How to Clean Produce with Baking Soda
Learn how to clean produce with a simple baking soda solution that can effectively clean your fruits and veggies from dirt or chemical residues by breaking them down.
Clean Produce With Me
Cleaning your produce from the store or farmers’ market to remove harmful chemicals is an often overlooked step in maintaining a healthy kitchen. I am not one to completely trust those organic labels. Not to in any way sound like an alarmist, but there have been some studies to suggest reasons we shouldn’t.
Thankfully, there are steps we can take to help clean off the residue that may be present in our food. Though baking soda is not a disinfectant of any sort. Research has found that when soaked in baking soda, the particles from some common pesticides begin to break down and release from the produce. You can read more on this here.
In this blog post, I will explain how to make this simple produce rinse and how I use it to help clean off our produce. It is not a guarantee that all pesticides present will be gone after soaking in the baking soda solution. Rather it is still important to buy the best quality foods we can afford when purchasing them. However, whether you buy organic or non-organic produce; I think everyone can agree, that it is still a good idea to clean it properly or as best we can.
I hope you find this rinse helpful in your home.
Why I Love This Rinse
This is a cost-effective way to clean our produce. I love the fact that I can take my large mixing bowl or use the sink (when cleaned). Fill with water and a dash of baking soda. Then allow the produce to soak while I put away my other groceries. It is a simple solution quite literally. One that when done, makes cooking easier since my produce is washed and ready to use.
Baking Soda Rinse Is…
- The best way to naturally clean fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Helps remove pesticide residues from fresh produce.
- The best option for a cost-effective solution to wash produce.
- A good rinse that can help reduce harmful germs.
- As simple as filling a bowl of cool water with baking soda, soaking, and drying with a clean towel.
What You Will Need To Make It
6 cups of cold water
1 tbsp. of baking soda
You can follow this simple ratio to make your baking soda solution. So in other words, if you are using a 12-cup bowl, add at least 2 tbsp. of baking soda to that bowl. It is not an exact recipe but you will want to do at least 1 tbsp. for every 6 cups of cold water.
Directions for How to Clean Your Produce
Take a large bowl (or you can use a clean sink) and add as many cups of cold water as needed to fill the bowl. Sprinkle in the above ratio of baking soda to water. Stir it well. The solution will be slightly cloudy. This is how you want it to look. Toss in whatever fruits or veggies need cleaning.
Allow the product to sit in the solution for 15 minutes. When ready, rinse the product off with cold water, then either pat dry or allow them to air dry before putting it away. It is that simple.
Tips on Cleaning Produce
I use this baking soda rinse for store bought produce and even produce or fruit I find at farmer’s markets since the use of pesticides is so common. If cleaning lettuce or cabbages heads, avoid just cleaning the outer leaves. I find the best approach is to cut the head in half to allow the solution to penetrate all the layers of the leaves. Rinse all the crevices when done and pat dry with a clean cloth or you can also allow it to air dry.
For firm produce like a melon or potato, it is a good idea to scrub the outside with the solution to help work up any particles that are stuck on their uneven surfaces. To wash fruits, do the same solution and allow them to soak in the solution as directed.
For delicate fruit, be careful not to sprinkle the baking soda directly onto the surface as this can burn it. Test the soaking process midway to ensure the fruit is not effected by the solution. Rinse with cold running water and again, pat dry with a clean paper towel or cloth, or allow it to air dry.
Produce it Works Best For
- Hand Fruits– apples, pears, peaches, apricots, plums, nectarines
- Citrus– oranges, lemons, limes
- Melons– all types
- Tomatoes– cherry, and large varieties
- Cucurbits– cucumbers, zucchini, squash
- Root Vegetables– white and sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, turnips, radishes
- Cabbages– all types
- Peppers- all types
- Leafy Green Vegetables– all types
- Brassicaceae – broccoli, and cauliflower
Dirty Dozen and The Clean 15
Studies have found that some produce items on grocery store shelves are more prone to having pesticides than others. This is known as the Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15. This term was brought to my attention when researching organic foods. I wanted to understand the reasons for purchasing them over the regularly marked produce available.
This list is updated each year by the EWG (Environmental Working Group) which gets its information from the United States Department of Agriculture Pesticide Data Program. This is a list I keep saved on my phone for shopping days. However at this point I have most of them memorized these days.
It is a relevant list to refer to when deciding whether you should opt for the organic option. It is no secret that not everyone can buy all organic produce. The cost can be considerably higher than that of a regularly priced produce item. In some areas, organic produce might also not be as available as standard fruits and vegetables.
It is also important to understand that although that sticker might indicate an organic label. There have been studies done showing even organic foods have traces of pesticides on them. That is where ensuring we wash our fruits and veggies properly each time they are purchased becomes necessary. If interested you can either print or save a copy of this list in your phone notes for the next time you are in the supermarket.
FAQ’s
Do I need to refill my bowl of water with new solution for each piece of fruit I clean?
Yes, the best practice would be to soak the fruit or produce and then make a new bowl or sink full of solution with up for the next batch. This helps avoid any cross contamination as you wouldn’t want to soak anything in dirty solution. A good rule of thumb is to soak the produce as you buy it in the solution and then put it away so it is always ready to be enjoyed.
How do I Soak Small Produce like cherries, cherry tomatoes, or brussel sprouts?
I soak these the same way. In a large bowl with the solution. I strain them with strainer to help catch them when its time to rinse. After straining the solution off, then give them a quick rinse with clean water and dry as directed then place in the storage bowl or bin.
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Baking Soda Produce Rinse
a simple baking soda solution for cleaning your produce
Materials
- 1 large bowl or a sink
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- 6 cups of cold water
Tools
- strainer
- large bowl
Instructions
Taking a large bowl, add as many cups of the cold water as needed to fill the bowl. Sprinkle in the above ratio for baking soda to water. Stir, the solution will be slightly cloudy. Toss in whatever fruits or veggies that need cleaning. Allow the produce to sit in the solution for 15 minutes. When ready, rinse the produce off with cold water, then either pat them dry or allow them to air dry before putting away.
Notes
*If cleaning lettuces or cabbages heads. You should cut the head in half to allow the solution to penetrate all the layers of the leaves. Rinse all the crevices when done. If cleaning a more hard surface like a melon or potato, it is a good idea to scrub the outside with the solution to help work up any particles that are stuck on the surface.
I’m wondering if it is ok to use this on multiple batches of different vegetables? ie soak apples, then use same water for peppers, etc.
Hi Shela!
Good question. I just soak things once in the solution then drain and make more, then add the new batch of produce. The nice thing is baking soda is pretty inexpensive and this way I am riding the produce of whatever is on the surface of that particular fruit or vegetable. Hope this helps and you find the solution a good method for you 🙂
Can this method be used for strawberries.? And blueberries? LL
It can but be careful not to let the baking soda touch the surface of the soft fruit or it will burn it. The baking soda should be completely dissolved into the water before adding the fruit. Hope this works well for you 🙂