It’s summertime which means a lot of our favorite produce is in season. When it comes to cleaning your fresh fruit, there are so many methods, oftentimes conflicting with one another. There’s the vinegar and water method, the vinegar and baking soda and water method, and even specialty products sold specifically for washing fruits and vegetables. But which one is the best?
In a study published by theJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, it was determined that between 96% and 99% of pesticides were removed from fruits and veggies soaked in a solution of baking soda and water for anywhere from 12 to 15 minutes. After soaking, all you have to do is rinse it with clean water, and it’s nearly chemical and pesticide free. That also includes common residues that are frequently found on produce.
Why does it work, you ask? Well, baking soda is alkalinic, which helps it break down pesticides and remove the residue from chemicals from the surface of fresh foods. Plus, it’s super safe and incredibly cheap. So, it’s a win-win situation for you and your wallet.
“What can’t baking soda do?! Seems like a miracle substance,” wrote one Instagram commenter. “The longer I live, the more I discover baking soda and vinegar can solve almost every household problem 😂,” said another. “At this point I wouldn’t be surprised if baking soda cured cancer,” wrote a third.
You can get a box of baking at the dollar store for $1, or possibly $1.25 or $1.50 given the recent price increases at Dollar Tree. But either way, it’s a simple, budget-friendly, and effective way to get your produce squeaky clean.
There’s also the question of organic produce. If you buy organic produce, do you still have to wash it with baking soda? Well, it’s up to you. Technically organic produce is grown free from pesticides, but it’s also handled in grocery stores right alongside produce that has been treated with pesticides. For the cleanest possible produce, it can’t hurt to give it a baking soda soak.