There are few things worse than enjoying fresh fruit or vegetables in a foreign country only to find that you have also ingested bacteria, pesticides, parasites, or other bugs. Sometimes the best deterrent from suffering from the physical effects of such contaminants is avoidance, especially at certain restaurants. But there are also some low-budget things you can do to clean and remove these undesirables yourself. Hopefully, a few simple precautions will help keep your digestive system happy so you can enjoy your wanders more fully!
Different people successfully use different recipes, sometimes depending on what issues are common where they live, but here are a few common methods.
The simplest and most widely used way to clean your fruits and vegetables is using white distilled vinegar. Soak your fruit or vegetables in one cup vinegar mixed with three to four cups of clean water, either cool or at room temperature. Avoid using untreated tap water, as this can carry bacteria as well. Bottled water is usually best when you are unsure of the condition of the tap water, if that is the cleanest you have access to. After soaking your fruit or vegetables for five to ten minutes, rinse them thoroughly with clean water. This will also help remove the taste of vinegar that may remain on the skin of certain produce. Then either scrub with a vegetable brush and clean water, if necessary, and/or pat to dry your produce with a dry paper towel.
When cleaning herbs like parsley or vegetables with stems, be sure that the stem is sticking out of the soaking water so that they don’t absorb as much vinegar. And don’t cut the vegetables or herbs before soaking them. Cut away damaged or bruised parts of the produce after soaking and rinsing.
Some have found that using apple cider vinegar on more porous fruits and vegetables is preferable. Don’t let it soak for long, only a couple of minutes. Rinsing is not necessary after using apple cider vinegar. It depends on your preference.
You can also add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to two cups of clean water to help remove pesticides and bacteria. Soak for 12-15 minutes and rinse with clean water.
Additionally, soaking berries in 1 tablespoon of salt mixed with 1 cup of clean water for 15 minutes can remove larvae inside the fruit.
Here are a few other reminders:
- Always wash your hands with soap and water for 30 seconds before and after handling and cleaning fruits and vegetables, and before and after any food preparation for that matter!
- Remove and discard the outermost layer of lettuce and cabbage.
- Always do your best to purchase from a reputable supplier.
As much as we prefer to enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables, sometimes, especially while traveling, the best thing to do is to cook them thoroughly before eating them, or only eat cooked vegetables while out and about, in order to hopefully kill any bacteria or parasites that may be lingering, even after a good cleaning. Avoid eating raw meat and raw fish as well. We don’t always know the standard of cleanliness when we are eating out, especially in a foreign country.
If you do find that you have ingested some of these undesirables, please go to:
How to Kill Ingested Bacteria and Parasites
Happy wandering!
New World Wanders 