Written by Lauren Panoff, MPH, RD on June 5, 2020 — Medically reviewed by Kathy W. Warwick, R.D., CDE, Nutrition
- Why wash them?
- Best methods
- How to
- Bottom line
Fresh fruits and vegetables are a healthy way to incorporate vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants into your diet.
Before eating fresh fruits and vegetables, it has long been a recommendation to rinse them well with water to remove any unwanted residues from their surfaces.
However, given the COVID-19 pandemic, many headlines have been circulating that encourage more abrasive ways to wash fresh produce before eating it, making some people wonder whether water is enough.
This article reviews the best practices for washing various fresh fruits and vegetables before eating them, as well as methods that are not recommended.
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Global pandemic or not, properly washing fresh fruits and vegetables is a good habit to practice to minimize the ingestion of potentially harmful residues and germs.
Fresh produce is handled by numerous people before you purchase it from the grocery store or the farmers market. It’s best to assume that not every hand that has touched fresh produce has been clean.
With all of the people constantly bustling through these environments, it’s also safe to assume that much of the fresh produce you purchase has been coughed on, sneezed on, and breathed on as well.
Adequately washing fresh fruits and vegetables before you eat them can significantly reduce residues that may be left on them during their journey to your kitchen.
SUMMARYWashing fresh fruits and vegetables is a proven way to remove germs and unwanted residues from their surfaces before eating them.
While rinsing fresh produce with water has long been the traditional method of preparing fruits and veggies before consumption, the current pandemic has many people wondering whether that’s enough to really clean them.
Some people have advocated the use of soap, vinegar, lemon juice, or even commercial cleaners like bleach as an added measure.
However, health and food safety experts, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC), strongly urge consumers not to take this advice and stick with plain water (1, 2).
Using such substances may pose further health dangers, and they’re unnecessary to remove the most harmful residues from produce. Ingesting commercial cleaning chemicals like bleach can be lethal and should never be used to clean food.
Furthermore, substances like lemon juice, vinegar, and produce washes have not been shown to be any more effective at cleaning produce than plain water — and may even leave additional deposits on food (3).
While some research has suggested that using neutral electrolyzed water or a baking soda bath can be even more effective at removing certain substances, the consensus continues to be that cool tap water is sufficient in most cases (3, 4, 5).
SUMMARYThe best way to wash fresh produce before eating it is with cool water. Using other substances is largely unnecessary. Plus they’re often not as effective as water and gentle friction. Commercial cleaners should never be used on food.
Washing fresh fruits and vegetables in cool water before eating them is a good practice when it comes to health hygiene and food safety.
Note that fresh produce should not be washed until right before you’re ready to eat it. Washing fruits and vegetables before storing them may create an environment in which bacterial growth is more likely.
Before you begin washing fresh produce, wash your hands well with soap and water. Be sure that any utensils, sinks, and surfaces you’re using to prepare your produce are also thoroughly cleaned first.
Begin by cutting away any bruised or visibly rotten areas of fresh produce. If you’re handling a fruit or vegetable that’ll be peeled, such as an orange, wash it before peeling it to prevent any surface bacteria from entering the flesh.
The general methods to wash produce are as follows (3):
- Firm produce. Fruits with firmer skins like apples, lemons, and pears, as well as root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and turnips, can benefit from being brushed with a clean, soft bristle to better remove residues from their pores.
- Leafy greens. Spinach, lettuce, Swiss chard, leeks, and cruciferous vegetables like Brussels sprouts and bok choy should have their outermost layer removed, then be submerged in a bowl of cool water, swished, drained, and rinsed with fresh water.
- Delicate produce. Berries, mushrooms, and other types of produce that are more likely to fall apart can be cleaned with a steady stream of water and gentle friction using your fingers to remove grit.
Once you have thoroughly rinsed your produce, dry it using a clean paper or cloth towel. More fragile produce can be laid out on the towel and gently patted or rolled around to dry them without damaging them.
Before consuming your fruits and veggies, follow the simple steps above to minimize the amount of germs and substances that may be on them.
SUMMARYMost fresh fruits and veggies can gently be scrubbed under cold running water (using a clean soft brush for those with firmer skins) and then dried. It can help to soak, drain, and rinse produce that has more dirt-trapping layers.
Practicing good food hygiene is an important health habit. Washing fresh produce helps minimize surface germs and residues that could make you sick.
Recent fears during the COVID-19 pandemic have caused many people to wonder whether more aggressive washing methods, such as using soap or commercial cleaners on fresh produce, are better.
Health professionals agree that this isn’t recommended or necessary — and could even be dangerous. Most fruits and vegetables can be sufficiently cleaned with cool water and light friction right before eating them.
Produce that has more layers and surface area can be more thoroughly washed by swishing it in a bowl of cool water to remove dirt particles.
Fresh fruits and vegetables offer a number of healthy nutrients and should continue to be eaten, as long as safe cleaning methods are practiced.
Last medically reviewed on June 5, 2020
Tips To Wash Fruits And Vegetables: Coronavirus has rapidly spread to many parts of the world, and a number of countries are on complete or partial lockdown. Governments are trying their best to ensure supply of essential commodities to the public during these testing times. Food safety and handling is of utmost importance right now. There are a number of people resorting to practices such as washing the fruits and vegetables in soap or detergent before consumption. Research suggests these drastic steps may not even be necessary in the first place.
There is no evidence to prove that Coronavirus can spread through food items, as of now. However, there are some precautions and generic guidelines you can follow to keep your food safe and free of germs. A video by Oovvuu suggests some tips to make sure the groceries that you purchase are safer to consume and are germ-free.
(Also Read: 5 Tips To Protect Against Germs While Shopping For Groceries)
Here Are 5 Tips To Wash Fruits And Vegetables Properly Before Consumption:
1. Before washing produce, wash your hands
The importance of washing hands to prevent the spread of Covid-19 cannot be emphasised enough. Even when you are going to rinse vegetables, you must ensure that your hands are clean. Wash them for at least 20 seconds prior to cleaning fruit and vegetable produce. It is a good idea to wash them afterwards too, as suggested by the FDA.
2. Rinse your produce well in running water
All the fruits and vegetable produce that is purchased from the market can be rinsed in running water, followed by rubbing with hands. This is all that is needed to clean a majority of vegetables. The FDA recommends, "Rinse produce BEFORE you peel it, so dirt and bacteria aren't transferred from the knife onto the fruit or vegetable."
(Also Read: Should You Soak Fruits In Water? Here's The Answer)
3. Do not use soap or any detergent
The FDA says it is a complete myth that soap, detergent or any special liquid is required to clean produce. "Gently rub produce while holding under plain running water. There's no need to use soap or a produce wash." If damage or bruising occurs before eating or handling, it is best to cut away the damaged areas before preparing or eating.
4. Use a brush or sponge if necessary
While cleaning root vegetables like potatoes or carrots, a vegetable brush or sponge should be used to ensure all dirt is removed. "Use a clean vegetable brush to scrub firm produce such as melons and cucumbers," recommends FDA.
(Also Read: How To Wash Your Greens: 5 Expert Tips To Clean Your Leafy Vegetables)
5. Certain vegetables and fruits require extra care
Berries require extra attention during the cleaning process. Place them in a colander and rinse them under running water to remove pathogens. Similarly, lettuce and leafy greens should be placed in a bowl of cold water. FDA also suggests removing the outermost leaves of a head of lettuce or cabbage, and then drying them with a paper towel for best results.
There are certain guidelines that the FDA prescribes apart from these, such as - we must always try and choose produce that isn't bruised or damaged. Further, make sure that pre-cut items, such as bags of lettuce or watermelon slices, are either refrigerated, or kept on ice, both in the store and at home. The FSSAI also tweeted with some recommendations for food safety.
(Also Read: Don't Wash Chicken Before Cooking it, Warns Food Standards Agency)
Meanwhile, it is a good idea to cook your food thoroughly before consuming. "Keep the raw and cooked food separate, especially raw meat and fresh produce," says the World Health Organisation (WHO) in an article on food and nutrition tips during quarantine. WHO recommends consuming a minimum of 400 g (i.e. 5 portions) of fruits and vegetables per day, and reiterated that we must work towards ensuring that the foods we consume are safe and healthy.
About Aditi AhujaAditi loves talking to and meeting like-minded foodies (especially the kind who like veg momos). Plus points if you get her bad jokes and sitcom references, or if you recommend a new place to eat at.
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Healthy eating and healthy living go hand-in-hand.
Try include every essential nutrient in your daily meals to keep up balanced diet.
Never skip your breakfast. It is the most important meal to kick-start the day.
Hydration is the key. Keep yourself well hydrated to flush out toxins and regulate metabolism.