Washing vegetables and fruits is extremely crucial to get rid of bacteria and other germs on it. But contrary to what most people think, you don't need any special liquids to clean your vegetables and fruits. It s natural to be concerned about the bacteria and chemicals on your food and the foodborne diseases associated with it. But don t panic. Here are some WHO recommended tips to keep your food safe and prevent diseases. We consulted Dr Kajal Pandya Yeptho, Deputy General Manager Dietetics, Medanta the Medicity, Gurgaon, to shed some light on the correct technique to wash vegetables and fruits.
Wash your hands thoroughly before you start washing the produce. This eliminates the risk of any infection or bacteria passing from your hands to the vegetables or fruits. Here s how you can wash your hands thoroughly.
Your cutting boards, knives, peelers, utensils must all be thoroughly washed as the bacteria from the skin of raw vegetables or fruits can be transferred on them when cut or peeled.
If you have peeled the vegetable or fruit on the board, discard the peels and wash the board again to prevent bacteria from the peel from coming into contact with the food. Did you know about the health benefits of fruit peels?
Do not wash the vegetables or fruits with any kind of soap or detergent solution. Only clean and cold water must be used to thoroughly wash them.
For fruits/vegetables with a thick outer skin, use a vegetable brush to help wash away hard-to-remove bacteria.
After washing, dry the fruits/vegetables with a clean paper towel. This can also help to remove the remaining bacteria.
Wash all the vegetables and fruits thoroughly under running water just before eating, cutting, cooking or storing in the refrigerator. Read more about how to keep your fridge odour-free. Ideally, when taken out for cooking they need to be washed again and brought to room temperature before they are cooked. Here s why eating food right out of the refrigerator is a bad idea.
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