Guide to washing Vegetables & Fruits

Did you know?? Every year, millions of people fall ill from food contamination, including sickness caused through fruits and vegetables. Dangerous pesticides, chemicals and substances in soil and water, poor hygiene of employees who handle them, animals and various other conditions lead to these deadly contamination. In order to help prevent food-borne illness from striking you and your family, washing these produces thoroughly before eating them raw or cooked is inevitable. 

I am truly grateful to the Almighty, for blessing me with a mother, who raised me with healthy eating. I hardly remember falling sick when it was she who cooked for me and fed me.. After marriage when I moved out, and had to manage both home and work hand in hand, I started adopting shortcuts to cooking, or ate out more often. :( That eventually paved way to new sicknesses and even loosing control over weight gain. Well, that made me realize the importance of her dedication to eating and feeding healthy and taking care of even the most seemingly simple things with absolute care. This method of washing fruits and veggies being one of those many things, she does scrupulously without a compromise.. :)  

Follow these five easy steps to having safe fruits and vegetables for you and your family right at home. 

If you are using your kitchen sink to wash the vegetables and fruits, make sure you wash it thoroughly, disinfect it or sterilize it with boiling water before proceeding. However, if you aren't really sure of how clean your sink may be, or you often wash meat in the same sink, make sure you use a clean bowl instead. 

Just holding fruits and vegetables under a running tap, will do no good. You do not have to spend money over expensive chemical rinses and other treatments for washing them. Though such products are often advertised as the best way to keep fresh fruits and vegetables safe, all you really require is clean water, vinegar and some salt for an effective and thorough cleaning. Cleaning them with vinegar helps kill bacteria and ensures they are safe for consumption. Turmeric powder is also a good alternative. 

Rub fruits and vegetables briskly with your hands under running water, if they are heavily soiled, before soaking them. For example, potato is one such vegetable that may require a quick rinse.  

Vegetables with a hard crust or firm skin may sometimes require a bit of scrubbing. Use a brush to scrub and make sure it is cleaned and air dried after every use.

Never wash fruits and vegetables with detergents or bleach solutions!! Some fruits and vegetables easily absorb these chemicals, and could turn out to be very dangerous when consumed. 

Vegetables and fruits that require refrigeration can be stored in clean vegetable bins or in covered containers. Do not keep cut, peeled or cooked fruits or vegetables at room temperature for more than an hour.  Refrigerate them in dry and covered containers, preferably glass.

Having said all this, it is always best to have your own little organic vegetable garden in your backyard, terrace or even a balcony. If that's not viable, though a little expensive, try to buy organic produce. Not only will it save you the cost of hospital bills, but will also save you and your family from deadly diseases. Live healthy by eating healthy.. :)

Hope this segment was a helpful read. Your valuable feedback and suggestions would mean a lot. Kindly comment below or send in a message on Facebook.