The new hygienic requirements that the pandemic somehow dictates us have led us to get used to washing everything that enters our home, especially fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables. But, is it healthy to wash these foods before putting them in the refrigerator?
Should I wash and sanitize fruits and vegetables before putting them in the refrigerator?
Due to the pandemic, our hygiene habits have changed profoundly. We have already gotten used to washing our hands and clothes frequently , and at the same time sanitizing everything we touch (or are about to touch), to avoid the risk of contracting Covid-19 . But when it comes to fresh food, doubts arise since, for example, we know that if we wash the meat before cooking it, we can cause some bacteria present in it to “jump” to the kitchen surfaces, but in the case of fruits and vegetables? ? Should they be washed as soon as they are bought and before putting them in the fridge?
Experts suggest never washing whole fruits and vegetables before storing them in the refrigerator : contact with water increases humidity and favors the growth of mold and bacteria . This, of course, causes food to spoil faster and could force us to throw away food that, if stored correctly, would have a longer life.
How to properly store fresh fruits and vegetables?
In this way, what we can do is follow tricks to correctly store fruits and vegetables in our refrigerator:
- Store fruits and vegetables in their own container or fruit drawer , separated by films or airtight containers (keeping different types of fruits in the same container causes faster deterioration);
- Do not overfill the fruit drawer and buy only the fruit necessary to consume in a few days;
- Cover the pre-cut fruits and vegetables with cling film or it will be much better to place it in airtight containers;
- Keep fruits and vegetables separate from meat, poultry, fish and other foods in the refrigerator : meat and fish, separated from other wrapped foods, should be placed in the coldest compartment and make sure they do not leak liquids that could contaminate other foods; dairy products, eggs and other foods that must be kept in the refrigerator once opened should be placed at an intermediate temperature; cheeses must be kept in closed containers or in their original packaging;
- Don’t put heavy objects on top of fruits and vegetables;
- Keep the refrigerator at a temperature of 4 ° C or below and clean it regularly.
- To avoid the danger of the presence of viruses and bacteria on the surface of vegetables and fruits, we can proceed, before consumption, to a thorough cleaning, using for example bicarbonate since some studies on bicarbonate have shown its effectiveness to eliminate no only bacteria, but also pesticide residues both on the surface and underneath the fruit peel.
