{"id":241666,"date":"2025-11-03T16:54:23","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T16:54:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/241666\/"},"modified":"2025-11-03T16:54:23","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T16:54:23","slug":"8-foods-youre-probably-not-washing-but-really-should-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/241666\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Foods You\u2019re Probably Not Washing\u2014But Really Should Be"},"content":{"rendered":"

While it may seem like no big deal to skip washing fruits, vegetables, and other foods<\/a> before eating or cooking, there are actually plenty of reasons to make this a regular habit. These include removing dirt and debris, extending shelf life, and reducing pesticide residue. We all have a mental rolodex of foods we typically wash\u2014and plenty that fall into the \u201cno need to wash\u201d category because they\u2019re packaged, have inedible or thick skins, or for other reasons. However, that \u201cno need to wash\u201d list may actually be longer than it should be. Here, we\u2019ll highlight some foods you might not be washing at home\u2014but should\u2014to help reduce food waste, unwanted bacteria and debris, and potential pesticide residue.\n<\/p>\n

The Importance of Washing Food Before Use <\/p>\n

\u201cWashing fresh vegetables and fruits before cooking or eating helps remove bacteria that may have accumulated during production, transport, or handling,\u201d shares Dani Dominguez<\/a>, MS, RDN, registered dietitian nutritionist and founder of SunBright Wellness<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

Abbey Thiel, PhD, food scientist<\/a>, writer<\/a>, and consultant, agrees, adding that \u201cfresh produce<\/a> naturally contains small amounts of dirt, debris, and even tiny bits of insects or other environmental material because it\u2019s grown outdoors\u2014not in a sterile setting,\u201d she says. \u201cWashing fruits and vegetables helps remove both visible and microscopic debris, lowering the chance of accidentally consuming it.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Reducing pesticide residue is another reason many Americans wash their produce\u2014though this may be less of a concern than we think. \u201cFruits and vegetables sold on the market are already within strict safety limits<\/a> for pesticide residues, meaning they\u2019re safe to eat as is,\u201d Thiel says. \u201cHowever, washing produce\u2014especially with slightly warm water\u2014can help remove additional residues, even if the difference isn\u2019t dramatic\u2014it serves as an extra precaution rather than a requirement for safety.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Washing your produce may even increase shelf life. \u201cRinsing and thoroughly drying fresh produce removes microorganisms that speed up decay,\u201d Thiel says. \u201cSince Americans waste about a third<\/a> of their fresh fruits and vegetables<\/a>, proper washing and drying can help extend shelf life by a few extra days.\u201d And outside of produce, there are other foods that benefit from a good rinse prior to cooking for a tastier final product, including certain grains.\n<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget to dry your food afterwards\u2014particularly if it’s headed back into the fridge. \u201cWhere people go wrong is they don\u2019t thoroughly dry the produce after washing,\u201d Thiel says. \u201cThis can lead to mushiness and faster rates of spoilage. Bacteria and mold need water to grow, so you need to dry these foods after washing.\u201d Storing them in an airtight container with a paper towel will also help you get the longest shelf-life<\/a> possible from the food you\u2019ve purchased.\n<\/p>\n

8 Foods You Should Wash Before Eating <\/p>\n

These eight foods are not always washed in many American households\u2014but certainly should be! And when we say \u201cwash,\u201d all that\u2019s required is plain water. \u201cThere are a lot of products that market themselves as fruit and vegetable washes, but you really don\u2019t need them,\u201d says Alison Ellis, MSc, RD<\/a>, dietitian and founder of The Toddler Kitchen in Victoria, British Columbia. \u201cRinsing fruits and vegetables under running water for 15 to 20 seconds and using a scrub brush for firmer produce is generally sufficient.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Melon <\/p>\n

While the thick skins of watermelon<\/a>, cantaloupe<\/a>, honeydew<\/a>, and other types of melon may lead you to believe that washing is not required, this actually isn\u2019t true! \u201cTheir rough, netted skin can trap bacteria, which may transfer to the flesh when cut,\u201d Thiel says. This means a good scrubbing is warranted for these delicious melons. \u201cA scrub brush is helpful for cleaning the crevices of the rind more effectively,\u201d Ellis suggests.\n<\/p>\n

Mangoes <\/p>\n

Similarly, mango skins<\/a> are thick and inedible\u2014so why wash them? \u201cTheir outer peels act as a barrier, but it\u2019s still a good idea to rinse them before cutting to prevent bacteria transfer,\u201d Thiel explains. Rinsing also helps remove any surface dirt that could otherwise be transferred to the flesh of the fruit when slicing.\n<\/p>\n

Apples <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll admit I\u2019ve been guilty of just quickly wiping an apple on my pants to clean it, but it\u2019s important to give apples a proper rinse<\/a>. Washing helps remove surface bacteria and dirt picked up during harvesting, transportation, or storage,\u201d Ellis says. This stands regardless of whether you plan to eat the apple skins or peel and discard it. \u201cEven if you\u2019re planning to peel the apple, it\u2019s still a good idea to rinse it first, since bacteria on the skin can transfer from the peeler to the inside of the apple,\u201d Ellis adds.\n<\/p>\n

Carrots <\/p>\n

Though many people peel carrots<\/a>, the skins of these root veggies are entirely edible\u2014especially after a good rinse\u2014and full of health-boosting fiber. But regardless of whether or not you peel your carrots, a very thorough washing is crucial. \u201cSince they grow underground, they may have soil bacteria,\u201d Thiel says. And who could forget the caked-on dirt that\u2019s often found on many carrots upon purchase? A scrub brush is the best way to dislodge and wash away both dirt and bacteria.\n<\/p>\n

Kiwi <\/p>\n

Eating kiwi skin<\/a> has gained plenty of attention on social media in recent years as an easy way to boost the fruit\u2019s overall fiber content\u2014and it\u2019s completely safe to eat after a good wash! \u201cFor those who eat kiwis with the skin on, it may be more intuitive to wash them,\u201d Ellis says. \u201cBut even if you\u2019re peeling them, it\u2019s still important to rinse the fuzzy skin to remove any dirt or residue that could transfer to the fruit when slicing.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Rice <\/p>\n

Though not a produce item, it\u2019s smart to give rice a good rinse<\/a> under the faucet before cooking. \u201cNot to remove bacteria, but to reduce excess starch and wash away any dust or dirt from handling and storage,\u201d Ellis says. Rinsing away this excessive starch will result in a fluffier final product\u2014often an elusive outcome for beginner rice cooks.\n<\/p>\n

Avocado <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s easy to forget about washing avocados<\/a> since we don\u2019t eat the skin, but it\u2019s still important to rinse them before cutting,\u201d Ellis says. Dominguez agrees, adding, \u201cwashing avocados before you peel prevents dirt, bacteria, or pesticides from transferring to the food,\u201d she says. \u201cA quick rinse and dry before peeling can make a big difference.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Quinoa <\/p>\n

And finally, rinsing quinoa<\/a> before cooking can help remove dust and debris just like rice\u2014but it can also result in a tastier final product. This is because it helps remove a natural coating found on quinoa called saponin<\/a>. When saponins aren\u2019t rinsed off quinoa, they can give your cooked quinoa a bitter, sometimes soapy taste.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"While it may seem like no big deal to skip washing fruits, vegetables, and other foods before eating…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":241667,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[102,6636,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-241666","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-nutrition","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/241666","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=241666"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/241666\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/241667"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=241666"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=241666"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=241666"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}