How to wash strawberries so they are truly clean: the correct washing method is here

1. Washing with running water

Due to the conditions of the growing process, strawberries are prone to microbial diseases, especially store-bought strawberries, which are often treated with pesticides. But their skin is very delicate and the flesh is sweet and juicy, so they are not suitable for rubbing clean by hand. It is recommended to use running water and wash for a longer time, to avoid soaking them in water containing pesticides, which would let the pesticides seep in.

2. Soaking in lightly salted water

Strawberries that have been washed under running water still cannot be eaten right away, because the surface of a strawberry is rough and harmful substances may remain in every little point. It is recommended to soak them briefly in lightly salted water or rice-washing water.

Take a clean container, put the strawberries in, and pour in the rice-washing water or salt water. Salt water is chosen because it has a sterilising effect and kills harmful microorganisms; rice-washing water is used because it is alkaline, while pesticides are generally acidic, so to a certain extent it helps promote their breakdown. It does not need to take long, about 5 minutes.

3. Points to note

(1) Many people, for the sake of cleanliness, like to use cleanser or dishwashing liquid to wash fruit, but this is actually wrong; a large amount of chemicals and harmful substances will remain on the fruit, so avoid this when washing strawberries.

(2) Many people, for convenience when eating, like to pull off the strawberry stems, but this easily lets pesticide residue seep into the flesh, so it is recommended to remove them only when eating.