking and spray methods. Note that using plain water may not get rid of all the germs present in the fruit. So, for that extra cleaning, it is best to use vinegar.
Conclusion
Fruits are highly prone to contamination. So, every homeowner must wash their fruits thoroughly before consumption.Take note that washing fruits with detergents or soap is not recommended.
Otherwise, they pose a danger to their health. Even though fruits are healthy, they can cause severe health diseases if not washed properly.
