Every food service professional must understand the importance of cleaning fresh produce and establishing restaurant cleaning procedures. According to the FDA, the coronavirus is not transmitted by eating contaminated food. However, you can protect your customers and employees using the same food safety measures you use to prevent foodborne illnesses like norovirus. This includes thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables to remove contamination from pesticides, waxes and pathogens. Use food safe fly control products.

Tips for cleaning produce

When washing produce, remember that you should take multiple precautions. Before you start, keep these tips in mind to make the process easier:

Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds or more

Designate and disinfect cleaning stations for agricultural products

Immediately remove products from bags and boxes

Discard all bags and containers

Do not use hand sanitizer, bleach or alcohol on produce

How to wash produce

Soaking and spraying are two common methods of cleaning produce. Use the soaking method to clean softer produce or leafy greens, and use a spray solution to clean vegetables with hard skins. Below, we outline these two ways to clean fruits and vegetables so that you can provide your customers with safe, fresh food.

How to use soaking method to clean agricultural products

The soaking method is ideal for cleaning tightly packed fruits (like berries) and vegetables with gaps (like broccoli). Soaking not only removes harmful bacteria or chemicals, but also restores its flavor and extends its shelf life. If you buy local organic fruits and vegetables that do not contain chemicals or harmful preservatives, you can rinse the product using warm water.

To use this method properly, you need the following:

Stainless steel sink

Food storage bin

Vegetable wash or distilled vinegar

colander

Fresh water

Follow these steps to wash fruits and vegetables by soaking:

1. Disinfect sinks, wash hands, and use soap and water to clean all areas that come into contact with fresh produce.
2. Fill the sink with diluted detergent or vinegar solution. If you use a commercial detergent, use a 1:30 ratio of detergent to water, or about 4 to 6 ounces. Wash 1 gallon of water.
3. Soak the vegetables for at least 30 seconds.
4. Place them in a colander and rub the product with your hands while rinsing with cold water.
5. llow to air dry and enjoy.

What is the use of soaking?

While effective, you can only use the soaking method for certain fruits and vegetables. Learn which fruits and vegetables you should use the following soaking methods:

lettuce

spinach

kale

cauliflower

broccoli

cabbage

Grapes

raspberry

Strawberries

Blueberry

How do I spray my fruits and vegetables

Use sprays or scrubs to remove dirt and pesticides from firmer produce such as eggplants, potatoes or cucumbers. This method is also ideal for large, smooth fruits and vegetables with no gaps or cracks. To use the spray method to clean fruits and vegetables, you will need the following:

Kitchen sink

Spray bottle

Distilled vinegar

Vegetable preparation brush (optional)

Fresh water

To effectively clean fruits and vegetables using the spray method, be sure to follow these steps:

1. Wash hands and all areas that come into contact with fresh produce with soap and water.
2. Fill a spray bottle with the solution, then spray it over the entire surface of each vegetable or fruit.
3. Let the coated product sit for at least 30 seconds.
4. Scrub the produce with your hands or a vegetable cleaner, then rinse off the solution with cold water.
5. Allow to air dry and enjoy.

What should you use the spray method for?

You can only use the spray method on certain types of products. This method is best for the following types of fruits and vegetables:

Tomato

eggplant

Potato

cucumber

Pepper

Apple

orange

melons

lemon

lime

Wash vegetables with vinegar

Adding vinegar to your fruit and vegetable cleaning can help remove excess bacteria. Washing with water alone can remove 98 percent of bacteria on fruits and vegetables, but adding vinegar does not affect the cleaning process. Washing fruits and vegetables with vinegar can extend the shelf life of products.

If you choose to use vinegar instead of water, we recommend using a ratio of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. You can follow the above steps to use the vinegar soaking method and spray method.

Why should fruit be washed?

Washing fruits and vegetables is an important part of food safety because it can help prevent cross-contamination while removing pesticides or chemicals from produce. Checking and washing vegetables before adding service can help you avoid foodborne illness outbreaks caused by contaminated produce. In addition, chemicals used in pesticides may irritate guests with gastrointestinal sensitivities or allergies.