I started cooking for myself in college and I did not wash my produce. My mom did not wash produce so it never crossed my mind. I was happy if I had enough time to cook my own food in college. There is no evidence that fresh produce or any other food can transmit viruses such as COVID-19. However, here are some good steps you can take after going to the grocery store!

Do not touch multiple items to select the best produce

You grab a cart and head to the produce department. All those bulk displays abundant with fresh produce, but how do you pick the best one without touching it first? I’m guilty of this and have to constantly remind myself to stop grabbing another another avocado to check if it’s more ripe than the one next to it. Just remember, everyone else is doing the same thing. The more produce you touch, the more germs you are in contact with.

Choose packaged produce

Try buying produce that is already in a bag or carton. Instead of grabbing oranges from the bulk displays, purchase a bag of oranges. Those oranges have not been touched by other people and you are exposing yourself to less germs that way.

Wash your hands after the grocery store

I keep hand sanitizer in the glove box of my car and use it as soon as I get in the car. Then when I get home, I wash my hands after I put all my groceries away. It took me a while to develop this habit but after doing it enough, you might end up like me and not want to start the car without using hand sanitizer.

Rinse your produce

First things first, wash your hands before and after you prepare fruits and vegetables. Dr. Oz recommends singing “Happy Birthday,” twice because that’s the right amount of time it should take to wash your hands.
Wash your fruits and vegetables under running water.
- Soap: None needed! Soap is not designed for human consumption and the running water does enough to keep you safe.
- Brush: It’s important to scrub produce like apples or zucchini. My favorite one is the Full Circle Veggie Brush because it’s tough enough to get off the dirt but gentle so that it doesn’t damage the produce.
- Pre-washed produce: If it is labeled as pre-washed and ready for consumption, you do NOT need to rinse/wash it again. And actually, it is better if you do not. Farmers are following practices and using cleaner water than what you have in your kitchen. By washing the produce again, you are exposing it to unclean surfaces and cross contamination.

These are some simple steps you can start practicing. It will add a little time to your routine, but not much. I know I feel better by following these steps.