It’s the hot topic in the middle aged mama household at the moment.
And I’m not talking about whether a tomato qualifies as a fruit or a vegetable.
No, the great fruit and vegetable debate is whether fresh produce needs to be washed.
I know right? We certainly have some deep and meaningfuls π .
It must be said, I’m a bit of a fanatic. I carefully rinse and rub everything in clean – usually running – water before cooking or eating, unless it is something that will be peeled.
Whether it’s apples or strawberries, spuds or zucchini, it all has to be washed first.
Yes, I even wash the pre-washed bags of vegies. You can’t be too careful – as the salmonella outbreak last year, caused by pre-packaged lettuce, has proved.
Hubster on the other hand, has never been that worried. He will happily eat grapes, plums, apricots and celery, all without washing – something we have good-naturedly bickered about over the years.
Why I Wash Fruit and Vegetables
As I tell him, you just don’t know where it’s been.
- Perhaps that piece of fruit was dropped on the floor of the supermarket, and put back on the display by another shopper.
- Maybe a dog widdled on that lettuce or celery while it was waiting to be transported.
- Perhaps the person packaging it, had a nasty cold.
- And what about residue from pesticides?
*Shudder*
The good news is I am gradually converting him, by sticking to my guns all these years. He knows that if it’s not washed first, I won’t eat it.
But then Miss 20 decided to get in on the debate. And it’s made me think.
But What About Soap?!
Her question – does rinsing fruit and vegetables in water really do that much good? Why don’t we need to use soap, like we do for our hands?
Smart girl, that one.
So I looked it up and am ready with answers for the next time the subject arises.
Apparently just by rinsing our fruit and vegetables, most of the bacteria and other contaminants are removed. It really is a case of “near enough is good enough” – it’s not necessary to remove ALL of them – in minor amounts, these things usually won’t make us sick.
In our household, it’s the great fruit and vegetable debate – what about in your family? Is it the correct way to hang the toilet paper?!
Julia says
I’m glad you’re getting me into the habit of rinsing my fruits and veg. I never really thought about all the things that happen before I eat it! Gross
Janet Camilleri says
LOL but you did get me thinking with your comment about soap!
Ingrid @ Fabulous and Fun Life says
I never used to wash my fruit and veggies until I was in the supermarket one day and I saw a lady lifting each peach to her nose and sniffing them, with her lips actually touching the fruit! Like who does that to fruit they are not even buying???!! Ever since then I can’t eat fruit without washing it first!
Janet Camilleri says
Ewww yup seen far too many people doing stuff like that!
Kathy Marris says
Yes I always rinse fruit and vegetables under water before eating. My husband and I always bicker about wiping down the kitchen bench correctly. He just splashes the dishcloth over the bench, but I like to use a bit of Spray ‘n Wipe to remove the residue and any germs. I’ve found men in general like to take shortcuts whereas women are more thorough when it comes to household cleaning. #TeamLovinLife
Janet Camilleri says
I’m the same, like a bit of Spray and Wipe too!
Jo@JoSimplyWill says
I also wash fruit and veges unless I’ve grown them myself. Even then, some things need to be washed to get the dirt out like lettuce and bok choy. Totally agree Janet, you just never know who has handled them and how.
Janet Camilleri says
I was surprised when I first realised that hubby didn’t!
Jo Tracey says
I’ve really only ever washed greens, leeks and tomatoes. No idea why I don’t do the others – and after reading this, I think I will be. As for the big questions in our house? Where do snails go when it isn’t raining? Who was the first person who, upon seeing an egg spit out of a chook’s bum, decided to eat it. Yep, huge questions here!
Janet Camilleri says
Oh you made me laugh with the egg question!!!!
Julie Cavaney says
I am a washer but not full on about it. If I am boiling it I don’t washing it except potatoes. Some of my friends wash their fruit and vegetables in vinegar.
Janet Camilleri says
Yeah I’ve heard of the vinegar trick but then wouldn’t they taste vinegary? Yukky!
Min@WriteoftheMiddle says
I always rinse or scrub veggies before chopping and cooking and some fruits but not all. I don’t have a clue what the thoughts of the rest of the family are on the topic LOL I do know though that they all hang the toilet rolls the wrong way around and I am forever fixing them up! #TeamLovinLife
Janet Camilleri says
*sigh* certain members of my family don’t even HANG the toilet roll up so we don’t have that debate!
Lyndall @ Seize The Day Project says
I’m with you Janet – I like to wash all fruit and vegetables before I cook or eat them. My hubby is the same as yours too… he rarely washes anything before he eats it! #TeamLovinLife
Janet Camilleri says
Must be a man thing Lyndall …
Vanessa says
I rinse them π But I also weirdly like that my veggies come with dirt on them. A few bits are even grown a few doors from our house.
Janet Camilleri says
Nothing better than home grown veggies π even if they are from a few doors up!
Leanne says
I used to wash everything – now I tend to eat my fruit as it is, but wash lettuce, broccoli etc because it often has sand on it still from when it was picked – gritty vegies are just a “no” for me.
Leanne | cresting the hill
Janet Camilleri says
And you never know if there are any critters lurking in the lettuce leaves ….
Liz (Good Things) says
Hi Janet, great topic. I’m on the same page as you, while my man is the same as your husband. Fruit and vegetables MUST be washed… yes, strawberries too, in fact especially strawberries, which are drenched with all sorts of nasties to keep them intact for us shoppers.
For those who eat their fruit without washing it, allow me to share my ten years of experience as the promotions, marketing and centre manager of a 32-store fresh food market. I have seen people fondle fresh produce for seemingly ages before finally choosing a piece or pieces to bag. I have seen people cough and sneeze over fresh produce displays (shoppers and staff). And those nice little displays of cut up fruit? I have seen people take a piece, pop it into their mouth, lick their fingers and then dive in for more, touching more than one segment with those freshly licked fingers before picking one up. Ugh.
Need I say more?
Janet Camilleri says
Thank you for sharing your insight and expertise with us Liz!!!! Man some people are just plain gross. I’m one of those people that would never even taste a grape at a fruit shop, I’d be too embarrassed and would feel like I was stealing!
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit says
I don’t wash mine. Eeek! I know I should. Especially the stuff that gets eaten uncooked. But I just don’t. We haven’t died … yet … but … hmm …
Now you’ve opened my guilto-metre and it’s registering at 10.
#teamlovinlife
Janet Camilleri says
LOL you’ve probably built up immunity over the years Leanne!
Sydney Shop Girl says
Long term water rinser of all fruit and veg and even meat from the shops here! Thanks for backing me up with reason and logic.
SSG xxx
Janet Camilleri says
It’s funny how different people do different things! I guess it all depends on what we learned growing up?
Jan Wild says
Yep, I’m a washer and he’s not. I can’t imagine using the vinegar recommendation though, I have read that one a few times but NO!
Janet Camilleri says
I’m with you Jan – must make them taste a bit funny!
Pinky Poinker says
I always give everything a quick rinse because of all your reasons. I just stick it under a running tap for 3 seconds though, except for mushrooms which I give a good rub.
Janet Camilleri says
When my daughter did home ec in high school, she was taught to PEEL mushrooms. Ain’t nobody got time for that!!!!