Does It Work-Vegetable Fruit Wash? - Lela's Cooking Journey Blog at Allrecipes.com - 288413

Lela's Cooking Journey

Does it Work-Vegetable Fruit Wash? 
 
Nov. 11, 2012 10:28 am 
Updated: Nov. 21, 2012 8:56 am

  Yesterday, I was reading a buzz question from Allie Geek PI about washing grapefruit. 


AllieGeekPi question about washing grapefruit.


Then, it just so happened I was going to make lemon bars today. I pulled out the lemons I bought and  a warning label caught my attention.  After viewing this warning label on the lemons, it made me think perhaps I should wash the lemons to remove the waxes and other unwanted coatings. I usually just wash fruits with water.


 


I saw a vegetable wash on pinterest and I decided to try it. I of course tweaked the recipe because I wanted to use my salad spinner.

The orginal recipe for the Vegetable Wash:

Vegetable Wash which came from Jo-Anna's blog: A Pretty Life in the Suburbs Blog


I decided to use cider vinegar as suggested by Cactus Rose on Buzz.




I added 4 quarts (16 cups) of lukewarm water to my salad spinner, then added 1/3 cup of  apple cider vinegar.  This filled my salad spinner approximately 3/4 full.    

 

 


After 10 minutes there was floating stuff in my water. Here is a close up of the water. Then I rinsed it off with water.

 


It did make me feel better. Does it work? What do you think?


There are other vegetable washes here on AR

This one uses lemon juice and baking soda:

Natural Fruit and Veggie Wash


This one uses vinegar as a spray:

Vinegar Based Fruit and Vegetable Wash






The Dirty Dozen



I think I am going to visit the organic section in the grocery store after reading about The Dirty Dozen which are the top fruits and vegetables that are best to eat organic due to high level of pesticides. In the spring, I would like to grow a garden to have some control on what I eat.
Washing lemons with vinegar
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Tags:  Health
 
Comments
Doc Simonson 
Nov. 11, 2012 2:43 pm
Thanks for an interesting post!
 
KingSparta 
Nov. 11, 2012 4:22 pm
that might be wax they put on them to make them shiny.
 
Cat Hill-Want2B Gardening 
Nov. 11, 2012 6:55 pm
I admit to being paranoid when it comes to fruit and veggies I don't grow. Last year I washed my storebought melons off with soap and water then used 2 different knives and cutting boards. Then saw the health hazard the cantalopes had going on didn't feel so paranoid then. Glad you posted about the different washes will have to try them!
 
Lela 
Nov. 12, 2012 6:16 am
Doc-thanks for stopping by.
 
Lela 
Nov. 12, 2012 6:16 am
King-I think you are right about the wax.
 
Lela 
Nov. 12, 2012 6:22 am
Cat Hill, you are welcome. In Colorado, we had the cantaloupe recall in 2011. I think washing the melons is precautionary measure I would use, too.
 
ConkyJoe 
Nov. 12, 2012 6:34 am
Good blog, Lela . . . There are a few science based studies done on this topic where they contaminate fruit & vegetables with pathogens, and then use water, home mixes, and commercial washes. Search “Kilonzo-Nthenge et al” as that will lead you to science based literature if so inclined. The conclusion is that immersing in water and scrubbing with brush yields just as good a result as anything else while saving you money. I still spray fruits and veggies w/ 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water before immersing in water and scrubbing. One other point . . . it may seem counter intuitive, but it is widely suggested not to use soap and detergents to wash fruits and veggies as residues may remain. If familiar with herbicide applications, liquid soap is used as an alternative adjuvant (a/k/a surfactant or spreader-sticker) since it makes the herbicide better stick to the plant, and that seems to me to be the opposite of what is trying to be accomplished.
 
Lela 
Nov. 12, 2012 6:52 am
ConkeyJoe-Thanks for the information. I will read up on the science based literature. I for sure didn't want to spend money on the vegetable washes that are sold in the store. I like your easy spray of vinegar 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar.
 
Cat Hill-Want2B Gardening 
Nov. 12, 2012 12:04 pm
I have plenty of vinegar around for cooking and cleaning so I have may have to switch over!
 
Lela 
Nov. 12, 2012 5:55 pm
Cat Hill-I always have vinegar, so using vinegar always more convenient for me to use. I don't always have lemons.
 
Cat Hill-Want2B Gardening 
Nov. 18, 2012 10:56 am
Lemons around here can get pricey sometimes so I don't have them either but I do love my vinegar. Especially since I discovered that it keeps the swelling down when I get stung! It is a must have in the kitchen for me!
 
Lela 
Nov. 18, 2012 12:46 pm
Cat Hill-another use for vinegar! Thanks!
 
Liz 
Nov. 18, 2012 11:49 pm
I do this in my sink, but use white vinegar since I keep gallons on hand. I like the spray idea, I have to be careful with my bell peppers since they seem to leak the solution inside (I usually wash just before I use them) but the spray would help for when I want it all done at once. I try to keep as much clean and ready to go as I can since I've noticed my family eats more fruits and veggies if there's no prep involved. Thanks.
 
Lela 
Nov. 21, 2012 8:56 am
Liz-I agree with you on prepping vegetables ahead of time. My family will also eat fruits and veggies if they are already prepared. Thanks for stopping by.
 
 
 
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Lela

Home Town
Pueblo, Colorado, USA
Living In
Pueblo West, Colorado, USA

Member Since
Nov. 2009

Cooking Level
Intermediate

Cooking Interests
Baking, Frying, Slow Cooking, Mexican, Italian

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Sewing, Hiking/Camping, Walking

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About Me
I am family oriented and spend a lot of time with my family enjoying sit down dinners. I love cooking and baking for the holidays.
My favorite things to cook
I am family oriented and spend time with my family enjoying meals. My favorite things to cook are Mexican food and any food my family asks me to cook. My family looks forward to home cooked Mexican food at least once a week and Italian food.
My favorite family cooking traditions
I am on a journey to reclaim family recipes that were lost when the cooks in my family passed away. Cooking traditions are a major part of my passion for cooking. On Christmas Eve, we always had green chili and tamales. Cookie baking, lemon bars, pizzelles , and potica have been a must at Christmas as long as I can remember. My family looks forward to homemade pizza, when we gather as a family to decorate the Christmas cookies. Thanksgiving wouldn't be Thanksgiving without noodles and gravy piled high on mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and broccoli and rice casserole. On the 4th of July, there is the 4th of July Potato Salad that I make using 10 pounds of potatoes. Mexican Food is part of our weekly menu--green chili served over mashed potatoes or as a slopper (green chili poured over hamburgers.) I am always making tortillas for someone. They call my tortillas little white pieces of gold. Saturdays are Family night for dinner. It is the one day my kids can request a meal.
My cooking triumphs
Seeking help on the Buzz and the AR Blog has resulted in a few triumphs. I am extremely ecstatic about overcoming the yeast monster. I can now bake baguettes, focaccia and the best rolls in the world, my Grandma Rita's Butter Rolls.
My cooking tragedies
My first attempts at baking bread/rolls resulted in rock hard flat rolls. However, I am improving. Baking at High Altitude is somewhat of a challenge.
 
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