Vegetables and fruits bought in the market often contain pesticides. These chemicals can kill plant pests and are still the choice of fruit farmers and to prevent crop failure problems. But don’t rush to avoid these fruits and vegetables because all you need to do is wash them properly. So that the remaining pesticide residues that stick to the fruits and vegetables can be lost. This is quite trivial for some people. But maybe you just wash the fruit carelessly. You better know the proper way to clean the fruit from these pesticides.
The Use Of Pesticides Is Very Often In Fruit And Vegetable Plants
This one thing certainly raises the pros and cons of farmers and environmental activists. There is a lot to say that pesticide residues on the fruit can cause health problems. So, of course, it is not wrong to think that this pesticide is dangerous. Research conducted by Purdue University Indiana, United States, found that 98% of apples contain residual pesticide residues. Other vegetables and fruits on the research list include strawberries, peaches, spinach, grapes, peppers, kale, mustard greens, and potatoes. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 90% of pesticide residues were found in 8 popular fruits and vegetables. So that this one thing should always be considered. Farmers need clear guidance on how to use pesticides, dosage, and frequency of spraying. This is because they do not have complete literacy skills to understand the rules for using these pesticides. As a result, they increased the dosage.
Then How Do You Wash Vegetables And Fruit To Be Free From Pesticides And Bacteria?
It is better if you never consume these fruits and vegetables without washing them first. Not only are you afraid of pesticides, but you must also be aware of bacteria and germs. For example, the dangerous ones, such as salmonella and also E.coli, are in raw fruits and vegetables. Then how to clean the fruit properly to avoid disease.
Separate Fruit And Vegetables From Other Types Of Food
You should always separate freshly purchased raw fruits or vegetables with ready-to-eat/cooked foods that have been cooked. With this, it is to ensure that pesticide exposure will not spread to your drinks or food.
Before Washing The Fruit, You Must Wash Your Hands First
So, before you wash fruit or vegetables, it’s a good idea to wash your hands first. While the same thing should be done after you clean the fruit. Of course, there are many other things that need to be considered.
Cut The Damaged Fruit/Vegetable
Any fruit or vegetable that is purchased, there must be something imperfect. If any part of the fruit is damaged, then you can cut it first. With these tips to make sure there are no caterpillars or other organisms in the fruit. Then it’s also important to make sure your knife is clean.
Use Running Water When Washing
Also, you should wash your fruit or vegetables under running water. Better not to put water in a container and then wash it using that container. This way of washing is not recommended because it is less hygienic and cannot be cleaned thoroughly.
Clean Starting From The Dirty Vegetable Or Fruit
You can clean all parts of the fruit. Don’t overlook any part. Then in order to get the most out of the fruit, start by cleaning the dirtiest part of the fruit. Next, clean the other parts that are cleaner. So that the results will be maximized in this way.
Use A Special Soap For Washing Fruits And Vegetables
In order to ensure that your fruits and vegetables are free of pesticides, you can also use products with natural ingredients. Natural and special detergent for fruits that you can use to wash these fruits or vegetables. Look for a soap that contains lime as an anti-bacterial so that it can clean bacteria on the surface of fruits and vegetables.
Scrub The Fruit
It is better if you also use a brush to scrub hard dirt such as soil on the fruit you want to wash. However, make sure the brush is not too rough as it can injure the skin of the fruit, so use a soft brush. If you want to wash soft-skinned fruit such as grapes or tomatoes, just rub it gently with your hands. So that it can prevent rips in the fruit skin.
