Removing Pesticides from Herbs like Cilantro
Not too long ago I read a study saying that mixing baking soda and water and cleaning your fruits in this solution removed upwards of 90% of the pesticides from them. I was wondering if something like this would work when cleaning herbs.
Would it be safe to soak herbs with this same technique used for fruits to remove pesticides? I heard herbs are some of the most tainted with pesticides. Thanks!
Best Answer
Fruits are fairly easy to clean things off of, because they tend to have thick rinds and/or hard exteriors (apples, oranges, bananas, etc.); so pesticides sit on top, and we just have to wash them off. Baking soda and water will do that to some extent (plus rubbing, which is quite important!).
Greens, though, don't have that kind of exterior. Pesticides on the surface can be cleaned off, and should be, but to a large extent they're already inside the green. Soaking them might remove some of the pesticides, but odds are you'll remove a lot of the flavor if you soak them long enough to help; and remember, pesticides are typically intended to not wash off too easily (or they'd be gone the next time it rained!).
That said, cilantro (and other herbs) are relatively low risk for pesticides, particularly if they're US-grown. Consumer Reports rates them "Low" (Mexico) and "Very Low" (US) risk; I suspect it's not because Cilantro doesn't have pesticides (it does - search 'Cilantro Pesticide' and you'll find a lot), but because you just don't use that much of it in your food. Much more concerning would be lettuce, broccoli, etc. - things you eat in large quantities - because you'll have a lot more of the pesticide along with it.
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How do you wash pesticides off cilantro?
5 Super Simple Ways to Get Pesticides Off Your ProduceDoes cilantro have a lot of pesticides?
In addition to fruits and vegetables, some herbs used in cooking, such as cilantro, can contain surprisingly high pesticide levels. For example, based on USDA testing of samples collected in 2019, the pesticide profile of cilantro is similar to that of spinach and kale, both of which are on the Dirty Dozen list.How do you wash non organic cilantro?
To get rid of the sand in cilantro, Siegler says, fill a bowl with cool water, add just the leaves, swirl them around and put them on a paper towel for drying. Very delicate herbs like tarragon should be carefully washed by hand under a light stream of water.How do you remove pesticides from produce?
Hold the fruit or vegetable under flowing water in a strainer. This removes more pesticide than dunking the produce. The FDA does not recommend washing fruits and vegetables with soap, detergent, or commercial produce wash. They have not been proven to be any more effective than water alone.How to Strip Herbs Fast (2 Ways)
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Answer 2
One of the easiest methods (for washing produce) is to fill a clean sink a clorox water wash (~1tsp clorox per gallon of water). As for leafy items (like Cilantro and leaf lettuce), swishing it around in the water wash should be sufficient to rinse any sand or silt while exposing those produce items to the sanitizing agent.
This method is economical (bleach is relatively inexpensive) and approved by my local health department. Btw, if you ever find yourself without hot water to wash your dishes, this would be the way to rinse any residual soap off of them.
University of Mass Agricultural Extension
Traditional Cooking School's Handy Guide for Washing Produce
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