You’re probably wondering how to wash fruits and vegetables with vinegar, and whether this is the most effective way to remove chemicals and harmful bacteria. The Best Way to Wash Fruits and Vegetables. Secure lid and shake well to thoroughly combine the ingredients. For all our videos on the latest research on vegetables, visit our Vegetables topic page. You can concoct your own vinegar/water mixture at home to save money. Fresh fruits and vegetables are simple and delicious options for healthy, gluten-free snacking and are essential to Prep Dish meal plans. But using vinegar would get quite expensive and would leave foods with an unwelcome vinegary flavor, making it less than ideal for a daily vegetable wash. Read about why I think washing produce with vinegar is the best way to wash produce and get step by step instructions! She said bi-carb soda can also be used to kill pesticides. Ironically, the food poisoning viruses may be found in the pesticides themselves. The best way to use vinegar to clean your fruits and veggies is to mix it with water. For smooth-skinned fruits and vegetables: Pour white distilled vinegar into a spray bottle with 3 cups water. Spray the fruit/vegetable enough so the entire food is covered (about 6 sprays). Experts found that a white vinegar and water wash kills 98% of bacteria and removes pesticides. Research also suggests that one part vinegar to three parts water seems to be the most effective. The short answer is: you don’t need to use vinegar for an effective rinse, but it is effective in removing bacteria and can be helpful with certain types of produce, like leafy vegetables or berries. Check out my video Norovirus Food Poisoning from Pesticides. You’ll probably spend less than 20 cents to make a homemade vinegar and water rinse, compared to around $4 for a premade produce wash. Once you have the vinegar solution, fill a bowl with it. The most important reason to wash produce is to reduce the risk of food-borne illness. Solutions containing one part vinegar and one part water work. What may be the best way to clean fruits and veggies comes from a new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. An Australian mother-of-two said she rinses her fruit and vegetables with vinegar in order to keep the produce fresh for weeks at a time.