Wondering about ways to clean the fresh and ripe Strawberries without vinegar or Baking soda? Well, we have got you covered.
Follow along to learn more about the importance of washing Strawberries and the correct method.
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Why Should We Clean The Strawberries?
Like most fruits and vegetables, Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) need quick washing to remove dirt debris before consuming.
These low-growing herbaceous plants have close contact with the sandy ground and carry dirt along.
As much as these native North American berries are adored in breakfast smoothies, there are several videos of bugs popping out of the Strawberries surfacing on social media.
Also, the fruit is exposed to various bacteria and microbes from cultivation to harvesting, so cleaning them reduces the risk of foodborne illness.
Can You Wash Strawberries With Vinegar or Baking Soda?
The most common household way to clean fruit and vegetables is a vinegar bath or a baking soda dip.
Likewise, you’ll often find people giving a thorough vinegar rinse to vegetables like Cucumbers, Tomatoes like Roma Tomato, Big Beef & Better Boy, and other fruits and vegetables.
Despite all the cleaning perks, vinegar has a strong order that may linger on the Strawberries even after rinsing. And baking soda is no different.
Ultimately, the strong, pungent smell of vinegar and baking soda overpowers the delicious fragrance of Strawberries and makes the whole experience of consuming Strawberries unpleasant.
Thus, diverting people towards ways to clean Strawberries instead baking soda or vinegar.
How Do You Clean Strawberries Naturally?
A good old water bath is the only natural way to clean the Strawberries without chemicals like vinegar and baking soda.
Put the normal or seedless Strawberries under running water, rinse them, and you are good to take a bite.
But adding salt ensures a deeper cleaning of the berries, while there still may not be enough scientific proof as to whether salt water is effective in removing the bugs from Strawberries.
However, recent research claims the effectiveness of saltwater in removing dirt and pesticides from fruits and vegetables compared to other methods.
Also, the salt water saves you from any unwanted smells like the vinegar-washed ones.
So, here is how to clean the Strawberries without vinegar or baking soda.
How to Clean Strawberries with Salt?
- Add a tablespoon of salt to a bowl with clean water and stir the solution to dissolve the salt completely.
- Gently drop a pound of Strawberry into the bowl. You may balance the amount of salt and water depending on the quantity of Strawberries you have.
- Before that, inspect and remove any deformed, molded, or damaged berries.
- Use your hands to lightly rub the Strawberries inside the water, which helps loosen any dirt, debris, bugs, or potential pesticide residue.
- Allow the Strawberries to soak in the saltwater solution for about 10-15 minutes. In the meantime, the extracted dirt settles down at the bottom.
- Take a colander and drain the salt water. Then, rinse the berries under cold running water to remove all salt residue and impurities.
- Now, pat dry the Strawberries with a clean kitchen towel and store them in a container. Your Strawberries are clean and ready to be munched.
From Editorial Team
Wear Gloves Before Washing The Berries!
Using gloves before cleaning the Strawberries is a matter of personal preference. But it is mandatory if you have sensitive skin.
Gloves add an extra layer of protection to prevent any potential irritation from fruit or prolonged water exposure.
