ELI5. Why wash vegetables that you’re about to cook at high temperatures like baking at 350 or pan frying?
In: 13
It’s not just germs that pose a threat, but the chemicals either they leave behind, or pesticides that we left.
Vegetables are grown in dirt and shit. Do you trust that all of the dirt and shit have been removed? Do you want to eat baked or fried dirt and shit because that’s what you’ll get.
Washing produce is more about removing herbicide and pesticide residues, plus any dirt/contamination. It’s not about removing pathogens, which is why we don’t use soap to wash produce. Any approved pesticide or herbicide will be water soluble so simply running under water does the trick!
Ever prepared leeks? Those sucker get so much sand and dirt underneath the top layer. Also what all the other answers said about pesticides and other harmful chemical residues on the surface.
Aside from pathogens, dirt includes minerals such as sand and pebbles that you might not want to put in your mouth. Leafy greens, broccoli, and other vegetables with a rough texture can easily catch grit and sand blown by the wind or by irrigation sprinklers.
Snails, toads and what not cralw around your veggies constantly. Wash everything before you eat it 🙂
Also, if you’re buying commercial produce there is a good chance the workers didn’t have the opportunity to wash hands after a bathroom break.
You wash them to get rid of all the literal shit and dirt. Ever take a potato out of the bag and feel the grit that’s on it?? Why would you put that in the dish!?
What do you mean? I love eating dirt with my meal.
Because you want to get whatever dirt, dust, or pesticides off it may have on it from being in the ground/store
Sand and soil. You don’t want it on your teeth. And transportation contaminations. Cleaner is almost better.
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