Wash strawberries: only clean the fruit in standing water

Created: 07/10/2022, 09:00

By: Ines Alms

Strawberries are very delicate, so you should never wash the fruit under running water.

Vinegar is suitable, but salt water is not.

Munich – wash strawberries yes or no?

This is often a basic question.

With the exception of the balcony or your own garden, the answer is: absolutely!

This also applies to fruits from strawberry fields.

Strawberries are among the foods most contaminated with pesticides.

In order to get as many of their healthy ingredients as possible, there are things you should consider when washing.

Wash strawberries: only clean the fruit in standing water

Strawberries should never be washed under a running stream of water, but in a bowl.

(Iconic image) © YAY Images/Imago

Pesticide residues, especially as export goods, have increased significantly in recent years: According to a study by Pan Europe, around a third of all strawberries examined contained the unhealthy pesticides.

And sometimes, depending on the product, these cannot be washed off.

It is therefore best to always use organic products, regionally and seasonally grown fruits.

Whether harvested in the garden or from the supermarket, if you follow the three steps below, you will do everything right in the kitchen to enjoy the strawberries:

• 1. Wash strawberries just before eating

• 2. Do not clean strawberries before washing, that is, do not remove the calyx

• 3. Do not wash strawberries under running water

Strawberries are one of the foods that are very perishable.

That's why they can't be stored for long - and if so, it's best next to each other and not on top of each other, as they are very sensitive to pressure.

In order not to "stress" the strawberries unnecessarily, you should only wash them if you want to eat them shortly afterwards.

In addition, they may absorb water during washing and rot more easily.

Wash the strawberries in vinegar water rather than salt water

If you remove the green calyx, the water can penetrate through the open pulp, which not only leads to a loss of vitamins, but also slightly waters down the strawberries and they lose their taste.

That's why it makes sense not to wash away the aroma under running water, and a hard jet of water can also press the fruit very hard.

It is best to wash the fruit briefly in cold, standing water.

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You can add a dash of vinegar to the water to remove any invisible mold spores - obviously moldy fruit must be discarded.

The rumor circulating that washing the berries in salt water drives small worms out of the fruit should not be followed.

On the one hand, the tiny animals are not harmful, on the other hand, the salt removes water from the berries and spoils the taste.

And in fresh, undamaged strawberries, the likelihood of animal residents is also very low.

However, when preparing the strawberries, a pinch of salt can enhance the flavor.