Fruit and Veggie Cleaning Tips
by Dr. Michael Roizen
A reader wants to know the best way to clean fresh fruits and vegetables.
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Q: What’s the best way to wash fruits and vegetables?
A: You need to be a bit meticulous about detoxing your fruit and veggies to eliminate pesticide residues. Here’s the best way to do it.
- Wash all produce vigorously for 30 to 60 seconds using a brush and running water. This can be as effective as washing in chlorinated water, which reduces bacteria as much as 100-fold.
- Wash the “toxic 10” twice. These 10 fruits and veggies have the most pesticides: apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, kale, lettuce, nectarines, peaches and strawberries. Remove and discard outer layers of leafy greens before washing.
- Scrub produce with inedible skins—citrus, melons, squash and even bananas.
- Wash organic produce to remove all the natural stuff used as fertilizer.
—Dr. Michael Roizen, Internist, Chief Wellness Officer of the Cleveland Clinic and Realage.com co-founder
