In a previous article, we explained why you should wash ALL your fruits and vegetables before eating them, to avoid food poisoning. The same thing happens with strawberries, which need a good splash of water to clean them, but unlike other similar foods, these also require disinfection.
Dietitian Andrea Mathis, nutrition expert and website owner Beautiful Eats & ThingsExplain: “Strawberries have sponge-like abilities, which means they can easily absorb pesticides and bacteria.”. Likewise, he added that most people ignore that detail.
This is why a splash of water, even with soap, is not enough to have completely clean strawberries in your refrigerator. However, there are two very effective natural remedies to disinfect them and you know them very well: white vinegar and baking soda.
How to disinfect strawberries before eating them
The idea of applying these natural disinfectants is to eliminate any trace of bacteria that they have absorbed during collection and distribution. The same thing happens with the pesticides that had to be sprayed on the plant where the strawberries grow.
Put the strawberries in a bowl where they all fit, and once you place them under the tap, throw away the water and fill it again with four parts water and the rest with white vinegar. You are going to leave them submerged for about 5 minutes, and after that time, wash them again with cold water and dry them with a clean kitchen towel..
The second step is similar, only instead of white vinegar you are going to use baking soda. Place the strawberries in a larger bowl, add eight cups of warm water and drop two and a half tablespoons of baking soda, stir a little and let it rest.
About 5 minutes later, rinse them very well with cold water and now they will be ready to eat or keep in your refrigerator.. If you don’t have baking soda, you can use salt.
The action of the white vinegar and then the baking soda will eliminate any trace of fly larvae or worms that the fruit may have. Even if you have bought them in the best fruit store, and they even tell you that they are already clean, it is essential that you learn how to wash and disinfect them to share completely healthy food with your family.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or health advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or health goals.