Baking soda, whose alkalinity helps to neutralize many common acidic pesticides, is generally thought to be the most effective produce wash.
Baking soda and vinegar are actually great in preventing bacteria, fungi and other viruses from developing. Using these two substances along with clean water can really help clean your fruits and veggies.
So easy with just vinegar & baking soda! Leave for about 7-10 minutes & dry!
What we learned: Yes, it is safe to soak fruits and vegetables in vinegar. Using a solution that's three parts water and one part vinegar will be most effective at removing bacteria. If soaking fruit in the sink, be sure to clean the sink first and make sure you're using enough vinegar to meet the three-to-one ratio.
Should I wash my fruits and vegetables in a solution to remove pesticide residues? While you can remove pesticide residues using a soaking solution such as vinegar and water or salt and water, it's not advisable.
The most effective way to make your fruit last longer is to soak it in a bath of water and vinegar, let it dry on a towel, and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Gently rub produce while holding under plain running water. There's no need to use soap or a produce wash. Use a clean vegetable brush to scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers. Dry produce with a clean cloth or paper towel to further reduce bacteria that may be present.
One of the great things about vinegar is that it destroys harmful bacteria so bathing your strawberries in it will keep them fresh longer. And don't worry about your berries tasting like vinegar. You'll be washing it off.
#1: Vinegar Soaking Method
Add 1 cup of white vinegar and submerge your fruits and vegetables in the water. Let soak for 15 minutes. Drain the water and give the produce a quick rinse. To dry, lay the produce out on a kitchen towel until completely dry or hand dry each piece individually.
Joe Kemble, a solution of three parts water to one part vinegar is effective at reducing bacteria. But that doesn't come without caveats. For starters, soaking produce in the kitchen sink isn't the best way to clean it, considering how much bacteria your sink harbors to begin with.
The best way to wash strawberries is to rinse them with water and then soak them in a vinegar for about 20 minutes or soak them in a water and baking soda mixture for about 15 minutes.
The benefits of baking soda.
Baking soda and water can be an effective way of removing some pesticides. A 2017 study found that submerging apples in a baking soda solution for 2 minutes removed more pesticides than a 2-minute soak in a bleach solution or a rinse under running tap water.
You can use distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, whichever you have on hand. Then, rinse thoroughly with clean water. This will reduce the number of bacteria on the surface, but may affect the flavor a little so make sure you really rinse.
Wash or scrub fruits and vegetables under running water—even if you do not plan to eat the peel. Germs on the peel or skin can get inside fruits and vegetables when you cut them. Washing fruits and vegetables with soap, detergent, or commercial produce wash is not recommended.
Use salt, bicarb or vinegar to soak your vegetables for around 20 minutes to remove pesticides and bacteria. Avoid eating fruits and vegetables straight from the packet, even if they are organic.
Although mixing vinegar and baking soda is not considered dangerous, you should still avoid mixing these in a container. Vinegar is acidic and basic soda is basic, so the by-products are sodium acetate, carbon dioxide, and water that are not toxic.
It's simple really: just give them a quick bath in a vinegar and water solution the moment you get them home, dry them, and place them in a clean container lined with paper towels. The vinegar helps to kill any mold that could cause them to spoil, and this method can make them last as long as 10 days in our house!
In a large bowl, mix together 3 cups water and 1 cup white vinegar. Immerse your berries in the water and gently stir in order to wash. Let the berries soak for 5 to 10 minutes. Drain the berries in a colander and rinse under running water.
Baking soda helps remove dirt, traces of pesticides, and more from fresh fruits and vegetables.
Mix vinegar and water: Add 3 cups cold water and 1 cup vinegar to a bowl. Soak 5 minutes: Add the strawberries and soak for 5 minutes. Rinse: Drain and rinse with thoroughly cold tap water. This removes all vinegar flavor!
The most effective way to clean pesticide residue off of strawberries is to submerge them in a vinegar bath. In a bowl, mix four parts water with one part white vinegar, then let the strawberries soak in the bowl for 20 minutes. Rinse the strawberries thoroughly with fresh cold water to clean off the vinegar.
According to the Agriculture Department, “Consumers should not wash fruits and vegetables with detergent, soap or commercial produce washes. These products are not approved or labeled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use on foods.
Baking soda removes up to 96% of pesticides from fruit and vegetables. When mixed with water and gently rubbed on apple skins, the solution eliminates nearly all the reside left by two commonly-applied pesticides within 15 minutes.
As our own Kat Kinsman explains, "To prevent mold growth and extend berries' freshness, rinse them in a mixture of one cup white vinegar and four cups of water, then drain and dry them thoroughly." Store them as you would unwashed berries, on top of a dry paper towel in an open container in the fridge.