Reported 8 months ago
As public health awareness rises, the importance of washing vegetables before cooking has been emphasized. Many people add salt, baking soda, or vinegar in an attempt to remove pesticides. However, toxicologist Tan Dun-ci from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital warns that these methods may backfire and recommends using water as the best way to clean vegetables. Tan explained that pesticides are complex, and attempts to neutralize them with baking soda or vinegar may be counterproductive. Adding salt during washing is also discouraged due to the risk of altering the osmotic pressure of the produce, which can allow pesticides to penetrate them. Tan suggests soaking vegetables like cauliflower in water for 12 minutes and rinsing with flowing water using a plate and chopsticks for effective cleansing. Studies have shown that water alone is sufficient in removing pesticides from vegetables.
Source: YAHOO