Can I safely clean/eat harvested foods that have aphids on them?
So a friend of mine went to harvest some spinach and lettuce she planted, only to find lots of aphids. Assuming she can clear off the aphids is there anything preventing her from eating the produce? What's the proper method for cleaning that's sure to make it edible?
Best Answer
The best way to remove the aphids is to submerge the vegetables in cold water for at least 10 minutes. Then drain, rinse them off, and dry them. Salad spinners are perfect for this.
Once the aphids have been drowned and rinsed off, the greens are perfectly safe to eat. Actually, it should be safe to eat the aphids as well, it's just unappetizing.
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Quick Answer about "Can I safely clean/eat harvested foods that have aphids on them?"
Aphids are not harmful if swallowed and are thus perfectly safe to eat. They can often be found hiding among organic leafy greens—such as collards, kale, lettuce, mustard, and spinach—so those plants should be washed thoroughly prior to serving.Can you eat produce that had aphids?
Actually, aphids are totally edible. Depending on the plants they've been eating, they can range from slightly bitter to sweet. They could cause problems for your friend's remaining produce, though.Can you eat vegetables that have been eaten by bugs?
Fortunately, there's good news! Greens with holes in them that were created by feeding insects or slugs should be fine to eat, if you cut away the damaged parts. However, there are times when you do want to avoid produce that has been damaged by the local wildlife.Are aphids harmful?
In most cases they cause little or no damage to the health of plants. Signs of severe aphid feeding are twisted and curled leaves, yellowed leaves, stunted or dead shoots and poor plant growth. Treating aphids for the health of plants is usually unnecessary.Can you wash aphids off?
You can wash them off, but it may take a bit of extra time. They don't come off with a simple rinse in water because they adhere to the surface of the plants. So you have to swish them around in cold water that has a pinch of salt (or a drop of soap) in it.Hands-Off Approach to Aphid Control in the Organic Garden
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Answer 2
Actually, aphids are totally edible. Depending on the plants they've been eating, they can range from slightly bitter to sweet. They could cause problems for your friend's remaining produce, though.
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