Blueberries are one of nature’s sweet treats and they are also surprisingly good for you as well. Blueberries are full of antioxidants, are great for the skin, helps with bladder issues, good brain food and also tastes really good in pies and tarts :).
So, before you pop one in your mouth, some of you who ended up here are trying to figure out if you should wash blueberries and if so, why?
We not only answer that question, but also look at the right way to go about cleaning these berries, along with other important information
Should You Wash Blueberries Before Eating Them?
Yes, blueberries should be washed before eating or using them.
If you got a tray of blueberries and are about to dig in, then it is a really good idea to clean and wash them properly to get rid of any dirt, chemicals or contaminants that might be sitting on them once they’ve been transported to the grocery store after being harvested.
Foodsafety.gov emphasizes the need to clean all fruits and vegetables, as they highlight that there are harmful germs and contaminants on the skin of produce that can make you sick.
Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. often found on fresh fruit/vegetables some of the food viruses and bacteria that are responsible for foodborne illnesses.
Washing your produce, including blueberries is very important. If you need more convincing, check out these answers as to why you should wash blueberries before you eat them on Quora.
How to Wash Blueberries: Quick Step-by-Step Guide
It is quite easy to clean your blueberries. You do need to spend some time and make sure you get all the contaminants from the skin of the fruit before you eat them.
Steps:
- Remove from tray & place in bowl: The first thing you are going to want to do is take them out of the tray and place them in a colander or bowl.
- Rinse the blueberries: Rinse the blueberries with some water, as this will dislodge and remove any dirt or any chemicals that are on the berries. It is a good idea to swish them around a bit, to ensure that they are all exposed to the running water.
- Do a secondary wash: Once you are finished, you can then move them to a bowl or container, where you will do a secondary wash. If you have fruit and vegetable cleaner, you can use it here. If not, you can get ¼ cup of vinegar and 1 gallon of water.
This vinegar mixture acts as a homemade wash and here you will pour this into the container and bowl. You can move the berries around in this, as it will help to clean off any more contamination that might be left on the blueberries. - Final rinse: After this, you can do a final rinse to remove the mixture you use in step 3.
- Dry: Once finished, you can place them on a cookie sheet with paper towels and let them dry.
- Enjoy: Start eating your blueberries and enjoy.
Wrapping it up
To close things off, wash your blueberries before you eat or use them.
You never know what contaminants the fruit may have come in contact with, this is why it is best to clean the blueberries before you eat them.
Washing the fruit properly will get rid of most harmful bacteria, chemicals, and dirt. Please note, that if you washed the blueberries and don’t plan on using them right away, ensure that you dry them off thoroughly, before storage.
Moisture is a breeding ground for bacteria and this excess moisture can cause the blueberries to spoil quickly.
