7 Tips for Disinfecting Fruits and Vegetables
Eating fruits and vegetables on a daily basis is one of the most recommended habits. After all, it maintains both your physical and mental well-being. But disinfecting fruits and vegetables is a very important step we need to take before eating them.
Even though every type of food is important, these two stand out because they’re one of the main sources of essential nutrients.
Nutritionists recommend eating them raw. Not only can you enjoy 100% of their components, but you can also get many other health benefits.
However, they also suggest being careful when eating them. This is because it’s essential to disinfect them to avoid getting sick from bacteria or problems caused by pesticide residue.
You can’t deny that they’re very healthy. On the other hand, their surface is usually exposed to germs and chemical substances that can have a negative impact on your body.
Fortunately, there are various natural methods to clean fruits and vegetables. They even allow you to get them ready to eat without changing their flavor or texture.
Let’s take a look at them!
1. Using white vinegar for disinfecting fruits and vegetables
White vinegar has antibacterial and antiseptic properties that can be used to disinfect fruits and vegetables.
It’s an ingredient that’s 100% natural. Because of this, it doesn’t affect the flavor of the food or reduce its nutritional properties.
How to use it
- Add a splash of white vinegar to a container filled with water. Use the liquid to wash fruits and vegetables that you’re going to eat.
- Do this before eating. This way, you’ll be sure to get rid of any germs.
2. Using lemon juice for disinfecting fruits and vegetables
Lemon juice has natural acids that give it antibacterial properties.
Added to its essential nutrients, this helps to clean fruits and vegetables and make them safer to eat.
It almost always disinfects without changing the flavor of the food. However, sometimes lemon juice can leave an acidic touch.
How to use it
- Add the juice of several lemons to a container of water. Soak the fruits and vegetables for 10 minutes.
- Rinse them with water and eat them.
3.Using essential tea tree oil for disinfecting fruits and vegetables
Essential tea tree oil shouldn’t be directly ingested. However, it’s antibacterial compounds can be used as a disinfecting agent on fruits and vegetables.
Add it to a lot of water and you get an antiseptic product. This is ideal for removing germs and pesticide or chemical residues.
How to use it
- Add several drops of essential tea tree oil to a tub of lukewarm water.
- Then, spray the liquid on all of the food you want to disinfect.
4. Using baking soda for disinfecting fruits and vegetables
A baking soda solution is perfect for disinfecting any fruits and vegetables that are too dirty.
Its abrasive power gets rid of any remaining dirt and bacteria. This leaves the skin of the fruit clean and completely disinfected.
How to use it
- Add a couple of tablespoons of baking soda to lukewarm water and use the liquid to clean the foods.
- Rub it with your hands so that the mixture acts on the skin.
5. Using hydrogen peroxide for disinfecting fruits and vegetables
The combination of hydrogen peroxide with water is an easy solution. It cleans these kinds of foods before preparing them.
This is a powerful antibacterial ingredient. After being applied, it removes germs that can cause infections.
How to use it
- Add one part of hydrogen peroxide to three parts water. Soak the fruits and vegetables in this solution before eating them.
- Let it work for 5 minutes.
6. Using apple cider vinegar for disinfecting fruits and vegetables
White vinegar is used the most for disinfecting these kinds of foods. However, you can also benefit from the properties of apple cider vinegar.
Its organic compounds eliminate some kinds of bacteria. It also gets rid of chemical and other toxic residues on the skin.
How to use it
- Add half a cup of apple cider vinegar to a container with a lot of water. Then, soak the fruits or vegetables that you’re going to eat.
- You can also put it in a spray bottle to spray it on vegetables.
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7. Using sea salt for disinfecting fruits and vegetables
Sea salt has antiseptic properties that can serve to disinfect some kinds of fruits and vegetables.
However, unlike the previous methods, using it can significantly alter the flavor. This is because it leaves a salty touch.
Because of this, you can use it to wash ingredients that will be used in a recipe afterward.
How to use it
- Add a tablespoon of salt in a container with lukewarm water. Then, rub the liquid on the surface of the ingredients.
- Rinse the vegetables if they still have a very salty flavor.
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As you can see, there are many ways to guarantee that you disinfect your fruits and vegetables.
Even though you don’t usually notice it, your food can have germs and harmful substances.
Be careful!