What do you use to wash your produce?
I’ll let you know how I wash our fruits and veggies, but please share in the comments any suggestions or tips you may have. (Thanks to Natalie for e-mailing with this question and giving me the idea for a post.)
photo by ellievanhoutte
This is the solution I use for both organic and non-organic produce:
Each week after going down to the farm market, (or in the off-season, after I get home from the store), I’ll fill a sink full of filtered water, squeeze in the juice of 1 large organic lemon, and 1T. of sea salt.
Slosh the fruits/veggies around a bit, dry and put it in a bowl in the fridge or on the counter. Trust me, the kids eat much more healthy fruits and vegetables when they’re all washed and ready to eat.
Simple as that!
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Julie 06.11.08 at 4:00 am
HI Kelly,
I use about one tablespoon of “Earth Friendly Products” brand of dish soap called “Ultra Dishmate” in a 16 ounce spray bottle. Fill the rest of the way with water. Mix well and spray on your produce. If you compare ingredients in the expensive produce sprays with the ingredients in the organic lines of dish soap, you will find they are pretty similar. Anyway, it seems to work for us, the produce gets squeeky clean.
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nonegiven 01.21.09 at 4:43 pm
water with a little white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda
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Margie/Midwife/Mom of 7 01.24.09 at 5:27 pm
Boy do I feel ignorant! I’m wondering if I should start watching for all of us to start growing an extra limb or something but here’s my confession: I have NEVER washed my produce. Why? 2 reasons: one because I get my storebought produce from the big stores that have the little sprayers that come on every few minutes and spray the veggies so I figured they are all pretty well washed (and I started buying fruit for a snack when I’m out and about instead of a candy bar or junk food and eat them while I’m out driving around) and 2 the rest of the veggies I grow and never use sprays etc.
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Kelly 01.25.09 at 12:17 am
Margie,
Yeah, it’s one of those things that we could be going overboard worrying about, but I feel better giving the produce a little wash, and hopefully washing away any pesticide residue.
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Teena 05.06.09 at 2:22 pm
I bought a 32 oz bottle of FIT at a health food store for $10.29! When it is gone, I will be using your recipe of lemons and sea salt. Thanks for the money saving tip. I have noticed too that having clean and ready to eat fruits, veggies and nuts is a wonderful thing.
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Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship 12.07.09 at 4:26 am
I tested various produce washes here: http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/11/19/8-ways-to-wash-an-apple-how-well-does-produce-wash-work/
I am so sorry, but I forgot to try yours! I had read about it, but I so rarely have an empty sink available anyway, so I don’t think about this version very often.
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