Should You Wash Ready-to-Eat Produce?

Q: Should you wash ready-to-eat produce?

A: No, you do not need to wash ready-to-eat produce. In fact, rewashing can increase your risk of getting sick because your produce may become contaminated with bacteria from your sink, countertop, cutting boards or other kitchen surfaces.

However, you should always wash produce that does not come prewashed before eating it. This is true even for fruits and vegetables that have a rind you plan to peel like watermelon or cucumber. Otherwise, you could spread bacteria and other contaminants when you slice the fruit or vegetable.

Here are some washing tips:

• Use a brush and water to scrub fruits with a hard rind like watermelon, honeydew and other melons.
• Wash delicate fruits like berries under fast running water. Friction from the water helps remove bacteria and pesticides.
• Remove the outer layer of leaves from cabbage and lettuce.
• Rinse herbs in cold water and dry with paper towels.
• A produce wash can be expensive, use salt water as a cheap and effective alternative. Mix 1 tablespoon of salt with ½ cup of water in a spray bottle and spray the vegetables. Then, rub and rinse well under water. Afterwards, dry the produce with a paper towel. One study comparing tap water, diluted vinegar, produce spray, and salt water found that salt water was best at removing pesticides.

—Registered dietitian April Verdi, MPH, RD, LD