We don't know where our produce comes from. Even if they say it's organic it still may have excess dirt, pesticides, fertilizers, and bacteria on the surface. Yuck...yuck...yuck!
I’m going to show you how to thoroughly clean your produce so that you can eat healthy, clean food!
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How many apples do you touch in order to find one without bruises? I have to look through at least ten apples in order to find the one I want. I’m touching the produce with my bare hands, and I know I’m not the only one!
On top of that—the people who stock the produce at the grocery store, and the cashiers who handle your fruits and vegetables at checkout even have germs on their fingers (eww) which get transferred to your food! It's VERY important to ensure that our food is properly washed before we consume it. We don't want to get sick! I always make it a practice to wash all my fruits and veggies as soon as I bring them into the house. That way when hunger and snacking strike, I don't have to stop to take time to wash my snacks.
In my wash, I use apple cider vinegar because it helps cut back on the bacteria and pesticides. I use lemon juice because it is a natural antimicrobial property. The apple cider vinegar and the lemon work together to effectively clean my fruits and veggies.
There are two different ways that you can use to clean your produce.
The first way is the spray method. I use this on big fruits and veggies like apples, tomatoes, avocado, bananas.
The second method is the soak method. The soak method works really well with trickier items like broccoli, kale leaves, and grapes. When you soak these things the ingredients are able to get into all the small nooks and crannies ensuring that your produce is thoroughly washed!
Simply spray, or soak, rinse with cold water, dry, and enjoy!
The proof that this works is in the evidence left behind! This is an organic cilantro bunch that I let soak for ten minutes!
When I took the cilantro out of the produce bag, it appeared to be fresh and clean, but boy do the eyes deceive! Trust me when I say that you’ll feel that much more confident in what you are eating!
Fruit & Veggie Spray
1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup water
Add your ingredients to a clean spray bottle and shake to combine all the ingredients. I recommend using a glass spray bottle because it's better for the environment and the acidity of the solution won't disrupt the glass like it would for plastic. I also like to label my bottles with a little tape and permanent marker so as to not get my spray bottles confused. I store this produce solution in my refrigerator for freshness. It’s good for a month or so.
I HIGHLY recommend even going as far wipe your cans down. Use cardboard or reusable straws to consume your bevvies! They tend to get dust and germs on them as well!
If you aren’t quite sure about making your own produce spray, you can certainly buy a solution. Here’s the one I have used in the past!
Let me know what you think and how it goes for you!
xo,
Mari