Unless it’s homemade, we know little about where our produce really came from. It is recommended to use fruit and vegetable washing to remove all traces of pesticides and herbicides and to ensure that they are extending shelf life. This homemade recipe uses only four ingredients. I’m sure all the staples are already in the pantry!
Have you ever picked up fruits and vegetables from the grocery store and already felt a gank from the surface of your hands? Even after rinsing the apples and nectarines, I still feel like something is still there.
I like to use fruit and vegetable washing to make sure all produce is completely free from surface contaminants such as herbicides and pesticides. Even if you use your own organic produce, you will feel more comfortable by making sure it is 100% clean before storing it in the fridge.
The good news is that it only takes a few minutes to wash the fruit and doesn’t have to be a huge and annoying step in a grocery store routine. All I need is a few quick sprays of my vegetables and fruit wash.
I’ll cover this post…
Do I need to wash my fruits and vegetables?
When it comes to gardens, I don’t mind poping homemade fruits and vegetables straight from plants to mouth. I only use organic gardening methods. That means only pesticides, herbicides and natural fertilizers. This makes me feel safe about my vegetables!
However, when it comes to large-scale harvests, I like washing vegetables. I live in town so I don’t know 100% of what’s in the soil at any time. If you use certain herbicides or pesticides, it is highly recommended to wash them beforehand.
While regular tap water works well to remove debris and dirt, cleaning fruit and vegetables can help remove more difficult things, such as apple wax and surface-level pesticides.
It is important to note that vegetables and fruits usually contain microorganisms. In most cases, washing removes these organisms and increases the lifespan. However, some fruits and vegetables have their own protection measures. For example, blueberries are in bloom. This is a fine powdery cover that allows you to fight bacteria and fungi that cause premature decay.
When to use fruit wash
Most fruits and vegetables can be washed when you come home from the grocery store. Like avocados and beets, I like to apply skin and wash produce immediately. Remove any packaged items, such as raspberries and cherry tomatoes, before washing them completely. Make sure all production is dry before storing in the fridge or pantry.
Others may want to wait until they are washed just before eating to extend their shelf life. For fresh fruits such as apples, grapes, blueberries, tomatoes, etc., I wait to maintain the protective flowers mentioned previously. The same can be said for Kale!
Check out this post to learn how and when to wash vegetables.
How does vegetable washing work?
Soaking vegetables and fruits in acidic solutions can help remove bacteria and surface-level pesticides. This recipe uses both vinegar and citric acid to lower the pH. This helps further decompose wax remaining in agricultural products and contaminants remaining on the surface.
The washing of fruits and vegetables, made with a combination of acids and salts, can easily remove some of the wax, chemical sprays and dirt that stick to production when you return home from the grocery store.
This fruit and vegetable washing ingredients help to create a creakable, clean without adding any unpleasant flavors.
Fruit and vegetable washing recipes
This recipe is very quick and easy to make. It uses common grocery ingredients you may already have in your pantry. Keep it convenient in the kitchen for a quick produce trip!
Materials and materials
For accurate measurements, please refer to the recipe card below.
make!
Measure the warm water. Add citric acid and salt.
Stir until both are completely dissolved.
Add the vinegar and mix the ingredients well. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
How to use
Rest for 2-3 times for 2 minutes, then rinse with tap water before consuming.
This fruit and vegetable washing was pretty tasty (if you like the flavorful chips of salt and vinegar), but it doesn’t change or affect the fruit flavor. Even soft-skinned fruits like strawberries and raspberries do not take on the salt and vinegar flavor as long as they are applied as described.
DIY vegetable cleaning storage
This vinegar-based wash is held at a counter or cabinet for three months. Just shake before spraying and dispersing the ingredients. However, if the vegetable washing changes colour or has a strange scent, it should be discarded.
You need to try out more natural cleaning ideas
Cleaning fruits and vegetables
2 Make a 1/2 cup fruit and vegetable wash.
Measure the warm water. Add citric acid and salt and stir until completely dissolved.
Add the vinegar and stir again. Pour into a glass spray bottle.
To use, spray 2-3 times. Sit for a few minutes before rinsing in cold water.
Use the cleaner within 3 months. Discard if there is an odor or the color changes.
With a city girl who learned to garden, it changed everything. Author, artist, master gardener. A better life through plants.
