Core Tip: If pesticides are not washed off properly, they can be harmful to your health. Below are several correct washing methods for you.
First, soak the vegetables you bought for 5 minutes before rinsing, or soak them in rice water to neutralize pesticide toxicity;
Second, wash vegetables with a 5% salt solution;
Third, wash vegetables with a baking soda solution; Nowadays, most pesticides used by farmers are in an emulsifiable concentrate form. This is because water-soluble pesticides would be washed away by rain. Emulsifiable concentrates, however, are mostly soluble in alkaline solutions. Although a chemical reaction occurs, the substances produced are harmless. The method is to first rinse the surface of the vegetables clean, then soak them in a baking soda solution (generally 5 to 10 grams of baking soda in 500 ml of water) for 10 to 20 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Fourth, high temperatures can also cause pesticides to decompose. For some heat-resistant vegetables, such as cauliflower, green beans, and celery, blanching them in boiling water for a few minutes after washing can reduce the pesticide amount by 30%. Further high-temperature cooking can then remove 90% of the pesticides;
Fifth, expose vegetables to sunlight. According to measurements, exposing vegetables to sunlight for 5 minutes can reduce the residue of organochlorine and organomercury pesticides by about 60%. Exposing vegetables to sunlight is also a viable method. Therefore, for fruits and vegetables that are easy to store and not afraid of sunlight, you can place them in a well-lit, ventilated area for a period of time. This applies to apples, kiwis, winter melons, etc. Generally, the volatilization period for pesticides is 7 to 15 days. Of course, this method has a relatively narrow scope of application and its effectiveness is average.
Sixth, typically 80% of pesticide residue is on the skin, and the remaining 20% is in the flesh. Therefore, for fruits and vegetables that can be peeled before eating, such as apples, peaches, cucumbers, and eggplants, it is best to peel them before consumption.