How do you remove pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables? A few simple methods to teach you

The actual effectiveness of "fruit and vegetable detoxifiers" is not high, yet pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables cannot be avoided. So how can consumers eat with peace of mind?

1. Rinsing under running water plus soaking: Washing with water is the basic method for removing surface dirt and pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables, mainly used for leafy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, and bok choy. Generally, first rinse off the surface dirt repeatedly with clean water, then soak in clean water for 10 minutes, and then rinse three times under running water.

2. Rinsing under running water plus soaking in alkaline water: Organophosphate insecticides decompose easily in an alkaline environment, and this method is an effective measure for removing organophosphate insecticide contamination from fruits and vegetables. First rinse the surface dirt off the fruits and vegetables, then soak them in alkaline water; generally add 5 to 10 grams of alkaline powder to 500 milliliters of water, and after 5 to 15 minutes take out the fruits and vegetables and rinse them 3-5 times with clean water.

3. Peeling method: For fruits and vegetables that can be peeled, such as apples, pears, kiwis, cucumbers, carrots, winter melon, pumpkin, zucchini, and eggplant, peel them as much as possible before eating.

4. Storage method: During storage, pesticides slowly decompose over time into substances harmless to the human body, so fruits and vegetables that keep well can be stored for a certain period to reduce pesticide residues. Examples include types that do not rot easily, such as pumpkin and winter melon.

5. Heating method: Carbamate insecticides decompose faster as the temperature rises, and the heating method is an effective measure for removing carbamate pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables. For example, for celery, cabbage, green peppers, and green beans, first wash the surface contaminants off the fruits and vegetables with clean water, then put them into boiling water, take them out after 2-5 minutes, and then wash them 1-2 times with clean water.