Cleaning Fruits and Vegetables With Baking Soda
If your produce isn’t organic, you might be wondering the best way to clean it. Baking soda is one of the best natural cleaners and disinfectants that have been used for centuries to remove dirt and unwanted particles from fruits and vegetables.
Benefits of Cleaning with Baking Soda
- Baking soda is a natural, nonspecific cleaner.
- It can combat mildew, fungi, and other bacteria that may have been transferred to your produce while it’s been transported.
- It is safe for both you and the environment.
- It is affordable and easy to find.
How to Clean Fruits and Vegetables with Baking Soda
- Fill a mixing bowl with cold water.
Make sure the water is cold and not hot. Hot water can cause some of the nutrients and enzymes on the produce to be lost. - Add 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda.
The amount of baking soda to use will depend on the amount of produce you are cleaning. If you are cleaning a large amount, you can increase the amount of baking soda accordingly. - Add the produce to the water.
Gently stir the produce into the mix being sure not to bruise any of the fruits and vegetables.
- Allow the produce to soak for 10-15 minutes.
This will give the baking soda time to do its job. Be sure to move the produce around in the mixture every few minutes to ensure all surfaces come in contact with the baking soda. - Rinse the produce under cold running water.
Make sure to rinse all the baking soda off the produce. - Dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.
This will help keep your produce fresh longer and prevent the development of any bacteria.
Using baking soda to clean your fruits and vegetables is a safe, natural, and cost effective way to make sure you always have fresh and healthy produce.
