Washing produce

Cafe Society
1

Fruit season is kicking into high gear – yum, my favorite time of year – and as I was rinsing off the lovely ripe peaches I was planning to stand over the sink and eat, I started thinking about what all might be on the peach, a list that starts, but doesn’t end, with pesticides.

In general, I don’t wash fruit and veggies all that thoroughly – I’ll run water over it, maybe rub it a bit with my fingers, then shake off the water and bite in without drying it.

Where am I on the continuum of produce-washing behavior?

2

I’ll try to wash the pesticide residue and wax off fruit and such, but that’s about it. Unless the veggie is full of grit. Then they get repeated soakings.

3

I’ve never washed a fruit or vegetable in my life. I just don’t think about it before I start eating.

4

If you’re really concerned, here’s a list of the produce to be most and least concerned about when it comes to pesticides (though I’m not sure if regular rinsing eliminates all traces). The ‘riskiest’ list includes

The only (non-organic) produce I’m really vigilant about is lettuce, and that’s for the dirt. A single grain of dirt or sand can ruin my salad, if not my meal. So I mostly buy hydro 9though even then, there are occasionally bugs).

5

I don’t eat that much produce.

Potatoes: I put in a pan of water and then take them out as I cut them up.
Corn: I just peel and boil.
Bananas: I just peel and eat.
Apples: Rinse.

6

I never wash produce that you peel (oranges, bananas). I rinse other stuff, unless it’s actually dirty (or if it’s something like a leek, where you have to make sure there’s no grit in the layers.)

7

It depends on what it is, but with bell peppers (capsicums), potatotes, carrots and the like I usually wash them with a dab of dish soap and then rinse them well.

8

I give just about anything a quick but thorough rinse UNLESS it says, “Pre-washed and ready to eat.” Then I give it a very thorough soak and rinse.

I remember a few years ago there was a food poisoning outbreak here in Phoenix (may have been national) and the leading suspect was some company’s pre-packed ready to eat salad mixtures.

9

You know those little gnats that fly around in the produce section? You need to wash all the produce you bring home. There can be eggs on your produce and then you’ll have gnats in your house.

I was told this by our exterminator friend. It seems to be working well!