Before eating, you should wash your fruits and vegetables with baking soda. It’s the best way to remove pesticide residues from the skin. This article has all the details and a simple guide on how to do it
3 Reasons Why You Should Wash Fruits and Vegetables with Baking Soda
From a young age, we learn to wash fruits and vegetables before eating them to remove dust, dirt, and pesticides. Even if they aren’t always visible, these residues can be present. Conventional farming often involves multiple pesticide applications. While washing with warm water is effective, washing with baking soda is even better for these 3 reasons:
- Baking soda effectively removes pesticide residues.
- It helps break down pesticide residues in a water bath.
- Its effectiveness has been scientifically proven in a study by American food researchers
How to Wash Fruits and Vegetables with Baking Soda – A Simple Guide
Pesticide residues can be stubborn, sticking to or even penetrating the skin of fruits and vegetables. To minimise consumption of these residues, you should wash your produce in a baking soda bath. Make sure to use baking soda or food-grade soda, which you can find at any supermarket. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:
- Dissolve 1 tablespoon of baking soda in 1 litre of cold water in a large bowl.
- Soak the fruits and vegetables in the baking soda solution for 15 minutes.
- Rinse the produce with clean water and pat dry.
Foods particularly prone to pesticide residue include fresh herbs, arugula, and asparagus. For fruits, cherries, melons, and raspberries are notable. It’s also a good idea to thoroughly wash strawberries and any fruits and vegetables with skins that aren’t eaten, as peeling or cutting can transfer dirt and residues to the edible parts.