Why we use plain water to clean produce, weirdest restaurant meals, etc (E79)
Oct 16, 2023
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Topics discussed include the importance of using plain water to clean produce, scrubbing produce and dad duties, lighting setup and albums, the speaker's partner and an Indeed sponsorship, cooking with what you have, sweet peppers and whole wheat tortillas, and a terrible restaurant experience.
Rinsing fruits and vegetables with water is the most effective and recommended way to clean them.
Soap can leave residues on produce, which may be challenging to completely rinse off, and can cause digestive irritation if ingested.
Deep dives
The importance of rinsing fruits and vegetables
Rinsing fruits and vegetables with water is the most effective and recommended way to clean them. Using room temperature water and gently scrubbing if necessary helps remove dirt, residues, and potential pathogens. The mainstream consensus from experts suggests that using water alone is sufficient and encourages thorough cleansing to ensure safety.
The effectiveness of soap versus water for cleaning produce
While soap can effectively remove dirt, residues, and pathogens from produce, the mainstream view suggests that using water alone is the best approach. Soap can leave residues on produce, which may be challenging to completely rinse off, and can cause digestive irritation if ingested. Additionally, using soap may lead to a decrease in scrubbing, as people often rely on it to do the cleaning. Therefore, water is considered the preferable method for cleaning fruits and vegetables.
The significance of dose and scrubbing
The dose of potential pathogens matters when it comes to foodborne infections. To reduce the risk of illness, it is essential to focus on scrubbing the surface of fruits and vegetables to remove visible dirt, residues, and potential pathogens. Water's solvent properties make it effective in dissolving many substances on the surface. While soap can assist in cleaning produce, it carries the risk of leaving a residue and potentially discouraging vigorous scrubbing.
Tips for safe and effective produce cleaning
The consensus from the public health community suggests using water as the primary method for cleaning produce. Scrubbing the surface under running water helps remove dirt, residues, and pathogens. The goal is to focus on physical cleaning rather than relying solely on soap or other cleaning products. By emphasizing thorough scrubbing, individuals can better protect themselves from potential contaminants and reduce the risk of foodborne infections.