Coronavirus: How To Disinfect Vegetables And Fruits?

Coronavirus is a contagious disease that spreads among people by coming in contact with the water droplets of the infected person through coughing, sneezing etc. It is found that fruits and vegetables are one of the ways of spreading this disease. So, they may also contain this virus. Due to which it becomes necessary to disinfect them before consumption. In this article, we will tell you ways of how you can kill coronavirus from fruits, and vegetables.

disinfect veggies fruit

Why is it important to disinfect fruits, and vegetables?

Before coming from the farm to the market, fruits, and vegetables are handled by various people on the route. After when they reach the market, they are kept in an open space for people to buy them.

Due to which there is possibility that it could get infected microbes, dirt, pesticide residues, and even coronavirus infection. Proper cleaning is very important to keep yourself healthy. As coronavirus has taken several lives, preventing all types of contamination and cleaning with natural ingredients hold a lot of significance.

What are the prevalent cleaning practices used by people?

Some people are seen to washing their fruits, and vegetables with soap and detergents. Health experts do not recommend treating them with chemicals. This is not good for health as there is risk of buildup of chemicals and residues in them. Some people are also using a diluted form of mild disinfectant solution for rinsing their fruits and vegetables. This is needed when there are high chances of viral contamination.

Safe Tips To Wash Fruits And Vegetables Before Consumption:

Washing vegetables, and fruits is very important habit to follow at all times, especially in this pandemic. After consulting with health experts, we have compiled some tips on reducing microbial contamination of fresh vegetables, and fruits without use of any harsh chemical-based products.

Keep the kitchen hygienic and safe: The first tip to remember is that cleaning, and disinfection starts with the kitchen. Ensure that your countertop, utensils, cutting boards, crockeries, etc. are clean before you peel or chop fruits, and vegetables. You can use baking soda to prevent microbial contamination. Wash the surface of kitchen thoroughly with hot soapy water once you clean vegetables.

Separate out your fruits and vegetables: For effective cleaning, divide your vegetables, and fruits into three categories:

  • Category 1: Fruits and vegetables with hard skin: In this category comes the produce where removal of skin is required before consumption. These are banana, oranges, yams, potato, pumpkin, etc.
  • Category 2: Fruits and vegetables with delicate skin: This category includes produce that are eaten raw such as grapes, radish, carrots, tomatoes, etc.
  • Category 3: Leafy vegetables include spinach, lettuce, coriander, etc.

Keep aside shopping bags for thirty minutes: Do not keep your bag on the kitchen top, or store the contents of the bag directly in the refrigerator. It is advised to leave your shopping bag unattended for half an hour after purchase. This is because the virus has a shelf-life of thirty minutes on materials like bags.

After this time, they get destroyed, and your bag becomes safe to use. Follow the below steps of cleaning before you can go ahead to store them or consume them. Ensure that children, and elderly people do not come in contact with the produce before you clean these items.

Washing fruits and vegetables

Cleaning Category 1 products: Before you start the cleaning procedure, wash your hands for twenty seconds with a good quality soap or handwash. To clean Category 1 products, add one table spoon of baking soda in a bucket of water.

Now soak your fruits and vegetables for ten minutes in this solution and wash them thoroughly with running cold water many times. Baking soda is a natural and potent disinfectant agent. You can even use a brush or a scrubber to remove the dirt, if any, present on them.

Cleaning Category 2 and 3 products: Make a solution of vinegar and water in 1:3 ratio and then soak your fruits and veggies in this water for at least five minutes. Later, rinse them with cold running water. Vinegar is effective in reducing the presence of microbes on leafy green vegetables and fruits that have smooth skin like cauliflower, broccoli etc.

If you do not have vinegar at your home, then you can also prepare a cleaning solution by adding juice of one large-sized lemon in five liters of water. Soak your fruits, and vegetables in it for around fifteen minutes. Follow it by rinsing in cold running water.

Another simplest method to prepare a cleaning solution is to add three tablespoon baking soda and half cup of table salt in five liters of water. Soak your fruits, and vegetables in it for around fifteen minutes. When done, rinse them in cold running water.

Conclusion

People have become a lot more aware of what they consume in coronavirus. Safety and handling of food is of utmost significance. It is necessary to wash the produce thoroughly in fresh running water before consumption. By using the above tips, you can ensure that your fruits and vegetables are free from pathogens and safe to consume.