Scrub-a-dub-dub, It's Good For the Grub

Washing our fruits, veggies, meats and fish before we eat them is really important, even if you are buying organic.  Travel, pesticides, grimy hands and other factors are all decent reasons for a good scrub.  Just giving them a quick rinse with tap water doesn't always do the trick.  Our suggestion?  Fill your sink about 1/3 of the way with cold tap water.  Add about 1/4 cup of white vinegar (I say about a 1/4 of a cup because in our house we measure by "glug."  You know, that noise liquid makes when it is being dumped out of a jug...two glugs is about a 1/4 cup.  Clearly this is not an exact science.)  Feel free to use generic white vinegar...the brand at my store is call No Thrills...I kid you not.


First victims: Dump your hearty produce into the sink, lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits, apples, pears, root veggies, et all.  After they have gone for a swim for at least 30 seconds, give them all a good scrub with a veggie brush (the more fun the scrubbie the more fun the job and the more likely you'll be able to recruit little helpers - Bed Bath and Beyond and Target always has fun ones in store), rinse with water and dry on a clean towel.  


Next up, more delicate fruits and veggies like berries, lettuces, etc.  Only keep them in the water for a short while (under 30 seconds).  Skim them out using a slotted spoon or colander.  Rinse, and place on your clean towel.  


Finally, your meats or fish.  Again, only about 30 seconds in the water should do fine and then give them a rinse.  Dry on paper towels, or a specific clean towel that will immediately get placed in the laundry after its job is completed.  Just because we are washing our meat, doesn't mean we still shouldn't be careful to avoid food associated diseases like Salmonella. Yuck.


Timetable tips:


-Hearty produce can be washed after purchase and used for the entire week.  I say, get it all done at one time and then it is ready for you when you want it!
-Delicate produce can only stand to be in the fridge for 1-3 days after washing.
-Meats and fish should be washed the same day you want to use them.  


One last tip on cleaning, then I promise to get to the more fun kitchen stuff, but food safety is important.  You can also use this concoction (water and several glugs of white vinegar) to clean your counter tops.  It is a great alternative to chemicals and works to disinfect and get your counter tops sparkling.  We keep a spray bottle under the sink and use it instead of chemical alternatives.  Not only is it better for you, but it is better for our environment.  


And remember, everything is possible with a full belly.