After only 15 seconds of washing fruits and vegetables in cold water, up to 98 per cent of bacteria will be eradicated – but wash for too long and you will damage their natural protective layer and lose important vitamins.
With apples and pears, most of the vitamins are in the skin. So instead of peeling the fruit, wash it thoroughly. Soft fruits such as berries and grapes should be soaked in water, instead of squashing them under running water. Dry on a paper towel.
For melons, mangoes and avocados, even if you don’t eat the skin, there will be germs and pesticides that can reach the fruit’s pulp while you’re peeling and cutting them. Rinse the skin with warm water before preparing your next fruit salad.
For potatoes, carrots and radishes, scrub away the dirt with a brush. Then wash the products, peel them and wash again. Finally, always wash packaged salads, because they can be full of yeast and mildew. Let the leaves soak in cold water, then dry in a salad spinner. Also note that acidic salad dressings can have disinfectant effects.
* Helpling; www.helpling.ae
