"Vegetable" is just a common term used to refer to various green leafy vegetables and greens, such as lettuce, kale and spinach. Unfortunately, there is a possibility that the leaves will absorb pesticides and other chemicals, which are best not to be ingested. Even if they come from organic crops, they could still be dirty and trap who knows how many other substances they came into contact with during handling. Therefore, you have to wash them. The easiest way to do this is by filling the sink with lots of water.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Manually Wash Them
Step 1. Thoroughly clean the sink, inside and around the edges, taking care not to leave any soap residue
It does not have to be sterile, but simply washed carefully so that there are no remains of food or other contaminants. The larger the sink, the more convenient it will be to wash the vegetables.
Step 2. Plug the sink, but don't fill it with water yet
Step 3. Know that the easiest way to core and separate the leaves of a head of lettuce is to hold the head firmly in your hands (without pressing it) with the stem facing down and cut the end part up. a work plan
Usually, this way you can take out the core with one or two hits. After that you can separate the leaves (removing everything that holds them together) and put them in the sink. In smaller vegetables, the stem is usually removed by tearing it with the thumb and forefinger. To remove the harder ones, open the leaves along the line of the stem and with the other hand pull it away from the base towards the ends of the leaves. Finally, discard the core (unless you intend to use it to make a few dishes) and any hard stalks.
Step 4. Fill the sink with cold water
Step 5. Gently shake the vegetable with your hands to circulate the water between the leaves
Dip all the leaves and stir.
Step 6. Let them sit for a couple of minutes so that the dirt settles on the bottom of the sink
Step 7. Remove the leaves from the water one or two at a time, cut them to the size of your choice or leave them whole if you want to consume them later
When you lift a leaf, if it still looks dirty, swirl it gently in the water or, if you have a double sink, run it under the tap in the other tub. Try not to stir the water (and dirt) excessively.
Step 8. Place the dripping leaves in a colander
If you put it in the sink, make sure the sink is completely empty, rinsed and free of residue. To get rid of the excess water used in the washing process, place the vegetables in the center of a large cotton towel (90 x 90 cm). Gather the four corners and four edges, grasping them firmly. Go to the balcony or an open area (or shower stall) and wave your arm in circular motions. Centrifugal force will eliminate the water. Then, as you prepare the rest of your dinner or lunch, you can open the muslin and place the vegetables on a surface in a cool, dry environment so that it continues to dry. You can also use a salad spinner, but tea towels are much easier to store and less expensive. Once dry, the vegetables will be an excellent ingredient for your salads: the dressing will not lose its flavor, because it will not dilute with water, and the leaves will last longer if you keep them.
Method 2 of 2: Use the Vegetable Washer
Step 1. Thoroughly rinse the washer extractor so that there is no residue inside
Step 2. Set the gentle cycle, with cold water
Step 3. Place the vegetables inside and let them spin for 5 minutes at maximum, but be careful not to spin the juicer
Step 4. Drain the water
Step 5. Run a single rinse in cold water
Step 6. Collect the vegetables and place them in a colander
Do not put it in a dryer!
Advice
- A pinch of salt can also help kill pests and detach them from the vegetable.
- Wash the vegetables in groups of leaves if necessary.
- If there are pests on the leaves, such as aphids, you may need to let it soak for more time. The hotter the water, the easier it will come off, especially if you're dealing with a type of crisp, wrinkled vegetable, like cabbage.
- Some people use a washing machine's spin to wring out vegetables. Place them in a clean pillowcase and tie the opening. Then, run the centrifuge for a few minutes. However, this operation wastes energy, so you can safely use a manual vegetable juicer instead.
- There is usually no danger of E. coli if the vegetables have been grown correctly, but the spread of this bacterium is known to be linked to the consumption of vegetables - even those that come from large organic crops - most likely due to the use of manure (as fertilizer) not treated nor perfectly composted. A recent episode occurred in May 2011, when an E. coli epidemic broke out in Europe due to contaminated cucumbers. This bacterium is not eliminated by simply rinsing food. To avoid the risk, you can add a few drops of bleach to the water and soak the vegetables for 5 minutes. Then move it to another sink, filled with cold water and no bleach, and leave it for another 5 minutes before rinsing it off. Rinse thoroughly and dilute no more than a small amount of bleach in a large sink filled with water. Using bleach may seem overwhelming, and for those who consume vegetables at home, it usually is. However, keep in mind that growers and food producers regularly use chlorine to kill bacteria.
- You can wash the vegetables in a large container or pot if you are unable to use the sink.
Warnings
- Using the washer-extractor is more appropriate if there are large quantities of vegetables to clean (for example, to sell them). Otherwise, it wastes energy and water.
- There are already washed vegetables on the market. It is always best to rinse them in the sink with cold water, since residues can be found, although the packaging states that they are ready to eat.
- To prevent any bacteria present in the washer-extractor from contaminating the vegetables, before washing them, you can run the machine on the rinse cycle or make an empty load with hot water.
- After washing, remember to boil the turnips, mustard, cabbage and other vegetables that grow in the sand, so you don't need to use the washer-extractor. If not, you could also do an empty load (water only) with some disinfectant before putting the vegetables to wash, to kill all the bacteria.
- If you have to wash lettuce, be delicate unless you don't mind eating crumpled, crumpled leaves.
