Generally, we wash all the vegetables before eating or cooking. Especially after the COVID pandemic, most of us are washing or disinfecting all the things that come from outside. But experts warn that some vegetables should never wash before eating. Because rinsing them may do more harm than good. Here we have tried to explain which vegetables you shouldn’t rinse after taking them out of the fridge.
Never wash prepackaged leafy greens
Professionals wash the lettuce or leafy greens properly. So, you don’t need to clean it again. Because your kitchen sink may contaminate with these pre-washed greens while you washing those. A dietitian Neva Cochran said, “Washing them again [at home] can increase the risk for leafy greens to pick up bacteria from your sink, countertops, cutting boards, knives, colanders, salad spinners, bowls, or other items or surfaces in your kitchen the greens might come in contact with during the washing process.”
You might aware of the proper disinfection of the vegetables. But your kitchen may not have the facilities and other cleanliness standards like a professional cleanliness system. The professionals clean and wash the greens before packaging. Cochran also said, “Leafy greens in sealed bags labeled ‘triple washed,’ ‘washed’ or ‘ready-to-eat’ are produced in a facility inspected by a government regulatory authority and operated under Good Manufacturing Practices.”
Expert suggestions
People may not like the idea of eating contaminated food. For this reason, most of us are concerned about washing all the vegetables before eating. Ready-to-eat leafy vegetables are using modern processes and techniques to prepare safe-to-eat foods. The associate professor of food science at Cornell University Randy Worobo said, “Pre-washed greens are treated with a mix of water and a food-grade sanitizing agent, like hydrogen peroxide or chlorine,” Randy also mentioned that there is no risk at such low levels, “reduces and prevents the spread of bacteria from the product surface.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) also suggest not to wash meat or poultry before cooking it. CDC stated, “Washing raw meat, chicken, turkey, or eggs can spread germs to your sink, countertops, and other surfaces in your kitchen. Those germs can get on other foods, like salads or fruit, and make you sick.”