Here's why you should be washing all your produce before you use it

Here's why you should be washing all your produce before you use it — yes, even onions

14th Jun 2018 | Source: msn.com

Cleaning your produce before you eat it is a lot easier than you may think. Water and a paper or cloth towel are all you need.
Even if your fruit has skin (think: cantaloupes) that you don't plan on eating, you should still wash the entire fruit before eating it (including the skin).
Washing your produce with water will not protect you from bacteria such as E.coli.

You've probably been rinsing fruits and vegetables under the faucet since you were a kid. But does washing your produce before eating it really help get rid of germs? With all the warnings to avoid romaine lettuce due to recent E.coli outbreaks, you might be wondering if there's a correct way to clean produce.

The good news is, washing most produce with water may get rid of pesticide residue, debris, and dirt. The not so good news: washing your produce won't get rid of all of the nasty bacteria like E.coli, that can adhere to the fruits and vegetables you love to eat.

a group of fruit on display in a store: supermarket produce

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Yes, washing produce can help get rid of germs.

Cleaning your fruits and vegetables when you get home is not just your mom's rule. To get rid of germs, the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) says you should clean your produce before you cut, eat, or cook it. Experts recommend washing all produce under running water and drying with a clean cloth towel or paper towel to further reduce bacteria that may be present on the surface.

Lisa Yakas, microbiologist and senior project manager for NSF International a global public health and safety organization, told INSIDER that you should always wash produce to help prevent the spread of germs in your home.

“Since produce can pass through many hands and environments before it ends up in your shopping cart, exposure to germs is higher,” said Yakas.

And don't forget to wash your hands. Yakas said you also should always wash your hands properly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and have a clean workspace that you cut and prepare the produce on.

eating apple

Some methods of cleaning produce are better than others.

Giving your apple a quick shower might get rid of some of the grime on the surface, but Yakas said there are additional steps you can take to properly clean produce before you eat it.

You should inspect the produce for cuts or bruising as these areas could be points for germs to enter the fruits or vegetables. Discard any produce that shows signs of spoilage or contamination.

You should also wash all produce before eating (even if the outside portion will not be consumed). This prevents dirt from being transferred from the outside to the inside edible portions with the knife.

a bowl of fruit salad

You can use potable water to wash your produce. Delicate produce can be rinsed with spray, and more durable types of produce can be scrubbed with a clean brush if needed. And while it may seem like a worthwhile precaution, soap or produce wash is not necessary.

And always remember to store the washed/cut produce properly – within two hours of cutting, in a clean container, in the refrigerator (40?F or below).

Related gallery: 12 fruits and vegetables you should always buy organic