Foods You Don’t Need to Wash before You Eat

If you have concerns about food safety, and many of us do, it can be confusing on what foods needs to be washed before eaten. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) weighs in on the issue regarding foods that do not need to be washed at home, and in some cases, may be detrimental to do so.

With all of the media attention regarding bird flu, some people wonder if we should be washing our store-bought eggs. According to the USDA, we should not wash eggs from the grocery store as commercial eggs are already washed. Experts explain,” Bloom,” the natural coating on just-laid eggs that helps prevent bacteria from permeating the shell, is removed by the commercial washing process. It is replaced by a light coating of edible mineral oil, which restores protection for long-term home storage of eggs.”  If fact they warn that washing eggs at home could increase the risk of cross-contamination, especially if the shell becomes cracked. 

Another common food we buy is pre-washed salad mixes. Again, the USDA says it is not necessary to wash pre-washed or ready-to-eat produce as they are safe to eat as packaged. If you do decide to wash it, they warn about cross-contamination and to take care to avoid unclean surfaces or utensils that have come into contact with raw meat, poultry or seafood, or their juices. A tip for washing fresh fruits and vegetables is to hold them under running tap water to remove any dirt. For veggies or fruits with a firm skin, scrub with a clean brush. Avoid using detergent soaps or commercial produce washes.  

Most canned foods do not need to be washed. However, when using canned beans; follow the recipe recommendation in terms of rinsing. Rinsing rice before cooking can help reduce rice’s arsenic content as well as remove the surface starch for a lighter, fluffier rice. If you are cooking risottos, paella or rice pudding, skip the rinsing step as you want the extra surface starch to remain on the rice. Quinoa from the supermarket is typically already rinsed and dried before packaged. Check the label to see if it says pre-rinsed or if it recommends rinsing. 

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