When to clean?

[Shirley Panek]

In reading all the responses to how people clean their fruits and veggies, I was wondering if there was a consensus on when to clean them. I mean, do you clean them when you bring them home from the store, so all you have to do is grab them and use them when you want, or do you clean as you need.

And does anyone know if they last longer washed or unwashed?

I'm normally a clean as needed person, but since my son has gotten older and can open the fridge by himself (he's 3), when he wants to grab a snack (like an apple), I'd rather know that they're cleaned. Although I'm a bit lazy and don't really want to wash everything as soon as I get home. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[lorilei]

I've heard many differing opinions on this topic, but I still ascribe to the "clean before use" philosophy.

Berries, in particular, will rot if washed and not dried properly. Plus, washing strawberries & blueberries ahead of time depletes part of their Vitamin C supply (or so I have heard).

I haven't found that cleaning veggies helps them to last longer. I'd be so bold as to suggest that the dirt protects them http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Shelly]

I agree with Lorilei - I never wash until I use, especially berries. EXCEPT, sometimes I will take the last big bunch of grapes, wash them, put them in a bowl and stick them back in the fridge in plain sight so they get eaten before they spoil. I have this stuff my mom bought me called Veggie Wash that is supposed to remove waxes from produce. I have read that these products don't really work, but I've been using it anyway. Now there is a new product in the stores called "Fit" - anyone else seen it? So far, I haven't been willing to spend the money, but I'd be interested in knowing if it really does work.

[jillr]

Originally posted by Shelly:
Now there is a new product in the stores called "Fit" - anyone else seen it? So far, I haven't been willing to spend the money, but I'd be interested in knowing if it really does work.

I too am curious about "Fit". Anyone know anything more about it than what the label says?

Jill

[Vanessa]

I wash veggies when I am going to use them same for fruits. No I don't use the new fruit was. Veggies and fruits last longer unwashed. If they are from my garden and have mud etc I do wipe with a cloth & leave out so they are not moist before refrigerating.

[Pat]

I posted this on another thread but thought I would share it again. The consumer reporter on our television station did an experiment with Fit. She had a lab test lettece that had been washed in water. She soaked it in Fit following the directions and had the lab test the lettece again. There was almost the same amount of bacteria in the petrie dish after using the Fit as without.

[lorilei]

With all due respect to the study Pat mentioned (which is probably completely valid), FIT might not remove all the bacteria on your fruit, but it certainly does a number on the wax buildup -- and that makes a big difference in the overall "cleanliness" of the fruit. Pesticides hide in both the wax on the outside of the fruit and in the skins of the fruit, so getting rid of the wax is one step closer to getting rid of the pesticides...and that itself makes me happy http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

My fruit might not be sanitized, but it's cleaner than if I warshed it in H2O.

[LSB]

I, too, am a huge fan of FIT. I'm so glad it's available nationwide now! I used to have to get my friends in CO to send it to me.

It does make the produce cleaner - just try washing some spinach in water, and then in FIT. Plus you can almost feel it dissolve the wax off apples and cucumbers. A little bit goes a long way too, so it's economical.

[BarbaraL]

I also saw a report on Fit on TV. The conclusion was, as stated, that the bacteria levels were the same; but they even said they didn't check on the pesticides. I've been wondering about trying Fit; so far, I just wash with lots and lots of water.

[RunnerKim]

I guess I personally don't worry so much about bacteria. All bacteria is not evil - you need the friendly varieties to help you digest your food. And I'm of the mind that if you sterilize everything then your body never builds up resistence/immunity. Better to have some germs than none at all. That's not to say I want to ingest toxins, wax or dirt though - or at least any more than I have to!

[Liz M]

I was the one who started the FIT thread on the old board, and I have to say, I'm hooked since I started trying it. I think that fruits and veggies tast less like dirt after I've washed them -- especially pea pods and lettuce, which taste notoriously sandy to me. Maybe it's psychological, but I love the stuff!