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And it’s only $10.
Sitting through hundreds of hours of food safety classes during culinary school and while working in restaurants has instilled in me a hawk-like diligence for the subject. It may surprise you to hear, but I’m less concerned about the danger of an undercooked egg or a 150°F chicken breast than whatever might be lurking in the average head of romaine or bag of baby spinach. After all, according to the CDC, more foodborne illnesses are caused by produce than by meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs combined.
I’m not giving up my beloved fruits and veggies anytime soon, though, and I don’t think you should either. But with recent attention around the, ahem, “explosive” consequences of cyclospora parasites, it’s a good time to revisit your produce-washing techniques. Enter the OXO Vegetable Brush. Not only does it help get my fruits and veggies cleaner, but it also helps me save time and reduce food waste, to boot.
OXO Vegetable Brush
Why I Rely on the OXO Vegetable Brush
My OXO Vegetable Brush lives full-time by my sink, and I use it constantly to scrub dirt off all firm produce (think carrots, potatoes, and turnips). It works so well that I often skip my vegetable peeler—a shortcut I appreciate when I’m feeling lazy during weeknight dinner prep, i.e., every time. It also makes me feel good knowing that I don’t have to throw away any otherwise edible skins.
The vegetable brush isn’t just for dirty root vegetables, either. I also use it to get the wax off of apples, brush down English cucumbers, and clean citrus before I use the peel for zest or cocktail garnishes. Heck, I even like to scrub melons before I put them on my cutting board to make sure I’m not risking any cross-contamination from the exterior to the sweet fruit inside. For a $10 tool, it’s become a necessity I can’t imagine cooking without.
Other Food Prep Tools I Can’t Live Without
- This current Cyclosporiasis outbreak is thought to be linked to leafy greens, which experts recommend rinsing under running water to clean. A salad spinner is indispensable for getting them dry and crisp again afterward.
- Our longtime favorite Thermoworks instant-read thermometer is clutch for checking meat temperatures on the fly while grilling or searing.
- These Zeppoli kitchen towels (aka the best kitchen towels) come in a 15-pack, so you’ll always have a clean one to reach for.
- These Swedish dishcloths are only a dollar apiece and can be tossed in the washing machine or dishwasher between uses.
Why We’re the Experts
- Ashlee Redger is a writer for Serious Eats who has tested hundreds of products for the site since 2022. Before that, she worked as a recipe developer, food photographer’s assistant, and research chef for a national restaurant brand.
- Ashlee has a degree in nutrition and food science. She’s completed countless food safety programs as well as multiple food pathogen-focused biology and biochemistry courses.
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Read the original article on Serious Eats
