Dishwashing detergents, such as dish soap, contain chemically synthesized alkyl surfactants as their main ingredient. This can lead to issues like "skin irritation" and other toxic side effects. Not only are they irritating to the skin, but these chemical compounds are not essential for the human body, so trace residues are inevitably left after use. Experts believe that the cumulative buildup of these detergent residues in the body over time is detrimental to human health. Fruits and vegetables washed with chemical detergents should be scrubbed repeatedly to thoroughly remove any residues.
How can you wash fruits safely?
For washing dishes, just use toothpaste and flour; for washing fruits and vegetables, use salt or starch. For example, when washing an apple, first wet it with water, put a little salt on its surface, then hold the apple with both hands and rub it gently back and forth. The dirt on the surface will be cleaned off quickly, and then you can rinse it with water and eat it with confidence. The principle behind this method is that the granules of salt increase friction, and salt is also very clean. Applying toothpaste to the apple's surface as a cleaner is also a very effective method.
Washing Mushrooms: Soak in salt water first
Different parts of a mushroom have different nutritional contents. For mushrooms with firm stems, such as shiitake, the cap is more nutritious and tender than the stem, making the fresh, young mushroom fruit body the most ideal part to eat. Additionally, the root end is difficult to cook, so it is generally best to snip off the very bottom part of the stem; this is the best way to prepare them.
When cleaning, mushrooms have a slimy surface on which sand and dirt stick, making them hard to wash clean. You can add some salt to the water and stir to dissolve it, then soak the mushrooms in the water for a while before washing, or wash them in rice water. This makes it easy to wash away the sand and dirt. Also, be sure to remove the tough base of the stem, which often contains a lot of soil, before washing the mushrooms, as this part is difficult to clean even after soaking in salt water.
It should be noted that mushrooms are like sponges and can absorb water. Therefore, do not soak them for a long time. When soaking dried mushrooms, you can shake the water continuously to help them rehydrate faster.