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Removing Pesticide Residue from Fruits and Vegetables: A Complete Guide from Strawberries to Broccoli

  • Written Language: Korean
  • Country: All Countriescountry-flag
  • Food

Created: 2024-11-14

Updated: 2024-11-14

Created: 2024-11-14 15:23

Updated: 2024-11-14 16:22

I was watching <삼시세끼 Light> (Samsi Sekki Light) on tvN recently, and there was a scene that made me laugh out loud.

It was a scene where Cha Seung-won was grilling meat and Yoo Hae-jin was washing vegetables for dinner.

Removing Pesticide Residue from Fruits and Vegetables: A Complete Guide from Strawberries to Broccoli

Source: tvN <Three Meals a Day Light> Episode 7


It was the vinegar water washing method!

I often use this method myself, but...

Yoo Hae-jin added way too much vinegar and scrubbed the vegetables excessively,

resulting in the lettuce and perilla leaves becoming completely tattered.

(It was hilarious how he kept eating them to destroy the evidence! 🤣)

I also once soaked perilla leaves in vinegar water for too long and almost threw them away, so watching this scene was both funny and sad.


I often worry about the proper way to wash vegetables and fruits, and I'm not always sure if I'm doing it right.

So I did a lot of research, and...

I'll share with you effective methods for removing pesticide residue from various fruits and vegetables commonly used in everyday life.


Removing Pesticide Residue from Fruits and Vegetables: A Complete Guide from Strawberries to Broccoli

Strawberry Washing Method

Strawberries are high in water content, making them prone to spoilage and mold.

Therefore, mold-preventative pesticides are often used on strawberries.

Soak the strawberries in water for 1 minute, then rinse with running water for about 30 seconds.

Also, pesticides may remain on the stem area, so it is best to remove it with a knife.

The order is to remove the stem by hand, then soak it in water, rinse it, and finally, completely remove the stem area with a knife.

If you cut off the stem first with a knife, water-soluble vitamins may be lost, so it's best to do this last.


Removing Pesticide Residue from Fruits and Vegetables: A Complete Guide from Strawberries to Broccoli

Washing Grapes

It's difficult to wash grapes in bunches, so they are often detached individually.

However, soaking grapes in water for about 1 minute and then rinsing them under running water removes most pesticides.

The white powder on grapes is a natural "bloom" and not pesticide, so don't worry.


Removing Pesticide Residue from Fruits and Vegetables: A Complete Guide from Strawberries to Broccoli

Cleaning Apple Peels

Personally, my doctor advised me to eat apples with the peel on in the morning to improve my gut health.

Apples are easily cleaned by rinsing them in water or wiping them with a cloth.

However, pesticides may remain in the indented part near the stem, so it's best to cut this part off before eating.


Removing Pesticide Residue from Fruits and Vegetables: A Complete Guide from Strawberries to Broccoli

Washing Perilla Leaves and Lettuce

Perilla leaves and lettuce have many fine hairs and wrinkles, making it easy for pesticides to remain.

Soak in water for 5 minutes, then rinse under running water for about 30 seconds.

Especially for perilla leaves, it is important to wash each leaf individually.


Removing Pesticide Residue from Fruits and Vegetables: A Complete Guide from Strawberries to Broccoli

Removing Pesticide Residue from Green Onions

Many people cut off the bottom part of the green onion (the root) and wash it, but pesticides mainly remain on the leaves.

Remove wilted leaves and outer leaves, then rinse thoroughly with water.


Removing Pesticide Residue from Fruits and Vegetables: A Complete Guide from Strawberries to Broccoli

Chinese Cabbage and Cabbage

Pesticides may remain on the outer leaves, so remove 2-3 outer leaves from Chinese cabbage and cabbage

and rinse under running water before eating.

The inside of the cabbage is surprisingly clean, so you don't need to wash it excessively.


Cucumber

Wash the cucumber surface with a kitchen sponge, and then rub it with coarse salt.

Then rinse again with running water for effective pesticide removal.


Removing Pesticide Residue from Fruits and Vegetables: A Complete Guide from Strawberries to Broccoli

Chili Peppers

Pesticide residue is more likely to be found on the stem of chili peppers than the ends.

Soak briefly in water, then rinse with running water.


Removing Pesticide Residue from Fruits and Vegetables: A Complete Guide from Strawberries to Broccoli

Thorough Washing Method for Broccoli

Broccoli's florets are dense, making it difficult to wash.

Submerge broccoli upside down in a large bowl of water for 10-20 minutes to remove pesticide residue and impurities.

Then, change the water and shake it several times to remove any remaining residue for extra safety.


Washing with Baking Soda

There's a paper published in 2017 by the University of Massachusetts.

Published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry under the title "Effectiveness of Commercial and Homemade Washing Agents in Removing Pesticide Residues on and in Apples".

This paper studies the effectiveness of home and commercial cleaning agents in removing pesticide residue from fruits.


To summarize the paper,

Washing with a 10mg/ml baking soda solution for 8 to 12 minutes almost completely removes pesticide residue.

If you're concerned about pesticide residue, soaking vegetables in a 10mg/ml baking soda solution for 8-12 minutes and then rinsing will remove almost all of the pesticide.


The Most Versatile Washing Method: Soaking in Water


There are many methods, such as using baking soda, diluted bleach, fruit-specific detergents, or vinegar.

However, based on various experimental results, the most versatile method is simply soaking in tap water and then rinsing.

The differences aren't that significant.


I was recently considering buying a fruit-specific detergent, but...

I've changed my mind and will just soak and rinse in water.


When you can't remember the washing method, just soak in water and rinse!!

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