Do you HAVE to wash kale if you are going to bake it?

[Anonymous]

Making kale chips and I am lazy when it comes to washing and thoroughly drying each piece so that it stays crispy after baking. (salad spinner still leaves water ) Wont' 350 degrees kill off anything that could have been washed off?
If there was dirt on it, I would def wash it but it looks super clean!

[Anonymous]

If it were me, I'd give it a quick rinse, but secretly know with total certainty that no amount of water or even scrubbing will do half the germ-killing that heat and baking would do.

So if you're ok with some harmless dirt and grit, then go for it, op. But you might encounter a little dirt on your kale chips. Very unlikely to make you sick, but more of a mental thing.

[Anonymous]

No you don't have to wash it.

No baking it will not remove everything.

[Anonymous]

Germs get killed, yes.

Chemicals don't get killed, right?

Dirt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Germs get killed, yes.

Chemicals don't get killed, right?

Dirt?

Exactly. Unless it is organic it is likely contaminated with pesticides, fungicides, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Germs get killed, yes.

Chemicals don't get killed, right?

Dirt?

Exactly. Even if it is organic it is likely contaminated with pesticides, fungicides, etc.

Fixed it for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Germs get killed, yes.

Chemicals don't get killed, right?

Dirt?

Exactly. Unless it is organic it is likely contaminated with pesticides, fungicides, etc.

Well, even organic -- you could have organic fertilizers and/or pesticides.
Who wants some baked-in manure dustings on their kale chips?

[Anonymous]

How do you wash your organic produce then? Vinegar wash?

[Anonymous]

Once you get a mouthful of grit you'll go back to rinsing it again (like me).

[Anonymous]

^^^
Yep. This one.

I wash all greens by swishing in a (clean) sink full of water. That lets the dirt and grit fall out. Just holding it under running water is not as effective. A salad spinner gets it plenty dry. We make kale chips a couple of times a week and haven't had a problem doing it that way.

[Anonymous]

I also think about how many people's hands have touched the produce in the store. The stock people, various customers, the cashier...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also think about how many people's hands have touched the produce in the store. The stock people, various customers, the cashier...

You should probably be more worried about the sneezes than the touches.
But I suppose, the heat from the oven *should* kill the sneeze germs. Its just the dried up mucus will give a little extra flavor.

[Anonymous]

Waht is you kale chip method

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^
Yep. This one.

I wash all greens by swishing in a (clean) sink full of water. That lets the dirt and grit fall out. Just holding it under running water is not as effective. A salad spinner gets it plenty dry. We make kale chips a couple of times a week and haven't had a problem doing it that way.

Eww, I would not soak any food in my sink. I soak in a large bowl full of water and soak in batches. Give a couple of swishes and the dirt and grime come off. I never spin in a salad spinner. Just dry with a clean dishtowel, drizzle in oil and still comes out crisp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once you get a mouthful of grit you'll go back to rinsing it again (like me).

That's what I was going to say- kale can be gritty. Wash and leave on towels to dry for a couple hours.