What Should You Pay Attention to When Washing Fruit?

The most effective way to wash fruit is not simply to rinse it with water, but to brush or rub the skin. For firm-skinned fruit such as apples and pears, a soft brush removes dust and the wax coating much better than running plain water over it. This difference is especially noticeable with fruit eaten with the skin on: an apple rinsed only under the tap may still have a fine layer of dust on its skin. For fruit that grows in clusters or has soft flesh, such as grapes and strawberries, soaking it in a bowl of water for a few minutes and then rinsing it thoroughly is more suitable than brushing. Choosing a washing method to suit the fruit helps clean it while preserving its integrity.

Why is there a wax coating on fruit, and how can it be removed? Apples, pears, and some varieties of plums have a thin wax coating on the skin, either natural or added after harvest. It slows moisture loss and protects the fruit from scratches during transport. Plain water does not remove the coating completely; brushing with warm water, or soaking the fruit in warm water for a few minutes and then drying it, removes most of it. If the skin looks dull after brushing, that is a sign that much of the wax coating has been removed. This step is not necessary for fruit that will be peeled, but brushing should not be skipped for fruit eaten with the skin on. Take particular care with fruit prepared for children.

How should clustered fruit such as grapes and strawberries be washed? When these fruits are held directly under the tap, water does not fully reach the inner parts of the cluster. Put the cluster in a colander and repeatedly fill and empty a wide bowl of water around it so the water reaches every surface. For grapes, hold the cluster by its stem and gently swish it in the water to help dislodge dust trapped between the grapes. Remove strawberry stems after washing; if they are removed beforehand, water gets inside the fruit and dilutes its flavor. For more delicate fruit such as raspberries and blackberries, gently swishing them in a bowl prevents crushing, unlike a strong stream of water from the tap.

Do vinegar or baking soda in water help? Adding a few spoonfuls of vinegar or a pinch of baking soda to a bowl of water helps dust and residue on the fruit's skin come away more easily. Rinse the fruit thoroughly afterward; otherwise, a faint taste may remain on the skin. This method makes a difference especially for apricots and peaches, whose rough skins collect dust more easily. If the fruit is left in the water for a few minutes, the vinegar or baking soda has a more noticeable effect. Washing with soap or detergent is not recommended; these substances may seep into the pores of the skin and may not rinse away completely. For cleaning, vinegar and baking soda already found in the kitchen are therefore a safer choice than soap.

When should fruit be washed: after shopping or before eating? Washing fruit as soon as you get home and putting it in the refrigerator may seem convenient, but moisture makes fruit soften faster in the refrigerator. For this reason, most fruit should be washed just before eating; fruit stored unwashed lasts longer. As an exception, you can wash and dry a portion that will be eaten soon and store the rest unwashed. Washing is recommended even for fruit eaten peeled, such as bananas, because a knife can carry dust from the skin to the flesh while peeling. For fruit eaten in slices, such as oranges and tangerines, washing the skin for the same reason helps prevent the knife from carrying dust to the flesh while slicing.