Be Firm With Fruit and Veggie Germs

It's the heart of summer and you can find a variety of fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables at farmers markets and roadside stands. But buyers beware!  Raw fruits and veggies, like meat and poultry, can cause outbreaks of foodborne illness. So be sure to give your fresh produce a good going over at home before biting or slicing into it. Here’s how:

·        Before you wash that zuke or cuke, slice off—and dispose of—the ends. That’s where most bacteria and dirt get trapped.

·        Soak salad greens in a large bowl filled with cold water, 4 tablespoons of salt, and the juice of a whole fresh lemon. Let them sit for about 5 minutes, then rinse ‘em under cold water.

·        Put small fruits or veggies into a colander and set it in a large bowl filled with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. Let the colander soak for about 5 minutes, lift it out, and rinse your food clean under cold running water.

·        Wash waxy fruit or veggies, then sprinkle on a little baking soda, and use a damp paper towel to rub the coating off. Rinse each piece thoroughly when you’re done.

·        Keep a bottle of this germ-killer handy to clean smooth-skinned fruits and veggies:
Mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 3 cups of water in a handheld sprayer bottle and spritz your fruit or veggies with the solution, count to 10, and then rinse it off under running water.