We often talk about having an ultrasonic cleaner for multiple purposes, and this would be especially true for those of you considering a unit for your home. Yes, you want something to use on your crafts, or to clean your gun or jewelry, but it may be difficult to justify the cost of the machine if that is all you are using it for. So, we want to find additional ways, such as cleaning fruits and vegetables.
Is Cleaning Produce Important?
The simple answer to that question is, “yes.” Even organically grown produce can pick up bacteria, dirt, and bugs during the growing and shipping process. There are more than likely dozens of hands that touch that produce before it finds its way into your fridge or fruit basket, so you want to make sure it is thoroughly cleaned before you eat it.
There are other consideration that many people do not even think about in regard to the cleanliness of produce, such as how rainwater can carry certain toxins/organisms to the food depending upon the area where it grown or where it has traveled. That, of course, does not even take into account the number of people at the store that could have touched the produce when they were shopping. For all of the reasons listed, it is imperative that you thoroughly wash your produce before eating it.
Cleaning Options
By Hand – this is how much of us have cleaned our produce over the years, but let’s be realistic here… how much effort are we really putting into this. Most of the team, “cleaning” means a quick pass under the spigot and maybe a light brushing off with the hands. Sure, that will get the loose items off the produce, but it is unlikely to truly get the produce clean.
Ultrasonic Cleaning – if you already have an ultrasonic cleaner in the house, you are looking at zero extra expense to use it to clean produce. Using plain water is fine to clean the produce because the cavitation that is created will put the water to work to dislodge possible contaminants on the food. Roots and Harvest cited a private study that found an ultrasonic cleaner “removed 92.6% of dichlorvos insecticides (DDVP) and 94.6% of dimethoate insecticides. Additionally, fruits and vegetables were found to have 50% fewer levels of hormones and preservatives, and 94.5% less arsenic present after being washed with the ultrasonic cleaner.”
That sounds like a good reason to me to add an ultrasonic cleaning unit to the kitchen!