Keyword food safety, kitchen tips, produce wash, vinegar
Prep Time 5 minutesminutes
Total Time 5 minutesminutes
Vinegar and cold water. Soak produce briefly, then rinse well.
What You’ll Need
1/2cupvinegar to 2 cups water (optional soak)
Cleanchilled tap water; vegetable brush
Directions
Wash your hands with warm soapy water, and clean the sink or use a wide clean container.
Rinse produce under plain, cold tap water (the usual recommendation).
Scrub thick or netted skins (like cantaloupe) with a vegetable brush.
Leafy greens: soak for a couple of minutes in clean water, then drain and rinse (soaking for 30 minutes is no better).
Optional: soak in 1/2 cup vinegar to 2 cups water, then rinse.
Dry with a clean paper towel, and refrigerate within two hours of preparing.
Notes
Safety: never wash produce with soap or sanitizers (residue can cause vomiting or diarrhea); vinegar soaks reduce but don't eliminate bacteria and can leave a pickle taste; commercial washes worked about as well as plain water. Ready to eat bagged salads don't need rinsing. No claims that a homemade wash removes pesticides or germs.