Is Water Enough to Wash Fruit and Vegetables?

Rinsing produce under the tap is how most of us wash fruit and vegetables. It's quick, it's easy, and Australian food safety guidance recommends washing fresh produce under running water before eating.

But does water remove everything from the surface?

Not necessarily.

Here's what water does well, where it has limitations, and why the surface of fresh produce matters when you wash it.

What does washing with water actually do?

Running water helps remove dirt and other material from the surface of fresh produce. Giving firmer produce such as apples, cucumbers and capsicums a gentle rub can also help loosen surface dirt and debris.

It's a simple and important part of preparing fresh food.

But washing is still a cleaning step. It isn't the same as sanitising or sterilising produce, and it doesn't guarantee that everything on the surface will be removed.

Why does water bead on some fruit and vegetables?

You've probably seen water form droplets on an apple or cucumber and roll off rather than spreading evenly across the surface.

There's a reason for that.

Water has a relatively high surface tension, and many fruits and vegetables have a naturally waxy outer surface. Some produce may also have a food-grade wax applied after harvest to help maintain quality.

When water meets a waxy surface, it can bead rather than spread evenly across it.

This doesn't mean water isn't useful for washing produce. It does mean the surface of the produce matters when we think about how it is washed.

Does rubbing or agitating produce help?

Yes. Giving firmer produce a gentle rub during washing can help loosen surface dirt and debris.

Leafy greens and herbs can also be agitated in water to help loosen material from their more textured surfaces.

Whatever washing method you use, finish by rinsing your produce thoroughly with fresh running water.

What about vinegar, baking soda and produce washes?

Water isn't the only thing people use to wash fresh produce.

Vinegar and baking soda are common home methods, while purpose-formulated fruit and vegetable washes offer another option.

They don't all work in the same way, and household soap and detergent shouldn't be used to wash fresh produce.

So where does Plantaera fit in?

This is exactly why Plantaera was formulated differently.

Plantaera isn't a conventional water-based fruit and vegetable wash. It uses a concentrated, lipid-based formula made with food-grade, plant-derived lipids and designed with the naturally waxy surface of fruit and vegetables in mind.

When mixed with water, Plantaera's lipid-based system is designed to interact with both the water and the surface of the produce during washing, helping to lift everyday dirt, oils and residues.

Plantaera works with water rather than replacing it. Add one pump to a litre of water, wash your produce, then rinse thoroughly with fresh water.

And because there's no water in the bottle, Plantaera doesn't need the preservatives commonly used to maintain water-based formulations over time.

So, is water enough?

Running water remains an important part of washing fresh fruit and vegetables and is the standard recommendation for everyday food preparation.

But washing with water doesn't necessarily mean everything on the surface will be removed.

For those who want to go beyond a simple rinse, Plantaera offers a different approach. Its concentrated, lipid-based formula was designed with the naturally waxy surface of fresh produce in mind and to work with water as part of the washing process.

Wash with Plantaera. Rinse with fresh water. Dry and enjoy as usual.