Fruits and vegetables are very important for our health. The French National Health and Nutrition Programme recommends eating five fruits or vegetables a day. Five portions of fruit or vegetables of approximately 80 to 100 grams per day.

However, before eating your fruits and vegetables, it is important to wash them thoroughly to eliminate all the bacteria present. Even if you buy your fruit from an organic store or grow it at home, it can contain germs that are harmful to your health. To consume and appreciate all the flavors of strawberries, here is how to properly wash this red fruit.

Why you shouldn’t wash your strawberries with water before eating them

Strawberries. Source: spm

Some people think that it is enough to wash strawberries with water to eat them, but that is not enough. Fresh fruits and vegetables do not naturally contain microorganisms that can cause foodborne illnesses, but during their cultivation they can come into contact with bacteria, present in the soil, in the water or in wild or domestic animals.  These fruits and vegetables   can also be contaminated during transport   or even during their installation on market stalls  .  Strawberry lovers,  you will certainly consume more of them,  so it will be important   to wash them well before eating them.  Especially since by washing strawberries with water, you risk clogging them and altering their taste. As a result, they will be less tasty and flavorful.

–          Washing your strawberries with water is not enough to consume them

Washing strawberries with water. Source: SPM

Washing strawberries with water will not help you remove all the bacteria and pesticides that are on them. If you wash them with water alone, you could develop foodborne illnesses from the bacteria and germs still on the fruit. Washing strawberries with water is a simple solution, but it will not remove pesticides from non-organic fruit. To safely consume store-bought strawberries,  you will need   to wash them with a powerful cleaner   to remove any germs that may be on the fruit.

How to properly wash strawberries before eating them?

Discover these methods to properly wash your strawberries and consume them without pesticides.

–          Clean the strawberries with vinegar

Strawberries and cider vinegar. source: spm

Now you know that water is a simple solution for cleaning strawberries, but not the most effective one. To remove pesticides, bacteria, and dirt from your strawberries, you can use apple cider vinegar. In a container, pour the equivalent of three cups of cold water and one cup of cider vinegar or white vinegar. Then,   soak your strawberries for about twenty minutes   in the obtained solution. To finish, rinse your strawberries with cold water, remembering to drain them to prevent them from acidifying.

–          Clean the strawberries with baking soda

To clean your strawberries, you can use baking soda. Soak your strawberries in a solution of water and baking soda. To do this, simply mix one tablespoon of baking soda with four cups of water and   soak the strawberries in it   for  five   minutes  . Finally, rinse them with cold water. The baking soda will remove dirt and pesticides from the strawberries.

–          Wash the strawberries in red wine

You can soak your strawberries in   red wine diluted   in   two glasses of water for ten minutes  . Then, rinse them one by one to remove all traces of pesticides.

–          Wash the strawberries with salted water

Soak the strawberries for a few minutes in a   mixture of water   and   a few tablespoons of salt  . Then rinse them with cold water to remove any salt residue and dirt.

When you wash your strawberries, treat them gently because they are very sensitive fruits. They will always be tastier and you will be able to enjoy them with pleasure and enthusiasm.