Top 5 ways to wash vegetables

• comments
• 
• 

Vegetables are a great source of vitamins and other essential minerals vital for nutrition. Before consuming produce, it is essential to wash and clean them thoroughly to remove traces of soil and other harmful substances that may bring in bacteria that could be dangerous.

As there are many types of vegetables available in the market, there are varying methods of cleaning produce as well.

1.) Vinegar Spray

According SF Gate, vinegar is great for cleaning smooth-skinned vegetables such as tomatoes and bell peppers. It even works for fruits as well. To clean vegetables, mix vinegar with water at a 1 to 3 ratio in a spray bottle. Use it to lightly mist the vegetable and allow the solution to stay at least 30 seconds before gently rinsing it off with cold running water.

2.)  Vinegar Soak

For vegetables that don't have a smooth surface such as leafy greens, potatoes, berries and cauliflower to name a few, a vinegar soak may help clean them up. According to the website, to clean rough-surfaced vegetables, soak them in a mixture with 1 to 3 ratio of vinegar and water. The acid in the vinegar can help kill off some bacteria. After soaking the produce, scrub the vegetables thoroughly with a brush and rinse them with water.

3.) Water

A simple but effective way of cleansing vegetables is by using water. According to the Colorado State University Extension, rinsing fresh vegetables under running water could help remove dirt, bacteria, garden pests and residual pesticides. The website states that you can use your hands to briskly scrub at the vegetables to remove any dirt found on the surface. However, for vegetables with hard skin, it is recommended that they be cleaned using a vegetable brush.

4.) Sea Salt Soak

According to Live Strong, produce can also be washed with sea salt water solution as salt is a natural disinfectant. To prepare the solution, fill a container with lukewarm water and add one teaspoon of sea salt for every cup of water used. Thoroughly stir the solution and place all vegetables inside to be soaked for at least 2 minutes. For vegetables that have rough or hard surface, you can remove residual pesticides, soil and pests with a vegetable brush.

5.) Baking Soda Spray

This is similar to the vinegar spray mentioned in this article, but instead of vinegar, baking soda is used instead. Life Hacker's recipe is mixing few tablespoons of baking soda into a cup or two of water and place the mixture in a spray bottle or a basin if you want to either mist or soak your vegetables. Baking soda can loosen any dirt or other surface stains on vegetables.