Washing fruits and vegetables
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Here are some quick tips for washing fresh produce:
Bananas, avocados and watermelon: Scrub skin with a scrubber to eliminate contamination that could be transferred to flesh after touching or cutting through the exterior.
Cantaloupe: Give this extra scrubbing. “We’ve had a number of outbreaks of salmonella associated with cantaloupe,” says Michelle Smith, a food safety scientist with the Food and Drug Administration.
Apples, tomatoes, plums, pears and peaches: They fall into the easily bruised category and should be washed under running water.
Raspberries: Rinse with a gentle spray of cool water.
Leafy greens: The FDA advises removing the outer leaves from heads of greens, such as iceberg lettuce or cabbage, rinsing the inner portions and using a salad spinner to dry them.
Pre-washed bagged greens: According to the Partnership for Food Safety Education, a consortium that includes the FDA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies, these items do not need to be washed again in the home.
Mushrooms: The Mushroom Council says that because mushrooms are porous and have a sponge-like reaction to water, they should not be washed. Instead, gently rub away any dirt with a soft brush or damp cloth.
Many people ignore this advice. In large part, it depends on how the mushrooms will be used. If they will be eaten raw, brushing can work better because it won’t affect the texture of the flesh the way water can. But for use in cooking, the difference is negligible.
Broccoli: Break or cut the head into small florets, which can be placed in a strainer and rinsed under cool water. Do not soak broccoli.
Cauliflower: Cut the cauliflower into florets by pulling back the leaves and cutting around the core on the underside. Pull or cut out the remaining core. From the inside, cut the head into smaller pieces.
Corn: Though protected by the husk, ears of corn still should be rinsed under cool water before eating, according to the Fresh Supersweet Corn Council. The silk, those white threads that cling to the ear, are best removed by brushing the ear with a soft brush or towel.
Leeks: Trim off and discard the root end as well as the upper two-thirds of the green stalk (which is tough). Cut the remaining portion of the stalk in half lengthwise and submerge in a bowl of cool water.
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