A

Anonymous wrote:I douse in a water - vinegar solution.

The amount of dirt that comes off each time is disgusting.

+1

I have a produce spinner thing that drains like a colander and will soak them for a few minutes in water/white vinegar. I swear it makes them last a bit longer too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I rinse them if I am serving a whole bunch. I always rinse strawberries if I can, because often they are gritty. But if the kids or I grab a strawberry without rinsing, it's fine. I rinse for cleanliness only. If there is some dirt and it doesn't bother whoever is eating it, it's all good.

Why are you eating berries in winter, is the bigger question!

Because we live in a wealthy first world country and have access to this kind of healthy produce year round.

Yeah, but does it taste good? And if so where are you buying it? All the strawberries and raspberries I can find in winter either taste lousy or go bad within 2 days. Or both.

Typically A, but if I'm hiking and pick wild blackberries from the top of a bush as a treat, sometimes it's straight in.

Anonymous wrote:A - always

But I also wonder if water really gets much of anything off.

Same - it is part of my daily workflow. I eat a lot of berries and just wash them right before I eat using a small colander.

Anonymous wrote:I rinse them if I am serving a whole bunch. I always rinse strawberries if I can, because often they are gritty. But if the kids or I grab a strawberry without rinsing, it's fine. I rinse for cleanliness only. If there is some dirt and it doesn't bother whoever is eating it, it's all good.

Why are you eating berries in winter, is the bigger question!

Because we live in a wealthy first world country and have access to this kind of healthy produce year round.

I rinse them if I am serving a whole bunch. I always rinse strawberries if I can, because often they are gritty. But if the kids or I grab a strawberry without rinsing, it's fine. I rinse for cleanliness only. If there is some dirt and it doesn't bother whoever is eating it, it's all good.

Why are you eating berries in winter, is the bigger question!

A - always

But I also wonder if water really gets much of anything off.

A or C - probably 60/40 split

I am sure they have already been through some kind of rinse before being packaged.

If you eat berries at restaurants, those are unwashed

Always A.

Anonymous wrote:Always water and vinegar wash, rinse or soak

+1

Only the ones I grow.

Nope

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Microbiologist here. I do A. Food washing solutions are just a commercial gimmick, but yes, you do need to rinse your produce, and pass your (clean) fingers over them to mechanically get rid of debris and some microbes. The more fragile the produce (raspberries, mushrooms), the lighter your touch needs to be.

Are you joking about mushrooms? Mushrooms are quite literally covered in dirt. It's not going to come off with a light touch of the fingers.

PP you replied to. Mushrooms get to relax in a bowl of water for a while, and then I pass my fingers over them under running water to dislodge last bits of earth before cooking. Gently, otherwise they fall apart.