Freeing Apples From Pesticides: Scientists Recommend This Method

How to remove pesticides from apples

As with so many vegetables and fruits, most of the healthy nutrients in apples are just under the skin. However, many fear the harmful pesticides on the skin. If the apple is therefore peeled, the healthy ingredients often end up in the organic waste bin. So what to do? Rinsing the apple under the tap will remove some of the unhealthy pesticides, but it has been shown that too much is still clinging to the skin. In a study, scientists from the University of Massachusetts dealt with the problem of how to rid apples of pesticides. The researchers have now published their amazingly simple solution in the “Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry”.

• According to the scientists, all you need to rid the apples of pesticides is baking soda.
• It is most effective if you clean all the apples at once. To do this, dissolve the baking soda in warm water and let the apples sit in it for about 15 minutes.
• Finally, clean the apples under running water and then wipe them thoroughly.
• According to the researchers, this removes most of the pesticides from the apple. However, between 5 and 20 percent sit under the shell and therefore cannot be removed even with baking soda.
• Bottom line: Forget washing apples and reach for baking soda. This is the most effective way to rid fruit of most pesticides.