Apr 3, 2017

Natural Produce Cleaning wash



I think we can all agree that unless something is grown completely organic our produce needs to be cleaned.  Join me today as we talk about natural mixtures you can use yourself to help remove some if not all pesticides.  
Your water supply should be clean of course.  If you aren't filtering your water source then you should use purified/filtered water for cleaning not adding to your pesticide coated or filled fruit.

Make sure the fruits and vegetables are at room temperature to make sure they don't soak up the dirty pesticide residue
Soak for at least 10 minutes or you can leave in soak up to an hour.  Tender or water filled soft skinned fruits I don't advise leaving in for an hour, so use your judgement.  Strawberries are especially porous produce so special washing instructions are included in this post below. 
The pesticide residue will float to the top.  Remove rinse and get rid of water mixture.  Change your water many times to keep clean.




TIP

I know for years I watched my grandparents wash their leafy green vegetable in a sink of cold water with salt added.  This is great for homegrown collards, turnips, cabbage, mustard etc. They told me this removed the insects and it does.

Today's produce is grown under unknown circumstances and so many chemicals may have been used, it is a good idea to wash them well.
  • Fill kitchen sink half full of cold clean water
  • Add 1/2 cup salt
  • Add 1/2 cup white vinegar 
  • Swish around to mix
  • Add the leafy greens to the water
  • Soak 10-15 minutes
  • Rinse 3 times in clean fresh cold water.
Lettuces are very tender so they should be handled very carefully.  

  • Pull apart lettuce leaves and place in the mixture above
  • Dip the lettuce leaves up and down soaking a few times.
  • Rinse with cold clean water then drain
  • Place in a salad spinner to dry the delicate leaves
  • Store wrapped with paper toweling that has been moistened slightly around the lettuce placing into a gallon storage bag, do not seal bag. Place in your refrigerator's vegetable bin for later use.



TIP

Cleaning Berries especially fragile porous ones like strawberries.
The best advice:  Buy or pick your own from locally organically-pesticide free farms.
Clean in this manner if you know the source of your berries and have inquired as to their pesticide and herbicide practices:
  • Place in a colander
  • Rinse with clean cold water gently
  • Fill a large bowl or sink with water to submerge the colander if very dirty.
  • **If berries may have been grown with pesticides you can add 1 part lemon juice or vinegar to 3 parts clean cold water.
  • Dip colander up and down to rinse
  • Drain in the colander
  • Place on paper towel lined counter to dry naturally
**Note strawberries soak up anything added to them be it water or chemicals and it is best to use those untreated for sure. If source and pesticide-herbicide use is unknown clean them with the added vinegar and lemon juice to hopefully, get rid of as much as possible.



MIXTURES TO RID PRODUCE OF PESTICIDES


DIY #1

STRONG PRODUCE WASH
  • 3 PARTS WATER
  • 1 PART VINEGAR OR LEMON JUICE

DIY#2


REGULAR PRODUCE WASH
  • 9 PARTS WATER
  • 1 PART VINEGAR OR LEMON JUICE







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