Pesticides - how to effectively get rid of fruit and vegetables?

We should always wash fruits or vegetables before consumption. However, in the case of products bought in the shop, washing is not enough. Practically every fruit or vegetable nowadays is sprayed with chemicals, which are to protect against pests, and later against losses in transport. What to do to get rid of harmful substances? The way is simple!

Do you buy fruit washing liquids? Check their composition!

You can use ready-made products, sold most often in shops with healthy food. Vegetable washing-up liquids are designed to remove all microorganisms that can harm us and pesticides. If we look at the composition of liquids, in most of them we will find acidic substances that remove bacteria. However, they often lack ingredients that purify fruits or vegetables from chemical agents.

Homemade way for bacteria and pesticides

An effective way to free our food from these substances is to immerse fruit and vegetables in a properly prepared bath.

The first bath will ensure the removal of bacteria, including E.Coli, Listeria, Salmonella. Immerse vegetables and fruits in acidic water and leave them there for 2 to 3 minutes. In order for the water to fulfil its purpose, we must add vinegar (half a glass of vinegar per liter of water) or citric acid (2-3 tablespoons per liter of water). Holders of ionizers can set the device to pH 2,5-3,5.

The next step is the removal of pesticides. These are oily substances, invisible to the naked eye, which protect agricultural crops from pests. They protect them so effectively that it is difficult to get rid of them even after brushing. From the point of view of farmers, this is an advantage, as the plants are not deprived of their protective measure even in the rain. However, the consumer of such fruit or vegetables must find a way of cleaning food from harmful additives.

After a bacteria-removing bath on the surface of fruits and vegetables, we pour water over our products again. This time the water must have an alkaline reaction. To do this, add 1 tablespoonful of purified soda per litre of water or, if you have an ionizer, set it to pH 10 - 11.5. Leave vegetables and fruits in this mixture for about 2 - 3 minutes. The water may turn yellowish in colour or become cloudy, we will also notice a greasy film. This is a sign that pesticides have been removed.

We finish this short but useful activity by rinsing the products in water, this time without any additives. With 6 minutes, we can be sure that fruit and vegetables are only a source of health.

Make good habits

It is very important that the habit of bathing fruit and vegetables in acidic and alkaline solution should always be used, without exception. When we bring other products from the store, remove impurities and microorganisms immediately and put them cleanly in the fridge. In this way, the refrigerator will only cleanse food that is suitable for consumption.