Baking soda hack: Cleanse your fruits of pesticides easily
Fresh fruits appear to be healthy and full of vitamins, but they may contain trace amounts of pesticides, preservatives, and dirt. Simply rinsing them under running water is often insufficient to remove all harmful substances. Fortunately, there's a simple and effective way to clean fruits of pesticides that doesn't require expensive products. You only need one item from your kitchen cabinet to effectively eliminate most chemical residues.
Pesticides are commonly used in fruit cultivation to protect them from pests and diseases. Unfortunately, their residues can settle on the skin of fruits and sometimes even penetrate deep into their structure. Consuming such products without thorough washing may increase the risk of ingesting harmful substances. Fortunately, baking soda works as a natural cleaning agent, helping to effectively remove pesticides, waxes, and other chemicals. So, how should you wash fruits properly to ensure they are truly clean?
How to effectively wash fruits with baking soda?
This simple method allows for the removal of up to 80% of pesticides that might remain on the skin of fruits.
Ingredients:
- 1 quart of water,
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda.
Instructions:
- Pour the water into a bowl and add the baking soda, mixing thoroughly to dissolve it.
- Place the fruits in the solution and leave them for 10-15 minutes, then rinse them thoroughly under running water and dry with a paper towel.
Why does baking soda work so well?
Baking soda is a natural cleaning agent that dissolves and neutralizes pesticides, as well as removes dirt and waxes applied to fruits to extend their shelf life. It is safe, non-toxic, and does not change the taste of fruits, so you can use it to wash apples, grapes, strawberries, citrus, and other products. Unlike plain water, which only rinses surface dirt, baking soda penetrates the pores of the skin and helps remove even invisible contaminants.
Does baking soda remove all contaminants?
While washing fruits in a baking soda solution significantly reduces pesticide levels and removes waxes and dirt, it's important to remember that it is not a method that completely eliminates all chemical substances. Pesticides used in agriculture can penetrate inside fruits, especially those with thin skins, such as strawberries, blueberries, or grapes. Therefore, the best solution is to choose fruits from organic farms that are not sprayed with synthetic plant protection products. However, if that is not an option, regularly soaking fruits in a baking soda solution is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce the consumption of harmful substances. It's also worth remembering that peeling fruits additionally reduces the amount of pesticide residues—although unfortunately, along with it, valuable fiber and vitamins are lost.
