Use a spray bottle filled with three parts water and one part distilled vinegar to banish bacteria from smooth-skinned produce like apples.
According to the journal of Microbiology, vinegar contains an acid that stops bacteria in their tracks. The culinary experts at Cook’s Illustrated put this theory to the test by comparing the effectiveness of vinegar solution against several other methods of removing bacteria from produce.
They found that vinegar solution removed 98% of surface bacteria (nearly beating the anti-bacterial soap, and four times as effective as mere rinsing alone). Brush scrubbing removed 85% of bacteria.
The Cook’s team also found that the vinegar solution was best for removing traces of surface wax and pesticides, but they remind readers to thoroughly rinse with water after washing in order to avoid any vinegary aftertaste.
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