How do you wash produce?

[Anonymous]

This may sound like a dumb question, but I hear/read all of these references to "washing" produce. What does that mean to you? Up until now I've just rinsed most things in running water and rubbed them with my fingers. If its something that comes out of the ground like a potato or carrot, I scrub it with a little brush thing and water. Is there some type of special cleaner I should use? What do others do?

[Anonymous]

You can buy produce cleaning products but we just do what you do using water and sometimes a scrub brush.

[Anonymous]

Same-- just rinse and sometimes use a scrub brush.

[Anonymous]

I do the same for organic produce and have a cleaner that I use for non-organic produce if I'm going to be eating the skin (particularly for fruit, when there may be wax or paint in the case of lemons).

[Anonymous]

Consumer Reports did some testing and it turns out a vinegar and water solution did a better job and was cheaper than any of the commercial products you can buy. Use a 1:1 ration of water/vinegar. We keep it in a spray bottle under the sink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This may sound like a dumb question, but I hear/read all of these references to "washing" produce. What does that mean to you? Up until now I've just rinsed most things in running water and rubbed them with my fingers. If its something that comes out of the ground like a potato or carrot, I scrub it with a little brush thing and water. Is there some type of special cleaner I should use? What do others do?

I don't think this a dumb question. I knew a chef who told me that I should wash everything with a skin off with mild soap and water, particularly bananas. Then she showed me a pic of the bacteria on fresh fruit and vegetables with a peel. I now use some soap and warm water and wash everything. You can't wash berries but I do rinse them off well by spraying water gently.

[Anonymous]

You can just rinse with water. However, I ended up getting a produce wash from the grocery store, which removes waxes, chemicals, etc. Its called "Veggie Wash" and I believe I bought it from Whole Foods.

I remember my mom using diluted bleach followed by a good rinse to clean grapes. I haven't brought myself to do that.

[Anonymous]

FYI Dont EVER rinse mushrooms. Just brush the dirt off of them.

[Anonymous]

10:51 There are two schools of thought on this. Some chefs say wash, some say don't. The chef I worked for, Belgian, French trained, did. At the very least, never soak mushrooms!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10:51 There are two schools of thought on this. Some chefs say wash, some say don't. The chef I worked for, Belgian, French trained, did. At the very least, never soak mushrooms!

I just saw a Jacques Pepin show today and he said to wash them, but only to do it immediately before preparation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FYI Dont EVER rinse mushrooms. Just brush the dirt off of them.

Rinsing mushrooms is fine--this is a myth.