Food safety experts are begging you to do this with avocados

You’re probably skipping this step.

It’s easy to remember to wash most produce before using it. Bunches of spinach and heads of lettuce often hold dirt, so they clearly need a good rinse. Fruits and veggies with edible peels are also easy to remember—think apples, cucumbers, and tomatoes. But avocados? You’re going to peel it anyway! It’s tempting to just slice an avocado, scoop it out, and be done with it, but think before you slice.

Turns out you should be washing your avocados, and not just before using them. Here’s why you should wash them right after buying.

Why You Should Wash Avocados Immediately

It’s helpful to imagine what a piece of produce goes through before it ends up on your plate. As it grows in a field, it’s often sprayed with pesticides and similar chemicals, and the plant is typically watered using irrigation, which can include water contaminated with manure, pesticides, and more. The fruit is then picked and handled at various stages in its journey to the supermarket.

At the supermarket, employees and shoppers pick up and put down produce numerous times. All of this exposes produce, like an avocado, to various bacteria, which it happily carries on its peel.

Even though you don’t eat the peel of an avocado, it can still carry bacteria into your kitchen. And when the fruit is sliced, any bacteria on the peel will travel down into the flesh, which is typically eaten raw. To avoid this, simply wash your avocados.

Not only should you wash them, but wash them as soon as you get home from the grocery store. This will help prevent cross-contamination, so that the fruit doesn’t spread bacteria to other items in the fruit bowl or fridge.

How To Wash an Avocado

Luckily, the process for washing an avocado couldn’t be simpler. Wash your hands first, then place the avocado under cool running water and gently rub the avocado all over. If your avocado is extra bumpy, you can use a vegetable brush to clean it. Avocados from Mexico notes that “There’s no need to use any kind of soap, dish liquid, or commercial produce wash. Clean water is enough.”

Dry the avocado completely with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel. If you’re not using the avocado right away, let it sit out in a well-ventilated area for a few hours to ensure it is completely dry (moisture encourages bacterial growth). Then store the avocado on the counter, in a basket or bowl, or (if ripe) in the fridge until ready to use.

Now you’re ready to make a satisfying salad, creamy guacamole, and more worry-free.

Read the original article on Allrecipes