Wondering if washing vegetables with vinegar is worth it? Discover why washing produce with vinegar is the best way to ensure cleanliness and follow step-by-step instructions!
Key Takeaways:
- Washing fruits and vegetables with vinegar kills up to 98% of bacteria on the surface of your produce.
- Use 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water for your vinegar bath.
- Soak fruits and veggies in vinegar bath for 2 minutes.
- Make sure to also wash items like cantaloupe and onions where you don’t eat the peel as the germs can get transferred when you chop.
- Get weekly meal prep tips and recipes in the Prep Dish weekly newsletter.
Have you ever questioned the effectiveness of a quick rinse in the sink for cleaning your fruits and veggies? Is there a better way to wash them? (Spoiler alert: yes, there is.)
Fresh fruits and vegetables are simple and delicious options for healthy, gluten-free snacking and are essential to Prep Dish meal plans. However, the journey from seed to plate can turn these nutrition-packed fruits and vegetables into germ havens – even with organic produce. That’s why the first step of any prep day in a Prep Dish meal plan is to wash all of the fresh produce. From there, it’s all ready to be chopped, diced, and sliced in preparation for the week’s meals!
We’re frequently asked “what is the best way to clean produce?” There are many options out there ranging from chemicals to just plain water. However, if you’re looking for a green and cost-effective way to clean up that produce, our favorite method is washing vegetables with vinegar and water. Research suggests that this simple trick can remove pesticides and kill up to 98% of bacteria.
Next time you get home from your grocery store run, take a few minutes and give your fruits and veggies a vinegar bath to get them ready to go. You’ll be happy during the busy days when the fridge is full of clean produce ready for easy chopping, snacking, and cooking.
Washing Vegetables with Vinegar – Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Choose a large bowl for the vinegar bath. (You can also use your kitchen sink, but make sure to give it a good scrubbing with a non-toxic cleaner if you do so.)
2. Arrange all of your produce in the bowl, working in batches if needed. Make sure to include items like melon and onions, even though you don’t eat the peel. Cutting into these can transfer germs from the outside to the portion you eat.
3. Fill up the bowl with water and white vinegar to cover the produce. Use about 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water. No need to make the water scalding hot. Let the produce soak for about two minutes.
4. Drain the water and rinse the produce to remove any lingering vinegar. If you don’t have a large enough bowl, repeat the process for the rest of the produce.
5. Let the produce dry on a towel or use a clean paper towel to pat dry.