Wouldn't it be nice to live on a farm with your own garden patch out back? You could walk out the door, pick your tomatoes, and never worry about a pesticide ever touching your salad. But alas, most of us don't have that luxury. In that case, the best advice is to buy organic [1], especially when buying the dirty dozen [2], or to give your veggies and fruit a good wash before popping them in your mouth. While scrubbing a potato is quite easy, it's the more fragile berries and delicate leaves that often leave me scratching my head instead of the food. Thanks to Dr. Oz, I've got a new trick up my sleeve.
As simple as saying 1, 2, 3, you can concoct your own solution [3] in a bottle and keep it handy on the counter top for easy produce washing. Every time you get home from the grocery, you can spritz it on your food, let it sit for five minutes, and rinse it off. Want to see how to make it? Here's how!
Dr. Oz's Produce Cleaning Solution [4]
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1/2 lemon
In addition to helping rinse away the yucky stuff, the lemon juice in the mixture can also help keep the food fresh [5] and extend the shelf life. If, however, you're looking for something even more simple, you can try using just plain vinegar and water.
— Additional reporting by Lauren Harano
