Currently, strawberries are in abundance, and their vibrant, ruby-red color and fragrant aroma are mouth-watering. Strawberries have the effect of clearing heat, reducing fire, nourishing the liver, and improving vision. In spring, people's liver fire tends to be more vigorous, and eating some strawberries can help suppress it. However, the rough surface of strawberries makes cleaning them a headache for many people.
The reason strawberries are difficult to clean is mainly because of their rough surface and thin skin, which breaks easily with washing. Some people, for the sake of convenience, simply rinse them with water and eat them. What they don't realize is that strawberries are herbaceous plants with low-lying plants and delicate, juicy fruits, all of which make them susceptible to pests, diseases, and microbial invasion. Therefore, pesticides are often used in the process of growing strawberries. These pesticides, fertilizers, and bacteria can easily adhere to the rough surface of the strawberries. If not cleaned thoroughly, they can easily cause diarrhea or even pesticide poisoning.
To clean strawberries properly, you should rinse them continuously under running tap water, as the flowing water can prevent pesticides from seeping into the fruit. After washing, don't eat them immediately. It's best to soak them in light salt water or rice washing water for 5 minutes. Light salt water can kill harmful microorganisms remaining on the surface of the strawberries; rice washing water is alkaline and can help break down acidic pesticides. When washing strawberries, be careful not to remove the stems. If the stems are removed and the strawberries are soaked in water, residual pesticides can enter the fruit through the water, causing more serious contamination. Additionally, do not use detergents or other cleaning agents to soak strawberries, as these substances are difficult to wash off and can easily remain in the fruit, causing secondary pollution.