How To Clean Fruits With Baking Soda

How To Clean Fruits With Baking Soda is one of the easiest, yet effective ways to clean fruits. Baking soda is such a versatile ingredient that we have many other uses for it as well. You can clean your fruits very easily with baking soda! Once you’ve gathered the fruits you want to preserve, the next step is cleaning and washing them. If you opted for home canning, then you will

have to sterilize the jars and lids first in order to prevent any bacterial contamination. You can make your own fruit cleaning spray for fresher and healthier fruits. Just mix baking soda with water and put it in a spray bottle then you can use to clean fruits by spraying them! It works great! Perhaps baking soda is one of the most versatile substances that we can find in our kitchens. It is used to

bake cakes and pies, but it can also be used for cleaning, treating burns and many other useful things. Here are 7 health benefits of baking soda that everyone should know about. Baking soda is an incredible chemical compound which provides a bunch of health benefits. These benefits may include pest control, cleaning, pH balancing, water treatment and even skincare but that’s not all. Baking soda also helps hair growth!

How To Clean Fruits With Baking Soda

How to clean fruits with baking soda? If a baking soda paste is used, the surface of fruits would be sterilized and then a good chemical reaction will happen after dipping them in water or acidic solution. Almost all types of fruits and vegetables contain a good amount of potassium, which is an important component of cell and body fluids. But did you know that there are specific foods that are high in potassium? Below is a list and how much potassium is found in each of them.

Eating a diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables provides important health benefits and nutrients. Considering the nutritional benefits fruits and vegetables provide, it is important to select, clean, and prepare them safely.

The Best Way to Wash Fruits and Vegetables

While purchasing ready-made sprays and cleaners from your local grocery stores may seem ideal, research has found that a simple solution of either vinegar or baking soda will do the trick to having clean produce.

Food preparation and sanitization can be made easy by using these two basic everyday household items commonly used to clean produce.

So which one should you use? Here are a few major reasons why these are the easiest and effective ways to wash your produce.

Should I Wash My Fresh Produce in Vinegar?

Whether it’s to clean or sanitize a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, vinegar is a safe choice to use as a great at-home cleaning remedy.

Lingering on the surface of fruits and vegetables are many different fungi and bacteria, which can be effectively removed by using vinegar.

Depending on the type of bacteria, the type of fruit or vegetable, the concentration of the vinegar, and how long you intend to soak your produce, vinegar’s effectiveness can vastly differ.

Although vinegar is a great way to clean your produce, it can be quite expensive over time and sometimes leaves foods with an unpleasant vinegary taste. If you run into problems like this, don’t panic; there is another alternative solution, baking soda!

Although vinegar is a great way to clean your produce, it may not be the most cost efficient option over time and sometimes leaves foods with an unpleasant vinegary scent. If you run into problems like this, don’t panic; there is another alternative solution, baking soda!

Why Baking Soda?

Baking soda is best for removing pesticides and residues both on the surface and beneath the skin of most produce. A ratio of 1 teaspoon of baking soda per 2 cups of water is recommended.

Washing Vegetables 

For leafy greens 

• Fill a medium to large-sized bowl with the greens, cover with cold water 
• Add a teaspoon of baking soda, mix well 
• Allow your greens to soak 1-2 minutes, gently stirring them every few seconds
• Drain vegetables in a strainer, thoroughly rinse any residue off, then towel dry the leaves

For vegetables with firm peels

• Fill a medium to large-sized bowl with cold water 
• Add a teaspoon of baking soda and then add vegetables 
• Soak the vegetables in the solution, between 1-2 minutes 
• Grab a scrubbing brush for veggies and gently scrub the surface 
• Finally, rinse the vegetables off with fresh water and store or prepare to your liking

Washing Fruits

Smooth-skinned fruits, for example, apples, grapes, nectarines, and plums, can be washed in a baking soda bath through the same process as vegetables. 

For berries, avoid soaking them; instead, rinse them under cold water in a strainer. To clean with baking soda, sprinkle a small amount directly on the fruit and gently rub the baking soda in over running water.

Although the thought of leaving your fresh haul of berries from the grocery store unwashed can be troublesome, immediately rinsing your berries increases the amount of moisture inside of them, which produces mold and spoils fruit quicker. So, if you’re washing your berries, it’s important to do so just before you intend to eat them. 

Does water alone effectively clean produce?

When it comes to buying fresh fruits and vegetables, we all understand the importance of healthy and safe eating. 

Washing with water reduces bacteria and residues left by pesticides on the surface of fruits and vegetables. Research shows that when used to rinse or soak produce water can remove 98 percent of bacteria from surfaces, more so than cleaning products bought off the shelf. 

Water alone is effective at removing some surface residues, but going the extra mile by giving your produce a vinegar or baking soda wash can help to remove any lingering bacteria and also give you peace of mind that you’re consuming safe and clean produce.

Food Safety And What You Should Be Doing

The goal of properly washing is to prevent and reduce the ingestion of harmful bacteria that can cause illness.

Here are some helpful tips from the CDC about shopping, selecting, and bringing home fresh produce:

At the Grocery stores or Markets: 

• Select produce that’s not damaged or bruised
• Keep pre-cut fruits and vegetables cold by selecting produce that is already refrigerated or kept cooled on ice cubes. 
• Separate both fruits and vegetables from raw meat, poultry, and seafood in shopping carts and grocery bags. 

At home: 

• Before and after preparing fresh produce, make sure to wash your hands, kitchen utensils, food preparation surfaces, and surrounding areas;
• Before cutting, eating, or cooking, wash or scrub fruits and vegetables under running water;  
• Do not use bleach to cleanse fruits or vegetables. Deter from using any type of disinfecting products on food;
• Keep fruits and vegetables separate from any type of raw foods when storing; and
• Refrigerate fruits and vegetables within a 2-hour timeframe after you cut, peel, or cook them.

Whether we are caught in the middle of a global pandemic or not, make practicing these simple and easy food safety measures a habit.

 Cleaner Fruits and Vegetables with Baking Soda

All produce, from leafy greens or fresh herbs to firm fruits and veggies, should be washed before eating. Use baking soda and cold water when washing produce to help remove chemical residue and dirt.

How to Remove Chemical Residue from Produce

Everyone knows eating more fresh fruits and vegetables is a healthy choice. But fruits and veggies can pick up dirt, chemicals, and wax in their journey from farm to your crisper drawer. So how do you properly wash produce to make sure it’s safe to eat?

Don’t use soap to wash your produce – soap residue can seep into the veggies or fruit and cause an upset stomach. Bleach may be your friend for sanitizing your disposal or laundry, but it should never be used on food or even on dishes that hold food. And hot water will wilt, bruise, or begin to cook some veggies or fruits and can provide a pathway for microorganisms to get inside the produce.

Since bleach, soap, and hot water are no-go’s for how to clean produce, what should you do? The US Food and Drug Administration, the US Department of Agriculture and other scientists agree: use a cold water soak with baking soda to effectively help remove dirt, chemical residue, and other unwanted materials from your fresh vegetables and fruits.

How to Wash Vegetables and Fruit Naturally with a Baking Soda Wash

Even vegetables and fruits you peel should be washed before prepping or eating to ensure that chemical residue and dirt are removed. However, you should only wash your produce just before you plan to eat it. The moisture from washing, when left on the veggies, can harbor bacteria and cause your produce to go bad faster.

Here are the basic steps for how to wash fresh fruits and vegetables:

1. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and warm water. Your hands could have germs and dirt on them, so it’s best to begin by cleaning yourself.
2. If you’re using your kitchen sink to soak your produce, wash and sanitize it first.
3. To wash a large amount of produce, such as an entire head of lettuce or kale or a bag of apples, use your kitchen sink. For a smaller amount of fresh fruit, vegetables, or herbs such as a bunch of cilantro or a pint of blueberries, use a large, clean mixing bowl.
4. Fill the bowl or sink about 2/3 full with cold water, leaving room to add the produce without the water spilling over the edge. Add ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda to the cold water. For a sinkful, add 3 or 4 tablespoons to the water and swish it around to distribute. For a mixing bowl, add 1 teaspoon baking soda to every 2 cups cold water.
5. If your produce is on a vine, such as tomatoes, or leafy like a head of lettuce, separate the produce and remove all vines and outer leaves.
6. Submerge the fruit or vegetables in the baking soda water.
7. Let soak for 12 to 15 minutes. The time will help the baking soda do its job. Swish the produce around in the water or push it down several times to ensure all sides of the produce is being cleaned.
8. For firmer vegetables and fruits, such as melons, apples, carrots, or potatoes, use a soft-bristle vegetable brush to scrub the surface. Lightly rub more fragile produce with your fingers. The scrubbing helps to remove the loosened dirt and softened wax and chemicals.
9. Remove the produce from the water and let dry thoroughly before prepping or eating. For fresh herbs and leafy vegetables such as kale or chard, try layering leaves between tea towels or paper towels to soak up moisture.

Wash fruit with baking soda?

Is a quick rinse with water enough to remove all pesticide residues from fruit?

Pesticides are used to increase farm productivity. However, pesticide residues may remain on the produce (e.g. fruit) after harvesting, resulting in intake by consumers. In very large quantities, pesticides may have potential adverse health effects on humans. Therefore, you may want to limit your pesticide intake.

Companies often use a Clorox bleach wash to reduce pesticides (i.e. submerging for 2 min and rinse off with water). Is this sufficient to remove all pesticide residues or should other washing techniques be used?

This study investigated the effectiveness of a 2-min thorough hand rinse with water, a 2-min Clorox bleach wash, and 2, 8, or 12 min baking soda (NaHCO₃) washes for removing pesticide residues on apples. The baking soda concentration was 10 g baking soda per liter.

The standard 2-min Clorox wash was effective in reducing some pesticides from the apples. However, the 2-min hand rinse with water was slightly more effective, which suggests that hand rinsing is more beneficial than a passive bath. The 2-min baking soda bath was the most effective of all 2-min treatments, suggesting that baking soda is particularly effective. Still, a 12-min baking soda bath was needed to remove all pesticide residues from the apples’ surface.

Although a 12-min wash with baking soda removes all pesticides from the surface, not all pesticides were removed from inside the apple (about 80% were removed).

It’s important to note that dietary intake for most pesticides is about 100 times lower than what is considered the acceptable daily intake. Do not avoid fruit intake out of fear that it does more harm than good because of pesticide residues.

 CLEANER FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WITH BAKING SODA

Everyone knows eating more fresh fruits and vegetables is a healthy choice. But fruits and veggies can pick up dirt, chemicals, and wax in their journey from the farm to your kitchen. So how do you properly wash produce to make sure it’s safe to eat?

How to Wash Vegetables and Fruit Naturally with a Baking Soda Wash

Here are the simple steps for how to wash fresh fruits and vegetables:

Step 1 – SHAKE

Fill the bowl or sink about 2/3 full with cold water, leaving room to add the produce. Add ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda to the cold water. When washing fruits and vegetables in a sink add 3 or 4 tablespoons to the water and swish it around to distribute. For a mixing bowl, add 1 teaspoon baking soda to every 2 cups of cold water.

Step 2 – AGITATE

Submerge the fruit or vegetables in the baking soda water.

Let soak for 12 to 15 minutes. The time will help the baking soda do its job. Swish the produce around in the water or push it down several times to ensure all sides of the produce is being cleaned.

*For firmer vegetables and fruits, such as melons, apples, carrots, or potatoes, use a soft-bristle vegetable brush to scrub the surface with baking soda. For softer produce, such as berries or mushrooms lightly rub baking soda on produce with your fingers. The scrubbing helps to remove the loosened dirt and softened wax and chemicals. *

Step 3 – RINSE

Remove the produce from the water, rinse and let it dry thoroughly before prepping or eating and you’re done.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN FRUIT AND VEGETABLE WASH WITH A FEW SIMPLE INGREDIENTS

You may be used to rinsing your fruit and vegetables in the sink before you eat them in order to remove the invisible grime of production. But if you are worried about imperceptible chemical pesticides, fungi and pathogens, a quick water wash might not be enough.

Pesticide residue coats much of the produce available at the grocery store. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), nearly 70 percent of the produce sold in the United States comes with pesticide residues, according to an analysis of test data from the Department of Agriculture. Every year, EWG names the “dirty dozen,” or the 12 fruits and vegetables that should not be purchased conventionally because of the prevalence of pesticides.

Produce sprays or soaks are great for cleaning the pesticide residue, along with other potentially harmful microbes, off of vegetables or fruits. Even for produce like mangoes where you do not consume the skin, washing the produce will keep any microbes on the exterior from being transferred to the flesh when the fruit or vegetable is cut.

There are commercial vegetable washes available, but some are made with synthetic chemicals and the ones that aren’t are hardly worth the cost given how easy it is to make your own with items you have around your kitchen. Besides, some research shows that certain commercial vegetable washes are no more effective than tap water.

There are several different recipes for vegetable washes depending on what you are washing and how thoroughly you want it cleaned. In general, though, you will want to use one of several natural cleaning agents: vinegar, lemon, salt or baking soda.

The most basic fruit and vegetable wash can be made from a one to three mixture of water and distilled white vinegar. You can also add a tablespoon of lemon for extra disinfecting power and a fresher taste. Put the mixture in a spray bottle, mist your produce and let sit for five minutes. Wash thoroughly before eating. The acidity of vinegar and lemon will also help remove wax or residue from produce stickers.

If you do not have a spray bottle or are looking to clean the surface area of your leafy greens more efficiently (spraying each individual spinach leaf would certainly be thorough, but tedious), you can also soak your vegetables in the water, vinegar and lemon mixture. Let heartier vegetables sit for 20 to 30 minutes, wash thoroughly and eat. Leafy salad greens and tender berries will only need a few minutes to soak. Use a colander to drain the tender produce, spray gently but thoroughly with water and allow to dry before consuming. You can also use a salad spinner filled with the soaking solution for quick cleaning.

Salt is also effective and leaves behind less of an aftertaste than vinegar. A 2007 study conducted by Nanjing Agricultural University and the Institute of Food Safety Research and Inspection in China showed that both vinegar and salt solutions (about one parts salt to 10 parts water, ideally) were effective to remove pesticides like chlorpyrifos, DDT, cypermethrin and chlorothalonil. To use salt instead of vinegar for your soak, simply use one or two tablespoons of salt in your water instead of vinegar and lemon.

Baking soda, whose alkalinity helps to neutralize many common acidic pesticides, is generally thought to be the most effective produce wash. A 2017 study conducted by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst showed that soaking apples in a mix of water and baking soda helps remove upwards of 80 percent of certain pesticides, which is far more than rinsing them with water and is even more than was removed after rinsing the fruits in bleach. Baking soda soaks, however, are generally not recommended for tender produce like berries and mushrooms.

If you want to use baking soda instead of lemon and vinegar, you will only need about one teaspoon for every two cups of water. Let your produce soak for 15 to 20 minutes before removing and rinsing thoroughly.

Studies show that the extra effort to make your own natural produce cleaner is not a wash. Even if you are shopping for produce in the supermarket aisles instead of the farmers market, you can take a few extra low-cost steps to make sure the food you consume is as clean as it possibly can be.

Health Benefits Of Baking Soda

Many people don’t know the health benefits of baking soda because they use it to bake and clean only. Baking soda is an inexpensive and a wonderful chemical compound used in almost all kitchens. Not just that, baking soda has many other uses as well, which makes it a very valuable commodity in the market. You can use baking soda for cleaning purposes, but here we are focusing on its amazing health benefits. Understand this article to find out why many doctors recommend regular intake of baking soda.

• Baking Soda Packs a PunchBaking soda may be one of the simplest items in your pantry, but it packs a lot of power when it comes to health benefits. It’s single ingredient, sodium bicarbonate, is a base that reacts with acids to lower acidity and keep pH levels balanced. That’s why it works so well in your stomach, on your teeth and skin, and with your food. The health benefits of baking soda cover such a wide range of ailments, you’ll want to keep a box in every room.
• 1. Improves DigestionDrinking baking soda puts a stop to acid reflux and indigestion, because it changes stomach acid into sodium chloride and neutralizes heartburn. The bubbling that happens when you put baking soda in water also causes you to burp, which relieves bloating and gas. Simply dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda into a glass of water, mix and drink. Don’t give baking soda to kids under 6-years-old, unless advised by a doctor.
• 2. Whitens TeethSmile! Because baking soda is an affordable way to keep your teeth white and bright. Use baking soda for your teeth whitening a few times a week to maintain a healthy smile and good oral health. You can brush with a toothpaste containing baking soda or make your own paste with baking soda and water. For tough stains on your teeth, apply the paste and let it sit for two minutes before brushing. As a bonus, baking soda will freshen your breath, too.
• 3. Reduces Inflammation and InfectionDrinking a baking soda tonic, which is simply baking soda mixed in water, can help lower inflammation in the body. This helps with pain caused by joint inflammation, like arthritis. It can also help gout and urinary tract infections, by reducing acid in the urine.
• 4. Naturally DeodorizesRun out of deodorant? Head to the kitchen for a fast fix. Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply under your arms. You can also brush dry baking soda onto you armpits. This natural remedy is also a good way to avoid the parabens and aluminum that are in many deodorants and antiperspirants.
• 5. Treats Skin ProblemsA box of baking soda in the bathroom will also keep your face looking clean and clear. It works as a mild exfoliant to remove dead skin, clear pores, and dry up pimples and acne. Baking soda is antibacterial, so it can help prevent breakouts, too. Try mixing it with honey or olive oil for a homemade skin scrub that’s gentle enough for your face and entire body.
• 6. Soothes Bites and StingsA paste of baking soda and water is an easy trick to reduce pain, swelling and itching from stings and bites. It works for everything from bee stings to insect bites to jellyfish stings. Apply the paste to the affected area and let it dry. Leave it on for 15 minutes. Then scrape or rub the dried paste off your skin and re-apply as needed.
• 7. Improves Athletic PerformanceIf you do endurance training, baking soda can keep you going longer. It’s alkaline properties reduce the effects of lactic acid build up after you’ve been exercising for a long period of time. Try this easy-to-make energy drink: Mix four cups of water with a half teaspoon of baking soda, one teaspoon of sea salt, one tablespoon of lemon juice, and two tablespoons of raw honey. It’ll give you more stamina and help your muscles recover quickly.
• 8. Cleans Your Fruits and VeggiesThis last health benefit of baking soda protects you from the food you eat.If you worry about the negative effects of pesticides, but like to eat the peel on your fruits and vegetables for extra nutrients, try soaking your produce in a baking soda wash for 12 to 15 minutes. Research has shown this is one of the most effective ways to get rid of pesticides without peeling them.