How to wash lettuce: learn the correct way to sanitize lettuce and other vegetables

You are already tired of knowing that, in order to have a healthy diet, you need to consume five to six servings of vegetables a day.

These foods are rich in vitamins and minerals, which are essential for the proper functioning of our body, and are also excellent sources of fiber, which increase the feeling of satiety and improve the functioning of the intestine.

However, as many of these foods are consumed raw, special care must be taken when preparing them, washing them in order to remove microorganisms and excess pesticides.

For this, it is not enough just to put the vegetables under water, at the risk of not completely eliminating all the elements that pose a threat to our health. With that in mind, we have separated some tips on how to properly wash lettuce and other vegetables and allow you to be more secure in your food:

How to wash lettuce correctly

Lettuce, with all its varieties, is the most consumed leafy vegetable in our daily lives. It is rich in fiber, has calming properties, contains vitamin K and even helps to lower the glycemic index after meals.

Despite all these benefits, it can reach your home contaminated by microorganisms acquired during cultivation or transport, so it is necessary to sanitize it very well. Check step by step:

• Wash your hands and the sink before starting the hygiene to avoid contamination of the food;
• Cut the hard part that is at the base of the lettuce plant and separate the leaves, discarding the outermost ones;
• Soak the leaves for 15 minutes in a solution made with 1 tablespoon of bleach for every liter of water;
• Rinse the lettuce very well under cold running water, inspecting the appearance of each leaf.

It is important to discard the outer leaves and remove areas with many folds because it is in these parts of the plant that there is usually the highest concentration of bacteria, pesticides and fecal residues from insects and other animals.

Other tips to properly sanitize your food

You must have seen a lot of people using vinegar to sanitize their vegetables, but did you know that this is not the best procedure? Check out this and other important tips to sanitize your food and ensure the safety of your meals:

1. It’s no use using vinegar

A lot of people like to use vinegar mixed with water to eliminate microorganisms, but the truth is that it doesn’t have the same power as bleach. Vinegar helps to remove soil and loosen washing and insects that get stuck on the leaves, but it doesn’t kill bacteria.

2. Rub fruits and vegetables that will be eaten with their skins

Fruits and vegetables that will be eaten with the skin on, such as apples, plums, and zucchini, should be rubbed with a clean sponge to remove dirt and bacteria that may be trapped in their coating.

3. Watermelon, papaya and melon care

Even if you are not going to eat the skin of these fruits, it is necessary to sanitize them to avoid taking bacteria from the skin to the pulp when cutting these foods. For this, use the same solution of water with bleach.

4. The pesticide does not come out completely

Unfortunately, there is no way to remove all the pesticides used in the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. Therefore, if you want to consume food without any kind of poison, it is necessary to turn to organic.

5. Clean the sink and utensils very well

Don’t forget to sanitize the sink and utensils like knives and cutting boards. After all, it won’t do you any good to wash your vegetables and then handle them on contaminated surfaces that can transmit germs to your food.