V for vegetables for #AtoZChallenge: homemade vegetable & fruit soak for washing

Do you grow your own fruits & vegetables? If yes, I am really envious of you. For many of us who rely on commercially produced fruits & vegetables, there are concerns of pesticide residues found on the skins of many fruits & vegetables.



The Dirty Dozen chart put out by the EWG (US-based Environmental Working Group) lists the fruits and vegetables most impacted by chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

Image is a courtesy of Cybele Masterman @ Blah Blah Magazine

Dr. Sanjay Gupta tours a grocery store to show us which foods have the highest levels of pesticide residue.

While the soft skins of fruits are edible and contain nutrients, I often peel them away. 

In the past, I just used water to clean our fruits & vegetables before consuming. Now, I try to wash more thoroughly using homemade wash, thanks to vinegar & salt.

In brief, wash - peel - wash - cut into bite chunks - eat.



Colorful vegetables and fruits always make us happy!


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Vinegar is typically 4-18% acetic acid by mass. Table vinegar tends to be more diluted (4% to 8% acetic acid).

PRO of vinegar:
♥ have antibacterial and anti mold properties.
♥ The acetic acid in vinegar can effectively kill mycobacteria, even highly drug-resistant strains (PMID: 24570366)
♥ remove clogs from drains. Agnes has used vinegar to remove stains from toilet bowl.

Please be careful:
Acetic acid is a strong eye, skin, and mucous membrane irritant. Concentrated acetic acid is corrosive, please use dilution with water.

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For #AtoZChallenge on 2014 April 25 Fri, I lovingly present a recipe to make homemade vegetable fruit soak:

Ingredients:
♥ 200 ml white vinegar (白醋)
♥ 800 ml filtered water (过滤水)

Directions:
1. Add water to a large stainless steel pot with a lid. The lid helps to minimize the irritant nature of vinegar.
2. Add white vinegar following a ratio of 1:4 for vinegar:water. Stir to mix.
3. If the vegetables or fruits float, swirl them around.
4. Soak duration varies. For green vegetables & lettuces, 5 minutes. For delicate fruits (e.g. strawberries, blueberries), 5-10 minutes. For others (e.g. broccoli, bell peppers), do not soak for more than 30 minutes to minimize the loss of nutrients.
5. Gently scrub & rinse well. Use a colander if possible.  
6. Air dry for a while before storing them in the fridge. Wet vegetables will not last long, alternatively use clean kitchen cloth towels to wipe. 

Other tips that I love:
♥ DIY Fruit and Vegetable Wash by Mary Younkin @ Barefeet in the Kitchen
♥ DIY Homemade Vegetable Wash/ Preserver by Kearna @ Fabulessly Frugal
♥ homemade fruit vegetable spray by ServicefromHeart
♥ Do not soak mushrooms because they absorb water. Use a brush & invert the cap to remove dust & dirts under running water.



Check also our other #5minutemeal recipes.

With love,
ServicefromHeart
20140425