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Particularly when it’s in season, fresh produce makes eating fruits and vegetables so much easier. Even picky eaters can appreciate how much better the healthy stuff tastes. Can you imagine summer or fall without the delicious bounty they provide? They’re some of the best reasons for the change in seasons!
But of course, fresh produce has one major prep step that canned or frozen produce doesn’t have: You have to wash it! A rinse in cool water will remove most of the dirt you might see on the surface, but what if you want to be extra careful? Well, there is an easy kitchen helper you can grab that’s probably already in your pantry: baking soda.
Again, plain running water is all you need to wash produce safely, but a baking soda soak may help remove additional dirt and some pesticide residue from the surface. While it’s important to note that no home wash can completely eliminate the risk of contamination, washing produce is a food prep step you don’t want to skip.
How to Wash Produce with Baking Soda
You know who knows the best ways to use baking soda? Arm & Hammer. This is how the experts of the (170-year-old!) company recommend washing fresh produce: “A simple soak of one teaspoon of baking soda mixed with two cups of water for five to ten minutes followed by a thorough rinse under cool running water, can help remove dirt and reduce pesticide residue from the surface of fruits and vegetables.”
It really is that simple! The only exception is delicate or thin-skinned produce, like berries. When washing strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc., reduce the soak time to one to two minutes. Per Arm & Hammer, “a quick rinse under cold water is recommended for cleaning this type of produce” because a “prolonged period of time can cause them to absorb water, soften and deteriorate.”
For firmer fruits and vegetables (such as melons, apples, carrots, or potatoes), you can also use a soft-bristle vegetable brush to scrub the surface to remove the dirt and any surface residue. And no matter what you’re cleaning, you should wash your hands first with warm, soapy water to prevent the transfer of excess dirt and germs.
Why Baking Soda Helps Clean Produce
If you’re curious what the science behind cleaning produce with baking soda is, it’s for two main reasons. According to the Arm & Hammer experts: “First, its mild alkalinity helps break down acidic residues and softens waxy coatings for easier removal. Secondly, the soft baking soda crystals provide a delicate scrubbing action that lifts dirt without damaging the surface of the produce.”
How Far in Advance to Wash Produce
Regardless of what you’re washing, produce should generally be washed just before you eat or prepare it. Extended soaking or soaking too far in advance will cause water absorption, leading to textural changes and possibly mold development. Arm & Hammer also recommends: “For fresh herbs and leafy vegetables such as kale or chard, try layering leaves between tea towels or paper towels to soak up moisture.”
Once you have washed, rinsed, and dried your fresh produce, you can proceed to prep, cook, and consume it as you normally would. That extra short step may help you reduce residues and make your fresh fruits and veggies even better. And thankfully, the solution is probably right in your home already!
