Fruit and Vegetable Wash

Farm fresh fruits and vegetables are clean, and hygienic enough to consume. However, by the time these commodities reach us, they have already been handled by several people. For example, right from picking, storing, transporting, displaying, etc. these fruits and vegetables have been touched by various hands. Unhygienic hands make these commodities unhygienic as well, thereby increasing the chances of spreading food borne illnesses. This is where washing edible and raw item becomes important. Here are some simple and effective ways to do the same.

Vinegar
Vinegar contains acetic acid, which kills bacteria and discards any pesticide residues. Additionally, vinegar is not harmful to the body in any way. To prepare this wash, add 3 tablespoons of salt and cup of vinegar with 2 cups of water. You can clean fruits or vegetables with this solution or you can even spray it on them. For better results, soak the fruits and vegetable for 10 minutes in the vinegar solution and then rinse it with water. You can also add lemon juice and baking soda to it. Cleaning with vinegar on a regular basis will definitely prevent contaminants from entering your body.

Grapefruit Seed Extract
Another natural wash that can be prepared is by using citrus seed extract. Also called grapefruit seed extract, this extract is the liquid produced from the membrane, pulp and seeds of grapefruit. Add about 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract to 32 oz of water. Shake well and spray it on the fruits and veggies. You can also place a stopper in the sink and fill the sink halfway with water. Add 20 drops of this extract and drop the fruits and veggies into the sink. Allow them to soak for 10 minutes and then rinse thoroughly with water.

Lugol's iodine
Add 1 drop of Lugol's iodine to a quart of water. Wash the edibles for about a minute and then rinse with tap water. For fruits and veggies with thick skin, you can scrub with a brush to remove hardened impurities and bacteria.

Ozonated Water
With an economical ozone machine, you can ozonate the water and use it as a solution to wash edible items. Ozone kills contaminants deposited on the fruits and vegetables. Simply, lodge the ozone water bubbler in the water bowl for about 7 - 8 minutes and then rinse fruits and vegetables with this ozone water.

Hydrogen Peroxide:
Mix 3% hydrogen peroxide with 1 tablespoon of natural soap. Spray this solution on fruits and vegetables. The solution foams out and contains contaminants such as bacteria, etc. that get killed by the hydrogen peroxide.

Remember, merely washing fruits and veggies with water is not sufficient. You never know which kind of contaminants are resting on the fruits and vegetables you buy from the grocery store. So it's always better to use these solutions to ensure that what you are eating is clean.