How to wash vegetables? Discover here the tips to do it in the best way

It is known that the consumption of fruits and vegetables is vital as part of our daily diet. Thanks to their nutrients and vitamins, they are important foods that we should consume. But do you know the correct way to wash and disinfect fruits and vegetables? Regarding the recent news regarding the Chinese onion, Provecho shares the step by step and the necessary tips, provided by the Directorate of Environmental Health and Food Safety of the Ministry of Health (Minsa).

Before, we consider it necessary to explain why it is important. According to the Food and Drug Administration of the United States (FDA for its acronym in English) during the growth stage of fruits and vegetables, these foods can be contaminated by soil, water or fertilizers used in the process. In addition, after harvest, the cleaning chain is complicated to maintain, which increases the risk of contamination.

Also, it should be known that when talking about cleaning, refers to removing remains of earth, mud, waxes and other traces of food. Whereas, when mentioning the disinfectionrefers to the process of eliminating microorganisms that can cause diseases in people.

The way they should be cleaned will depend on the type of fruit or vegetable. In the case of the most delicate, such as grapes, apples or oranges, it is ideal to use low water pressure. If it is food with greater contact with the earth, such as potatoes, carrots or radishes, a brush, sponge or cloth should be used. To clean vegetables, it is recommended, first, to remove the first leaves because they can be the most contaminated, and then proceed to wash them leaf by leaf. Fruits with stems, such as pears, cherries or strawberries, should be washed carefully and without cutting the stems if they are not going to be used immediately. In this way, microorganisms are prevented from entering the interior of the food.

The sanitizing solution

According to the Minsa, you can count on a disinfectant solution to clean the vegetables. The formula is: For every liter of water, add 5 ml. or a teaspoon of bleach. Of course, they emphasize that this cleaner should not be mixed with other detergents or substances. Also, this solution is prepared daily and cannot be stored.

To use it, fruits and vegetables can be left resting in a container or in the sink with the solution per five minutes and rinse with clean water before consuming.