Wash Dirty Dozen Produce Like a Food Scientist with These Tools

It’s widespread data that eating fruits and greens is sweet to your well being. An analysis conducted by Harvard in 2021 states that consuming no less than two servings of the previous and three servings of the latter per day—mixed with proteins, complete grains and legumes—lays the groundwork for a balanced food plan. Whereas all people is totally different, that is typically good recommendation to observe. 

However, there’s a catch: Yearly, the Environmental Working Group releases a list of 12 foods with probably the most pesticide residue. Generally known as the Soiled Dozen, these vegetables and fruit may be doubtlessly unsafe to eat if not washed accurately. For 2025, the checklist contains strawberries, peaches, grapes, cherries, nectarines, pears, apples, blackberries, spinach, potatoes, blueberries and leafy greens like kale, collard and mustard.           

So, what does this imply for you? Every time doable, purchase natural produce to restrict your publicity to pesticides. If, nonetheless, shopping for natural isn’t an choice, Dr. Bryan Quoc Le, who earned his PhD in Meals Science from the College of Wisconsin, Madison, has some suggestions and methods for how you can method the Soiled Dozen.

“Whereas business produce washes exist, research present that water alone is efficient when used accurately,” stated Dr. Le. He added that leafy greens needs to be rinsed underneath chilly water and rubbed completely by hand; berries and soft-skinned fruits like grapes and cherries needs to be “gently agitated” underneath chilly water; apples and pears may be both rinsed or soaked; peaches and nectarines may be rinsed underneath chilly water or soaked in a vinegar resolution (1 half vinegar to three components water); and root crops require scrubbing. 

Dr. Le’s recommendation is simple to observe while you deliver his pro-approved instruments into your house. Whether or not vegetable brushes or salad spinners, washing the Soiled Dozen will turn out to be a complete lot simpler with these Amazon finds.  

Professional-Accredited Instruments to Wash Produce

OXO Good Grips Vegetable Brush 

Dr. Le at all times makes use of this brush when washing root greens. With “agency nylon bristles that successfully take away grime from crevices with out damaging produce,” he finds it to be a reasonable resolution to making sure his potatoes are as pesticide-free as doable. Over 15,000 Amazon customers agree, with one writing that they use theirs to clean “carrots, candy potatoes, even ginger—and it’s held up nice after a number of washes.” They added that they “didn’t know” they wanted it, however now they use it “continuously.”   

OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner 

Sure, you should use a salad spinner to clean leafy greens, nevertheless it’s additionally editor Kristin Montemarano’s favourite method to wash berries. With a bowl and a built-in colander, it’s straightforward to behave on Dr. Le’s recommendation to “gently agitate” berries and thin-skinned fruit underneath water. Merely fill the bowl with water, transfer the fruit round along with your hand and elevate the colander to allow them to dry while you’re completed. Dr. Le added that each one produce needs to be completely dried with a towel earlier than storing to maintain from spoiling.    

OXO Good Grips GreenSaver Produce Keeper 

Dr. Le additionally advisable OXO’s GreenSaver Produce Keeper to delay the lifetime of produce after washing, noting that it has an “enhanced carbon filter that traps and absorbs ethylene gasoline, and an elevated colander that lifts produce up and away from the container partitions to advertise airflow from all sides and stop spoilage.” What’s extra, this useful food storage container is on the market in three sizes (5 quarts, 4.3 quarts and 1.6 quarts), so you possibly can simply retailer every little thing from tiny, spherical blueberries to lengthy, skinny asparagus stalks.