After selecting the right vegetables, it is still necessary to take necessary "purification measures" to minimize the intake of pesticides. It is recommended that the first step in washing vegetables should be to peel off the outer layer, as the outer leaves have more pesticide residue than the inner ones. Vegetables are rich in vitamins and are one of the essential foods we consume daily. However, in an era where pesticides and hormones are rampant, do you have a sharp eye to identify which vegetables are unnaturally grown? Are they "soaked" in pesticides and "forced" to grow with hormones? Experts suggest that you should try to choose seasonal vegetables, and at the same time, never buy the following six types.
1, Radishes with cracks
It's best not to eat radishes or melons with cracks, as they may have suffered from severe pest infestation, or it could be due to an unnaturally artificial growing process.
2, Tomatoes that are too hard
The harder a tomato is, the more plant hormones have been used. It's best not to buy them, or if you do, don't eat them right away. Let them sit for two to three days to extend their ripening period and wait for them to soften naturally. Also, any unhealthy color-enhancing agents will have been released by then. Furthermore, tomatoes that are red on the outside but green inside may be related to ripening agents.
3, Green leafy vegetables that are too light
Vegetables grown in greenhouses are far more attractive than those grown under direct sunlight, with lighter leaf colors, but their nutritional value cannot compare to naturally grown seasonal vegetables. Therefore, when buying green leafy vegetables, choose the darker ones.
4, Cucumbers that grow larger
If a cucumber you bought "grows" larger after a night, it definitely has been treated with a hormone-based expanding agent.
5, Vegetables that have a strange smell
Unlike vegetables like cilantro and fennel that have their own natural aroma, vegetables with high pesticide residue or those treated with low-quality pesticides will have a pungent, unpleasant smell. You can pick them up and smell them before buying.
6, Pre-washed vegetables
It's hard to find muddy radishes or lotus roots in the market these days. Vendors are blunt: "No one likes dirty vegetables." The problem with pre-washed vegetables isn't pesticides, but bacteria, and bacteria are very difficult to remove, whether by soaking in salt or blanching in water.