Often we can only rinse the fruit we peel, however we should wash them better to get rid of all pesticides and chemicals from the skin. It is worth scrubbing thoroughly, even if you are not going to use the peels, which can be used for cakes or tea.
Fruit available in stores often comes from crops that maximize yieldsand therefore pesticides are usually used (however, this does not mean that we do not have to wash organic citrus fruits). In addition, they are also secured during transport, for this purpose we use, among others: preservatives and fungicides. Thanks to this, the citrus fruits do not mold and can be eaten longer. Sometimes they are also waxed and polished to make them look better.
Pesticides, especially in larger quantities, are not neutral to the body, agents such as imazalil may even contribute to the development of cancer and infertility. Therefore, it is very important to wash them before peeling and eating them. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the safe consumption of this substance is 0.05 mg per 1 kg of body weight. This means that a person weighing, for example, 60 kg should not eat more than 3 mg a day. However, it is worth making this value even lower.
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In order to get rid of or significantly reduce the amount of harmful substances on citrus peels, they should be washed thoroughly. Parts of the preparations found on the fruit are soluble in water. However, just rinsing is not enough. It is best to wash, e.g. oranges one at a time, under running water using a fruit brush or the rough part of a sponge. Additionally, you can use dishwashing liquid and then rinse the fruit thoroughly. This method will work for most citrus fruits.
Fruits with much thicker skin, e.g. grapefruits, should be scalded with boiling water before washing. This will allow for even better removal of harmful substances. What if, for example, we want to caramelize the crust and use it for a cake? In such a situation, citrus fruits need to be washed twice. First in water with apple cider vinegar or citric acid to get rid of bacteria. Then in water with baking soda, which will remove pesticides and preservatives. After cleaning the fruit, we must wash our hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Let’s remember that fruit from organic farming or home-grown fruit should also be washed. They do not contain pesticides, so they do not have to be scalded with boiling water or washed with baking soda or vinegar. However, it is worth washing them with warm water and removing bacteria or other impurities that accumulated during collection or transport.
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