Should I wash my pre-washed greens?
This sounds so silly writing it out. I frequently buy Olivia's organic spring mix salad which says it's "triple washed." Out of habit, I guess, I wash / spin each serving before I eat it.
Should I wash my pre-washed greens, or is this step superfluous?
Best Answer
I think that washing pre-washed greens is an issue of emotional security, if you don't trust the purveyor. As the FDA indicates:
Many pre-cut, bagged, or packaged produce items like lettuce are pre-washed and ready-to-eat. If so, it will be stated on the packaging. If the package indicates that the contents are pre-washed and ready-to-eat, you can use the produce without further washing.
It certainly does no harm, but you then have to also dry them for most uses, so it is more work, and kind of redundant: you have paid a premium price to buy the greens already washed. If you are going to wash them yourself, why not buy less expensive produce, and perhaps have more control over what goes into your mix?
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Quick Answer about "Should I wash my pre-washed greens?"
The quick answer is: yes, you probably should wash pre-washed lettuce. No matter what the bag claims, pre-washed lettuce might not be as clean as you think. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encourages lettuce to be washed with a bleach solution to kill harmful bacteria.Do you have to wash pre-washed collard greens?
Its bottom line: Leafy greens in sealed bags with the \u201cpre-washed\u201d label from a properly inspected facility do not need to be re-washed unless the label directs it.Should you still wash triple washed greens?
While the study focused specifically on baby spinach, it calls into question the safety of any pre-washed salad greens. In short, that \u201ctriple washing\u201d doesn't actually accomplish too much, and even if it does, the remaining bacteria may have time to grow and spread between the wash stage and your plate.Should you wash prepackaged salad?
Health experts actually advise against washing bagged salad While there is some level of risk, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says greens which are labelled "triple-washed" or "ready-to-eat" can be eaten without being washed after they are taken out of the bag.Should you wash leafy greens?
Leafy greens need to be handled safely just like any other food. And some foodborne illnesses have been related to fresh leafy greens. Rinsing produce helps to remove some of the dirt and germs that may be present.Why packaged, pre-washed greens can make you sick
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