Distilled or pure water is the best way to rinse vegetables and remove bacteria and pesticides. Soaking vegetables in a bowl of distilled water for at least one minute is effective. Homemade rinses, such as a mixture of white vinegar and water, are also inexpensive and easy to make. Commercial vegetable rinses are not much more effective than water.
The prevalence of bacteria and pesticides on some vegetables can make you think a special vegetable rinse is needed. The best plant rinse may simply be distilled or pure water, which you can use to wash away bacteria. Commercial vegetable rinses are available, but they are expensive and not much more effective than water. You can also try making your own vegetable rinse at home to save money.
An easy and inexpensive vegetable rinse simply involves soaking fruits and vegetables in a bowl of distilled water. If the tap water in your area is very clean and doesn’t contain a large amount of minerals, you can use that as well. Soaking your greens in clean water will remove a large amount of bacteria, pesticides and other contaminants from your skin. The vegetables should be left in the water for at least one minute.
Using water with a lot of added minerals or chemicals will not rinse vegetables effectively. Distilled water is preferred over other types, including spring and faucet, as any contaminants have been removed from the water. You can find distilled water in most grocery stores.
There are times when it’s not a good idea to fill a large sink or bowl with water. If water is scarce or if you live in an area experiencing a drought, you may prefer to use a spray to remove dirt from products. Commercially available sprays can be expensive, but they drastically reduce the amount of water you need to use. Most sprays have been shown to remove bacteria and dirt from the surface of the product. To use sprays, spray it on vegetables and let sit, then rinse.
If soaking your greens in water and buying a commercially available vegetable rinse isn’t an option for you, you can easily make your own rinse at home. Homemade rinses cost much less than what you see on store shelves. They also use common household items and ingredients.
A simple rinse is two parts white vinegar to three parts water. Mix the vinegar and water in a spray bottle. To use, spritz on greens and let sit and then rinse. For a slightly nicer vegetable rinse, add the juice of one lemon and two teaspoons (10 mg) of baking soda to the bottle. The lemon will add a nice scent and the baking soda will provide a scrubbing action.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
