Really, it seems so much more convenient to pull an apple out of the fridge or the fruit bowl and begin chomping. I mean, how much stuff can really be on the outside of the fruit? If you really want to know…hang out at the fruit stand for about an hour, and you’ll be ready to add your own dose of pesticides to your fruits and veggies before you bite. I’ve seen plenty of kids run around the stores, mother’s chasing behind, as they touch, lick and drop all sorts of fruit. And that whole, “you touch, you buy!” theory doesn’t carry to the many open beds of fruits and veggies. Believe me, there have been plenty of people touching those things long before they ended up in your fruit bowl.
We’ve all heard many-a-stories of the creepy viruses and such that linger on shopping cart handles, etc, so I feel no need to quote those. But, just to let you know…I always smell my fruit before I buy. I’m not sure if I’m the only one who does that, but the idea of anyone else’s nose being next to my fruit before I came along gives me the heebee-geebies. So, maybe that will help encourage you to give your fruits and veggies a rinse.
I am a long-time user of Veggie Wash, but agreeably, the cost adds up and it’s really one more thing to recycle. So, if you’re feeling the need to tighten the buckle, and re-use your last empty bottle of Veggie Wash spray container, give some of these home remedies a try:
For simple, eat-out-of-hand veggies and fruits, such as plums, apples and tomatoes, a spray method is great:
1 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tbsp. baking soda
1 cup purified water
Put mixture in your recycled spray bottle and shake well to be sure all is mixed well. Spray fruit, allow to rest for a few minutes, then rub vigorously with your hands, then rinse under running water. By the way, wash your own hands first, otherwise, you’re just passing the dirt around. :)
For larger (or smaller) fruits and veggies, such as pineapples, carrots and grapes and soaking mechanism works much better:
Place 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup vinegar in bowl (increase as necessary) and soak fruits and vegetables for 5-10 minutes. Rinse well.
Lastly, and just as important: fruits and vegetables with skins that you will peel and discard must still be treated in the same manner! Whatever lays on the outside skin will penetrate to the edible meat when your knife penetrates the outside to the inside. So, be sure to soak those melons, pineapples, potatoes, etc.
Happy cooking!