Scientists told how to properly wash apples from the store
We have all been taught since childhood that fruits must be washed before eating, especially those bought in the store. This is quite justified, because large producers of agricultural products do not disdain to use chemicals. This is done in order to extend its shelf life and ensure marketability. But if you just thoroughly wash the apples in running water, and then wipe them dry with a towel, then it does nothing. This is the opinion of scientists from the University of Massachusetts, who have revealed the secret of proper washing of apples.
Of all the chemical compounds used in the world for processing apples, pesticides are the most dangerous. These are deadly toxic substances, even the minimum concentration of which can cause poisoning. The most unpleasant thing is that pesticides can accumulate in tissues and eventually cause dangerous diseases. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to completely wash off this chemistry with water.
A group of scientists led by Dr. Lily He from the Pesticide Analysis Laboratory in Amherst conducted an experiment. They took three apples and treated them with two of the most popular pesticides. One of them is tiabendazole, designed to fight fungi, and the second is phthalophos, protects against insects.
All three apples were thoroughly washed. The first is with running clean water, as most of us do. The second is sodium hypochlorite, which is used to wash apples in the USA before being sent for sale. It is believed that this compound washes pesticides from the surface of fruits. The third apple was washed with a solution of ordinary baking soda.
It turned out that after two minutes of washing apples in three ways, the best effect for the surface was given by a soda solution. Then scientists studied the chemical composition of different layers of peel and pulp. They wanted to find out how well each type of washing copes with the problem inside. They found nothing new—in any case, the soda solution worked best.
Considering the result of the experience, Lily He recommends washing apples and generally any fruit with soda. To do this, make a solution of two glasses of water and a tablespoon of soda. Before eating, it is enough to soak the fruits in this solution for 2 minutes to minimize the content of pesticides in them. Yes, this does not eliminate the need to wash apples with water, the old-fashioned way. By the way, before washing fruits, make sure that there are no signs of damage on them. They can also be dangerous.