When it comes to produce and meat I try to buy organic as much as possible. Because if I can reduce the amount of carcinogenic pesticides my family consumes, support small sustainable farms, and help the environment, why not right?
However, sometimes purchasing organic is just not possible! I live in Hawaii and certain varieties of produce aren’t always available in organic. Other times, organic is about three times the cost of non-organic, and the package is a LOT smaller too. Well the solution is simple, clean your produce with vinegar!
Studies have shown that washing your produce with water and vinegar can significantly lower the pesticide residue and remove harmful bacteria. Now theres no guarantee that ALL pesticide residue will be removed. But I feel better knowing I have removed as many pesticides as possible from my produce by using this wash.
How to Remove Pesticide Residue
- Fill a large bowl with 4 parts water to 1 part vinegar.
If you’re doing a large batch of produce, you can also fill the sink with water and vinegar and let it soak. Just always make sure your sink is nice and clean first.
- Soak the fruits or vegetables in the vinegar water for 20 minutes.
- Thoroughly rinse the fruits or vegetables with water.
After thoroughly rinsing your produce, you won’t taste the vinegar at all. Using this vinegar wash is a great solution for when you can’t afford to buy organic, or it’s just not available. Additionally, even if you have organic produce, you can still use this vinegar wash to remove natural pesticides that farmers use, and harmful bacteria that may make you sick.
I still choose to buy organic as much as possible, especially when it’s produce from the “dirty dozen.” You can check those out at 12 Foods You Should Buy Organic! Give this vinegar wash a try and tell me what you think by commenting below! =)
