When to wash fruits and vegetables?
I was always told to wash fruit and vegetables right before eating or cooking them, and not earlier. This is supposedly intended to "keep them fresh" or "keep them safe from bacteria" (depends on the source).
I tried to find some sourced information on Internet but while there is no shortage of information about how to wash them (especially today with the COVID-19 pandemic), I did not find anything about when they are best washed (right after buying them, or right before consumption).
I would be interested in a generic information - that is not targeted on today's critical handling of fruit or vegetables (or anything else - again, COVID-19), but one for "normal times".
Best Answer
Wash them right before you use them. You could wash them when you get home, it's not going to hurt most things if you're gentle, but that won't mean they're still clean once you're ready to use them. I'm guessing you aren't storing them somewhere sterile, so they will get dirty again during storage, and you'll just have to wash them again.
The other issue with washing a considerable amount of time before using is that washing doesn't remove 100% of bacteria on a surface. It should get rid of enough so it doesn't make you sick, but if you let it sit long enough after washing, the bacteria could reproduce into a dangerous quantity again. Obviously that's not true of everything you wash off produce (it's not going to magically gain more pesticides and some pathogens can't reproduce on the surface of produce), but it could be of some things.
In short, washing produce when you get it home isn't sufficient to make it safe to consume later, and you probably don't want to wash it twice if you don't have to, so just wash it before you use it. An exception might be in the current pandemic situation, where you want to get rid of any viruses on your produce before putting it away. In that case, feel free to wash produce when you get it home along with other washable items, but you should still wash it again before using it.
With that said, nothing makes eating raw produce perfectly safe, so it's really a matter of your risk appetite. If it's much more convenient for you to prep your produce in advance and you keep them in something that's thoroughly washed between uses, then it's not terribly likely to hurt you. It's a bit safer to wash them closer to when you use them, and some things may keep longer if they aren't washed, but it wouldn't be unreasonable to wash them sooner in some cases.
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Quick Answer about "When to wash fruits and vegetables?"
- Wash or scrub fruits and vegetables under running water—even if you do not plan to eat the peel. ...
- Washing fruits and vegetables with soap, detergent, or commercial produce wash is not recommended .
When should you wash fruits and vegetables?
People should thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables before cooking or eating them. Produce that the manufacturer has prewashed does not require further rinsing, however. There are two main risks of eating unwashed fruits and vegetables: bacterial contamination and pesticides.What is the best way to wash fruits and vegetables?
Gently rub produce while holding under plain running water. There's no need to use soap or a produce wash. Use a clean vegetable brush to scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers. Dry produce with a clean cloth or paper towel to further reduce bacteria that may be present.Is fruit and vegetable wash necessary?
Washing your fruit and vegetables is one of the most important ways to protect yourself from foodborne illnesses, such as listeria, E. coli, and salmonella. Whether your produce is commercially harvested or organic, it is still exposed to pesticides, dirt, and other contaminants that can be harmful.Can you wash vegetables in advance?
Most fresh fruit and vegetables have a natural protective coating. So wash them under water just before you are ready to eat or cook them. If you wash them ahead of time, it will speed up how fast they spoil. Leafy greens can be washed and stored a few days before you use them.How To: Washing Fruits and Vegetables to Remove Pesticides - aSimplySimpleLife
More answers regarding when to wash fruits and vegetables?
Answer 2
Wash them right before. Especially apples. When you get these at the grocery store they have a coat of light oil or wax on them that keeps them from drying out. That is a good thing and safe it eat, but also fine to wash off.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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