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To wash or not to wash: how to prepare a salad, arugula, Beijing cabbage before cooking

Salad in plastic packaging is in great demand among lovers of healthy nutrition. Manufacturers indicate that it is ready to eat and that you do not need to wash the arugula and salad. In addition, it looks fresh, as if it were collected from the field just a few hours ago. But is it safe to eat in this form and will such “conditionally healthy” food harm the body?

A man examines a salad

What remains on unwashed leaves?

It's no secret that the salad goes to the shelves only after lengthy processing. It goes through several washing stages, is processed with substances that prevent the rotting process, and is cut in special machines. In addition, prior to collection, the product is processed with pesticides that protect against pests, and gas is started before packaging in plastic bags.

Scientists from Germany and the UK conducted a study in which they examined the chemical and microbiological composition of lettuce, Peking cabbage and arugula from packages. During the experiment, it turned out that none of the samples can be called environmentally friendly and ready to use.

In all packages of Beijing cabbage for salad were found:

  • traces of fertilizer;
  • growth stimulants;
  • chemicals from pests.

Despite the fact that these substances remain on leafy vegetables in healthy doses, their ingestion is extremely undesirable. In children, the elderly and allergic people, they can cause a deterioration in well-being.

In addition, scientists have revealed the presence of microparticles of earth and sand.

Pathogenic bacteria and yeast were found in some iceberg lettuce samples. In 1 gram of lettuce contained 30-50 thousand microorganisms. In the case of a mix of salad and arugula with a shelf life expiring in a few days, this amount becomes hazardous to health. In people with sensitive gastrointestinal tract, such impurities can cause digestive upsets.

In several packages were even causative agents of serious diseases - salmonellosis and listeria. In Europe, there are cases when products in plastic boxes caused an outbreak.

Washed Lettuce

How to get rid of bacteria and harmful substances?

According to the results of the research, we can conclude: the salad must be washed before use. Let this not help get rid of all harmful substances and microorganisms, washing will still reduce their number to an acceptable norm.

Salad Wash

How to wash?

To destroy the maximum amount of pathogens, it is necessary to wash the arugula and salad in several stages:

  1. First, the leaves are placed in ice water for several minutes.
  2. Then give a little dry.
  3. After that, they are washed under cold running water for 1-2 minutes and wait for drying.
  4. Then thoroughly washed in warm water, cleaning each leaf.

After that, the product is ready for use.

This method is necessary for children and people with poor health, especially for those who suffer from diseases of the digestive system. For healthy adults, rinse well in running water at room temperature.

Salad Mix Packaging

How to choose leafy vegetables in the store?

To reduce the risk of infection, you must adhere to the rules for choosing ready-to-eat products:

  • Monitor the quality of packaging. It must be airtight, free from damage and excess gas. Swollen packets must be discarded immediately.
  • Pay attention to the expiration date. Product must not be expired.In addition, it is better not to take a salad, which should go bad in 3-4 days. It already contains a large amount of harmful substances.
  • Read the composition carefully. The less preservatives in it, the more it is healthy.
  • Choose not the cheapest product and give preference to trusted manufacturers. As a rule, low-cost products contain a large number of bacteria and harmful elements.
  • Keep salad, arugula, Chinese cabbage in the refrigerator and consume as soon as possible after purchase. This will reduce the risk of breeding harmful organisms.
  • If possible, buy not a ready-to-eat salad from plastic packaging, but a fresh product on the market. It still needs to be thoroughly washed, but the leaves are likely to contain less pesticides and chemicals.

The best and safest option is to grow arugula or salad in a pot on the window - this will allow you to get fresh and natural products at any time of the year.

Lettuce and arugula leaves - even in packages with the words "Ready for use" - always contain a large amount of harmful substances. Therefore, the question of whether to wash them, the answer is unequivocal: a must! A few minutes spent on this procedure can prevent unpleasant consequences and maintain health.

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  1. Elena
    11/10/2019 at 10:24 Reply

    Thank you very much for the information! Useful!

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