Tips and Advice

How to wash broccoli to remove bacteria and germs?

By Eloísa Carmona - 2021-04-14T11:16:42Z
Washing vegetables may seem like a simple and uncomplicated task, but properly cleaning some of the more complicated ones is something that leads us to search for how to wash broccoli to avoid getting sick.There are many ways in which vegetables can become contaminated, as they come into contact with animals, soil, water, and agricultural workers while growing, all of which can introduce harmful substances. Furthermore, once the vegetables are harvested, they go through several pairs of hands (as they are packed, shipped, purchased, prepared, and stored), which also has the potential to contaminate food with harmful bacteria and germs.Although many vegetables can be washed with cold water and do not require the use of soaps or detergents, there are some that need special attention when cleaning them, such as broccoli, for example.How to wash broccoliThe first step before washing broccoli (or any other vegetable) is to wash your hands with soap and water, before and after preparing fresh vegetables in general, to avoid contaminating them yourself.Another helpful recommendation is to not wash the broccoli until just before you prepare it. When you are ready to use it, then cut off the hard part of the stem about two centimeters from the bottom and rinse it under cold running water. Broccoli, like cauliflower, has many places where germs can hide, so to ensure you eliminate them completely, soak it after rinsing in a bowl of cold water for two minutes and then rinse it under cold running water again.You can also soak the broccoli in a mixture of 4 parts water to 1 part white vinegar for 20 minutes, and then rinse it under running water, this way, you can reduce pesticide residues on the vegetables.Although it seems complicated, washing broccoli correctly is not too scientific, but it is important that you do it to avoid bacteria and germs in your meals.