Washing veg and fruit

Thanks for all those comments. I should say that I've never used washing-up liquid - I mentioned it because I think the word 'wash' could be misleading. I don't peel apples, and don't wash or rinse them either. Perhaps I should rethink that. I don't peel spuds either, just remove any mud. I didn't know that commercially grown leeks aren't earthed up so thanks for that absent.

You shouldn't soak soft fruits such as strawberries as they absorb water. So do mushrooms - just wipe with damp kitchen paper. Scrub waxed citrus fruits under hot water if you're going to use the rinds. Commercially grown leeks are not earthed up like those grown in gardens and allotments, so don't accumulate mud and grit in the same way.

Salty water is a good idea baggy. I will try it next time, just to make sure I don't inadvertently eat a bug.

I didn't wash the cabbage and tomato I used tonight. Or the onion . I don't usually peel potatoes (they mostly mash OK with the skins on) and I only wash them if they look muddy. We seem to survive allright. I wash home grown lettuce in salty water so that the beasties crawl out. My gran taught me to do that.

I just peel if appropiate, wash if apropiate, then dice and slice!

Food contains chemicals too so it's inevitable that we consume some.

Jess Isn't Carbon dioxide a harmless gas and responsible for the bubbles in beer, soda water and mineral water. Bicarb is an ingredient in gripe water and Alka Seltzer. I use bicarb and vinegar or lemon juice all the time, it does fizz and it does clean. We seem to be consuming chemicals whatever we do.

Bicarb solution is magic for getting rid of the smell of sick. it neutralises the acidity.
I agree about the washing up liquid on fruit and veg. Taste would linger methinks too.
Bicarb is a chemical faye and a nice simple one. But if you mix it with vinegar it will cease to be bicarbonate of soda instantly and turn into carbon dioxide. Try mixing some in a saucer without the water and see what happens. It will fizz, cancelling out the acidity of the vinegar in the process.

I use bicarbonate of soda, water and a splash of vinegar. I know fruit is sprayed with chemicals and I don't really think detergent is the best thing to clean fruit with, ie more chemicals. Bicarbonate of soda is amazing, I use it for cleaning, and it is also an antacid.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_bicarbonate (scroll down to see uses)

Re the OP - what to do. If it is going to be cooked then remove grit.
(leeks are the worst)
If it says "washed" on the packet of leaves then I believe it.
I peel apples and pears. Like my mother taught me. They have been handled in the shop possibly.
You can go off beans sprouts etc after the German e. coli outbreak.
But they are grown in a warm, dark, damp environment - perfect for bacteria as well as sprouts.
I rinse tomatoes, soft fruit etc in a half hearted way. Not sure if it makes a ha'peth of difference.
If you really wanted to sterilise your lettuce you would soak it in Milton solution. But this would be really over the top. Lots of other things more likely to make you ill on the grand scheme of things.
If someone has a severely compromised immune system, e.g. they are on chemo, then cook or peel everything. No exceptions.

Aaahhh

Don't they say that small children are the main distributors of colds.
Their little immune systems pump out gallons of snot and they want to lurve and cuddle you, and share the snot around. Bless them.

I've only had one for 9 months and 2days! I've already found they are hard on the pocket.

GC are toxic, jeni. Time you realised that.

Aren't they just! Haven't had a cold for years! I'd forgotten how miserable they make you feel.

Rotten luck, jeni . The little dears are so generous with their germs .

jeni

jeni (((hugs)))

Your both getting old and having senior moments![grumpy]emoticon!
I've got a stinking cold, courtesy of DGD! And feel lousy!
It's probably man flu!

I have always run grapes and strawberries and other soft fruits under the cold tap in a colendar for a minute or two and rinsed over apples and dries with clean cloth before putting in fruit bowl.

We are obviously telepathic, jingl!

Annobel this is getting weird. Yesterday you put up a thread "have you topped up" just the moment after I had topped my phone up online.

Now you have returned from shopping having forgotten the washing up liquid. Exactly what I have done today!



What's going on?!

If the surface is seriously waxed, I submerge them briefly in hot water and then dry them with a clean tea towel. The discussion above has just reminded me that I have again returned from shopping without the intended washing-up liquid.

No washing up liquid I'm sure.. I hold them under a cold tap and gently rub with sponge that I keep for that specific purpose but I agree it doesn't remove the waxy surface but at least any surface contamination is taken care of.. if its berrys etc then in a bowl of cold water and swish them around..