Fruits such as strawberries, popular for the sweetness and ease with which they consume themselves natural, are among the most delicate foods when it comes to sanitizing.
As they are often ingested raw and do not peel, it is essential to ensure that they are properly washed to remove residues from pesticides, viruses and bacteria.
A study conducted by researchers from the South Korea Toxicology Institute, published in 2023 in the scientific journal He analyzed different strawberry washing methods to find the most effective.
Conclusions highlight that there are simple, accessible and proven ways to significantly reduce the contaminants present in these fruits.
The best technique: diluted vinegar
According to the study authors, the most effective method is to submerge whole strawberries in a 3% vinegar water solution.
For practical purposes, this means adding 30 ml of vinegar for each liter of water.
The fruits should soak for at least two minutes. After this time, it is recommended to rinse, drain and dry with absorbent paper or a clean cloth.
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This procedure has shown to reduce pesticide residues detected in the analyzed strawberries by 48.7%.
In addition, vinegar contributes to the elimination of pathogenic microorganisms, including some common viruses and bacteria.
Other possible solutions
The investigation also tested two alternatives:
– Water with 3% of salwhich eliminated about 45.7% of pesticide waste;
– Water with 3% green teawhich reduced 38,9% of waste.
Both are viable, although less effective than the vinegar solution. It should be noted that soaking fruits for excessive time can change the taste or texture, so the exposure time should be controlled.
Cleaning yes, but not absolute
Despite the effectiveness of these methods, the researchers stress that none of them totally eliminate pesticides, especially those that have already been absorbed inside the fruit.
Correct hygiene is a preventive measure, but should be complemented by a careful choice of products, whenever possible from biological production or with known origin.
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