We wash fruits and vegetables with water, vinegar and lemon but NEVER with soap.

 A very good washing of fruits and vegetables with plenty of running (drinking) water removes the “mechanical” contamination, thus neutralizing a large number of germs and bacteria.

Never peel fruits and vegetables before washing them

 While you may want to enjoy fruits and vegetables quickly, peeling them before washing them is always a bad idea.

 When you peel an unwashed vegetable or piece of fruit, you can transfer bacteria from the outside directly to the flesh you’re about to eat.

 Fresh fruits and vegetables are among the food groups that often cause food poisoning

 Despite their well-deserved reputation for being healthy, fruits and vegetables can present serious health risks if not properly prepared.  In fact, fresh fruits and vegetables are among the top “culprits” in foodborne illnesses from Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria every year.

 Some cleaning methods can do more harm than good.

 Although the FDA recommends washing fresh fruits and vegetables under running water before consumption, there are some cleaning methods that could put your health at risk.

 Fresh fruits and vegetables are porous foods.  Soaps and household detergents can soak into them and, despite a good rinse, can make you sick

 Certain parts of washed fruits and vegetables should be avoided

 Even if you’ve cleaned them well, there are parts of fruits and vegetables that you may want to avoid.

 Bumps and abrasions in the skin can allow pathogens to enter a fruit or vegetable, and damaged produce usually spoils more quickly.

Wash your fruits and vegetables.

Fill a basin or kitchen sink with a solution of 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts water.

  -Pour all the fruits and vegetables you just bought into it (alternatively you can put the solution in a container and spray everything you want separately)

  -Rub the fruits and vegetables with your hands to get the solution everywhere, but also to remove other residues, such as soil.

  -Finally, empty the basin/sink and wash the fruits and vegetables with clean running water.

 In fruits and vegetables that have a soft shell and have pores on their surface such as grapes, berries, strawberries, use lemon juice instead of vinegar, which is not absorbed by the fruit and will not alter its taste.

How to store fruits and vegetables in your refrigerator?

 Do not put fruits and vegetables directly into the refrigerator without any protective bag.  Place them inside their bags and just make sure to loosen the opening of the bag a little to prevent moisture and mold from forming.

 In general, humidity contributes to the appearance of mold, which is why fruits and vegetables must be dry.  All you have to do is spread some absorbent paper towels under the fruits and vegetables to absorb the excess moisture.