Fruits and vegetables are essential for a healthy diet, but many of them come with unwanted pesticides that can linger on their surfaces.
Washing your produce with plain water might not be enough to remove these harmful residues.
Fortunately, a simple, natural solution – baking soda – can help remove up to 96% of toxic pesticides from your fruits and vegetables, according to studies.
Here’s everything you need to know about how baking soda works, why it’s effective, and how to use it to ensure your produce is safe to eat.
Why Use Baking Soda?
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a natural, non-toxic substance with powerful cleaning properties.
It works by breaking down the chemical bonds of pesticide residues, making them easier to wash away.
Benefits of Using Baking Soda to Wash Produce:
- Removes up to 96% of pesticides from fruits and vegetables.
- Safe for your health and the environment.
- Affordable and readily available.
- Helps eliminate dirt, wax, and other impurities from produce.
How to Wash Fruits and Vegetables with Baking Soda
What You’ll Need:
- 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda
- A large bowl or basin
- Fresh water
- A soft brush (optional)
Steps:
- Fill a Bowl with Water:
Use a large bowl or your kitchen sink to create a baking soda wash. Add enough water to fully submerge your fruits and vegetables. - Add Baking Soda:
Mix 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda into the water. Stir until the baking soda dissolves completely. - Soak the Produce:
Place your fruits and vegetables in the solution and let them soak for 10-15 minutes. This allows the baking soda to break down pesticide residues effectively. - Scrub (Optional):
For produce with tougher skins, like apples or cucumbers, use a soft brush to gently scrub the surface while they soak. - Rinse Thoroughly:
After soaking, rinse your produce under running water to remove any remaining baking soda or loosened pesticides. - Dry and Store:
Use a clean towel to dry your fruits and vegetables before eating or storing them.
Which Fruits and Vegetables Need This the Most?
Certain fruits and vegetables are more prone to pesticide contamination. The Dirty Dozen, a list published by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), highlights produce with the highest pesticide levels:
- Apples
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Grapes
- Kale
- Peaches
- Cherries
- Pears
- Tomatoes
- Celery
- Potatoes
- Bell peppers
Focus on washing these foods thoroughly, especially if they’re not organic.
How Effective Is Baking Soda?
A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that soaking produce in a baking soda solution removed 96% of pesticides, including surface and penetrative residues like thiabendazole. Compared to water or commercial produce washes, baking soda proved significantly more effective.
Additional Tips for Washing Produce:
- Peel When Necessary: For heavily contaminated items, peeling the skin may further reduce pesticide exposure.
- Wash All Produce: Even organic fruits and vegetables benefit from a baking soda rinse to remove dirt, bacteria, and natural residues.
- Store Washed Produce Properly: Ensure your produce is completely dry before storing to prevent mold or spoilage.
Why It’s Important to Remove Pesticides
Pesticide exposure can harm human health, especially with long-term consumption. Potential risks include:
- Hormonal disruptions.
- Neurological issues.
- Increased cancer risk.
Washing produce with baking soda minimizes these risks, making your fruits and vegetables safer for you and your family.
Using baking soda to clean your produce is an easy, affordable, and highly effective way to remove harmful pesticides and impurities.
Incorporating this simple practice into your routine ensures that the food you’re eating is as safe and healthy as possible.
Try this method today and share it with your friends and family to help them enjoy cleaner, healthier meals!