How to Properly Wash Your Avocados and Other Fruit

You come home from the supermarket, put the perishables in the refrigerator, the dry goods in the pantry, and wash the fruit and vegetables right away. But not all of them. There’s no need to wash oranges, bananas, or avocados since we don’t eat the peel, right?

True, we don’t eat them whole, and we keep fruit that doesn’t need refrigeration in the same pretty fruit bowl, which does double duty as a nice centerpiece. However, nasty little germs get everywhere, even on fruit peels. And when we slice and dice our avocados, these germs transfer from the peel, to the knife, to the fruit, to our stomachs, and we may end up with a tummy ache or worse. To prevent the spread of germs follow these tips to washing your fruit:

1. Choose the freshest produce you can find.

Make sure it isn’t bruised or damaged because bacteria thrive in brown spots or bruises. If avocados play a starring role on your shopping list, this handy video will help you choose the best Avocados From Mexico: firm, fresh, and delicious, ripe when they yield to gentle pressure.

2. Remember what Mom always said.

Wash your hands! This is especially important both before and after handling food.

3. Rinse all produce.

Even if you’re not planning to eat the fruit and vegetables right away, wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water. There’s no need to use any kind of soap, dish liquid, or commercial produce wash. Clean water is enough. Rub produce gently with your hands to remove unwanted dirt and bacteria or use a vegetable brush to scrub produce with a thick or irregular rind to get to all the nooks and crannies, even avocados.

4. Keep your cutting boards clean.

If you’re planning to prepare raw meat, poultry, or fish, wash the cutting board and utensils with hot water and dish soap before preparing the raw vegetables for a fresh salad or delicious guacamole. Even better, keep separate cutting boards for raw meats and for fruit and vegetables.

5. Store food properly.

Be aware that inadequate storage may help spread germs. Make sure you keep uncooked meat, chicken, or fish covered and separate from fruit and vegetables that you eat raw. Doing this will avoid cross-contamination in your kitchen. You can also store already-ripe avocados by putting them in fridge. This will ensure they stay good for up to a week. You can watch this video to learn more.

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