Clean food isn’t just about eating clean or making the right food choice. It involves many other safe practices that include cleaning, washing, and storing it.
If you mess up even one of the basic steps to cleaning or eating right, that could end you up on a hospital bed.
Yes, that’s because over 3000 deaths occur every year from food poisoning alone in the US.
So, clean food isn’t just part of OCD or being a germophobe; it’s much more than that!
Why Wash Fruits and Vegetables?
Even before 2019, washing fresh produce has been common in most households and restaurants. But, since these foods are handled by a chain of people before they reach our doors, there’s a lot the apples and oranges are holding on to, other than dirt.
We really don’t want to have those microorganisms inside our system!
So, just the way we wash hands before eating, you need to clean the fresh produce before consuming it. That way, since most - if not all - of the germs and illness-causing bacteria would be washed off, there will be fewer chances of you and your loved ones falling ill.
Adequately washing fresh fruits and vegetables before you eat them can significantly reduce residues that may be left on them during their transit to your kitchen.
How to Clean Food?
So, how do we ensure the food we eat is clean enough and free from all sorts of bacteria and other contaminants?
Let’s go through it step-wise here:
1. Wash
The first step is to wash, but washing itself involves a lot. You need to make sure your hands are washed; the food is washed thoroughly, even the storage containers and other utensils, whichever are used, are washed well, so there aren’t many chances of your falling ill.
Wash Your Hands
Washing your hands has always been part of table manners and basic hygiene, even before 2019. Make sure you wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly, rubbing through to get rid of any germs and bacteria that may lead to illnesses.
Experts advise against anti-bacterial soaps these days, though, so just use the normal bar/liquid soap and make sure you wash them well and as often as possible.
Wash Cutlery and Other Utensils
Since the food is exposed to a host of cutlery and other utensils, you need to ensure everything it touches in your home or the kitchen is sanitary. That includes the sink, storage baskets, refrigerator where you’ll store them after wash, and even the cutting boards, cooking pans, countertops, etc.
Wash Fruits and Vegetables
Even if the fruits and vegetables you buy off the shelves look clean and shiny, you must make a habit of washing them before consuming them.
Here’s how you do it:
- First, toss them up to your sink (Make sure it is clean and washed properly) and rinse them well underwater.
- There is no need to use any soap or dishwashing liquid etc. in fact, avoid these as much as you can.
- Soak and rinse with acidic electrolyzed water at about 20ppm for 10 seconds to 1 minute. For more details, please contact us.
- Ensure to wash ALL fruits and vegetables before you get on to the next step of cooking or to consume, i.e., cutting, peeling, etc. this is to keep the bacteria and other germs from spreading to the unexposed part of the fruit.
- You may use a gentle scrubbing brush for tough-skinned foods like carrots, potatoes, etc. That way, you can clean off the accumulated dirt from the tubers and roots especially.
- Dry the fruit and vegetable before storing them. You can also use a clean towel to dry them when short on time. Else, let it air dry.
- Ensure you use separate storage utensils for fruits, vegetables, poultry, seafood, etc. Separation of foods is one key to keeping it healthy.
2. Cut Away the Bruises
Once the fruit and vegetables are washed, you need to check for bruises and rotten pieces. Do not mix these with the rest, as mold can quickly build upon them, affecting the rest of the produce as well.
Cut away any bruises or darkened areas; toss out all the rotten items.
When cleaning poultry, make sure you do a thorough check as well for any smell or rotten pieces. Such foods are hazardous and should be taken away and never be consumed.
3. Clean Leafy Vegetables
Ideally, vegetables like coriander, spinach, Brussels, etc., should have the outermost layer tossed away. This is the part where they come in contact with the most germs and bacteria. So you can safely remove the outer layer and place the rest in cold water. Make sure it is deeply submerged. Let it stay, rub a little and drain off.
Ensure you rinse these vegetables well in the end.
4. Washing the Delicates
Just like laundry, washing the delicate fruits, eggs, vegetables, etc., takes a separate round. For instance, if you are washing grapes, the method is again to let them soak. Then you should rinse these in a stream of water and rub them very gently to avoid breakage.
5. Wash the Poultry
Here’s the tricky part; we all love fish, meat, chicken, and poultry items. So how do we clean these?
Unfortunately, no matter how much you wash these thoroughly, you cannot get rid of the bacteria and germs. Before eating or preparing the meal, ensure you wash these in a clean sink and hygienic container. Take off any fats or non consumable parts before slicing them to size.
Then, once you are done with the cleaning, ensure you wash your hands and literally everything that has been touched or came in contact with the meat.
Some experts even advise against washing poultry, as that makes the kitchen and surrounding area unsafe.
Instead, let it cook at the right temperature, so there aren’t any leftover bacteria or dangerous microbes left around your kitchen or utensils.
Conclusion
Nothing beats the energy and other health benefits of adding fresh produce to our diets. These are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and provide a host of benefits for our bodies.
However, no matter how much you consume, ensure that the foods are washed thoroughly. Rinse them with water so there’s no leftover residue that may be consumed accidentally along with them.
So, make your health a priority today. Make sure you eat healthy food that’s safe and clean!
