Fruits and Vegetables: Tips for Properly Washing Fruits and Vegetables
It is not unusual for vegetables brought from the fields to have fertilizers or pesticides on them. But do you know what can be done to prevent this damage?
To maintain good health, nutritionists recommend eating at least 5 types of fruits and vegetables every day. The body needs various types of nutrients that are not found in other foods, which are available in different types of fruits and vegetables. However, it is true that the highest amount of bacteria enters the body through fruits and vegetables bought from the market.
It is not unusual for fertilizers or pesticides to be present in the vegetables brought from the fields. Also, when fruits and vegetables are brought from one place to another, they can be infected in various ways. Therefore, nutritionists advise on how to wash fruits and vegetables to reduce the risk of infection.
How do fruits and vegetables become contaminated?
Generally, fruits and vegetables are sold on open surfaces or in dusty areas. Vendors do not usually wash all of the produce they sell. Therefore, it is best to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consuming them. Some people store their produce in the refrigerator without washing it, but this can also spread contamination to other food items in the fridge.
After buying fruits or vegetables, what things should you keep in mind before eating?
- Just as you need to wash the fruits and vegetables you buy from the market before eating them, you need to take care of your own hands as well. If you don’t wash your hands, you won’t be able to eat them.
- Fruits or vegetables should be thoroughly washed before peeling them. They can also be washed again after cutting.
- Vegetables or fruits bought from the market should be soaked in cold water for a while before being dried and then kept in the fridge.
- After washing, cleaning and drying fruits, vegetables, roots, and tubers, it is necessary to disinfect the surfaces where they were kept with bacteria-free products.
- Be a little extra cautious when washing soft fruits or vegetables.
- Since most root vegetables grow under the soil, they should be scrubbed thoroughly under running water to ensure no soil is left on them.”
