is it okay to wash vegetables by soaking/submerging?
I go on frequent long-term road trips, and I don't have access to running water during those times. Is it okay to fill up a bowl of water and just stick the vegetables in there and rub them, take them out and be done? If I wash one veggie after the other after the other using the same water, I'm thinking I'd just be using contaminated water to clean vegetables after the first set.
Any ideas or recommendations? Is the method I'm asking about good enough? I was reading adding white vinegar helps but the articles didn't provide any scientific studies or anything.
Best Answer
Rinsing vegetables doesn't really "decontaminate" them, whether you're using running water or not. The main purpose of rinsing vegetables is to remove dirt and grit that would make them unpalatable to eat, it doesn't actually make them that much safer to eat. If a vegetable was somehow contaminated with salmonella before rinsing, it would still be contaminated after.
When you're eating uncooked vegetables you're relying on the fact they don't normally harbour things that can make you sick and have natural resistances against acquiring them even after being harvested (eg. they don't go moldy overnight). That and whoever prepared them washed their hands first...
So rinsing multiple vegetables in a bowl of water shouldn't be a problem. Spreading a contamination around won't increase the amount of it you end up consuming.
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Quick Answer about "is it okay to wash vegetables by soaking/submerging?"
In general, it is safe to soak leafy vegetables and pungent vegetables -- such as lettuce and onions -- and vegetables with a thick outer skin, such as winter squash. More porous vegetables, such as celery, peeled carrots and mushrooms, should be washed under running water.What is the risk of soaking vegetables in water?
Soaking vegetables is effective for cleaning them, but it also leaches out water-soluble nutrients, such as certain vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that display antioxidant properties, according to "Nutritional Sciences for Human Health." Vitamin C, for example, is susceptible to being leached out.What to soak vegetables in to clean?
The US Food and Drug Administration, the US Department of Agriculture and other scientists agree: use a cold water soak with baking soda to effectively help remove dirt, chemical residue, and other unwanted materials from your fresh vegetables and fruits.How long should vegetables be soaked in water?
How long should you wash your vegetables before eating or cooking them? Generally, a 30-second rinse followed by a 15-minute soak, and a final rinse will help to get rid of pesticide residue on vegetables. The vegetables should also be soaked in a clean bowl as the sink might contain bacteria.Does washing vegetables with water do anything?
The Answer: Rinsing fruit and vegetables under water helps rid the food items of soil, microorganisms and potential human pathogens such as E. coli, listeria and salmonella, according to Sanja Ilic, an assistant professor and food safety specialist at Ohio State University.THE BEST WAY TO REMOVE PESTICIDES FROM YOUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES - Dr Mandell, DC
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