How should unwashed shop bought salads be washed

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AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around the proper washing methods for salad and vegetables to ensure safety from bacteria. One participant shares their casual approach to preparing salads for themselves versus for others, expressing concern about the effectiveness of simply rinsing salad under cold water. They question whether this method adequately removes harmful bacteria and suggest that a more thorough washing might be necessary. Several contributors recommend using a salad spinner, highlighting its efficiency in washing and drying greens. They describe various techniques, such as rinsing vegetables in the spinner and using the soaking water for plants. The conversation also touches on the versatility of salad spinners, noting their usefulness beyond salads, including for drying fruits and vegetables quickly. Participants share personal experiences with salad spinners, emphasizing their practicality in food preparation. Overall, the thread underscores the importance of washing produce properly while also discussing the benefits of using tools like salad spinners to enhance food safety and preparation efficiency.
Dadface
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When I prepare a shop bought salad just for myself I cut it up,chuck it on a plate(sometimes I don't bother with cutting up or with the plate) and get stuck in.Yummy yum yum.When I prepare for others as well for myself I wash the salad.My washing method involves bunging the salad in a collander,running it under the cold water tap for a few seconds and then shaking off the excess water.
I wonder if this washing method works,does it rid the salad of any nasties?I suspect that it doesn't work very effectively at all and that in order to ensure that no one later suffers with the tummy trots a more thorough washing method is needed.My question is how ,if at all,should salad be washed?
 
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jedishrfu said:
in boiling hot water however other sources recommend simply washing to eliminate 98% of the bacteria on the surface of leaves.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4329869...r-salad-how-wash-veggies-safely/#.T_V6Q6BncVY

:eek: I don't think a salad would withstand boiling hot water.

I usually rinse salads and dry in a salad spinner - brilliant invention, those salad spinners! I recognize there is a chance of getting nasties but the benefits of fresh greens outweigh the risk, IMO.
 
Thanks jedishfru and lisab.I think I will invest in a salad spinner.
 
Dadface said:
Thanks jedishfru and lisab.I think I will invest in a salad spinner.
They are great. You can remove the basket and rinse the greens in your sink. Shake the basket to get rid of most of the water, then put it back in the spinner and spin away.
 
leave the basket in the spinner and soak the veggies, then pull out the spinner and use the soaking water for your plants then place the basket back inside and spin. Dont forget to wash the basket... with soap to remove any bacteria before drying off and putting it away.
 
turbo said:
They are great. You can remove the basket and rinse the greens in your sink. Shake the basket to get rid of most of the water, then put it back in the spinner and spin away.

I didn't know they existed until lisab's post.They don't seem to be very common here in the UK(if they are I've missed them) but by searching I found some stockists,including IKEA.
 
jedishrfu said:
leave the basket in the spinner and soak the veggies, then pull out the spinner and use the soaking water for your plants then place the basket back inside and spin. Dont forget to wash the basket... with soap to remove any bacteria before drying off and putting it away.

I'm usually very good with the washing up mainly because my wife does it.Well I do most of the prep and cooking so it is a fair division of labour.
 
Dadface said:
I didn't know they existed until lisab's post.They don't seem to be very common here in the UK(if they are I've missed them) but by searching I found some stockists,including IKEA.
My wife bought one with two different-sized baskets. I think she bought it at a Pampered Chef party that my cousin's daughter hosted. It is a great tool. We grow broccoli in our garden, and soak it in salt water to drive out any cabbage-worms. Then dump the broccoli into the spinner basket in the sink and rinse the salt out with cold water and spin the water out. I love making stir-fries with broccoli, and the spinner is a very fast and efficient way to get the broccoli heads dried so they won't cool off the wok.
 
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  • #10
We are now proud owners of a salad spinner.The spinner was purchased at approximately four thirty P.M. on July 6 at Tesco Extra near Romford and came in at just under four pounds(sterling).Both purchaser and spinner are doing well.
 
  • #11
Dadface said:
We are now proud owners of a salad spinner.The spinner was purchased at approximately four thirty P.M. on July 6 at Tesco Extra near Romford and came in at just under four pounds(sterling).Both purchaser and spinner are doing well.
Good deal! Like preparing broccoli and drying it before adding it to a stir-fry, you'll find uses for that spinner that goes beyond making garden salads.
 
  • #12
Dadface said:
We are now proud owners of a salad spinner.The spinner was purchased at approximately four thirty P.M. on July 6 at Tesco Extra near Romford and came in at just under four pounds(sterling).Both purchaser and spinner are doing well.

Awwww, they're so cute when they're brand new *sniff*!
 
  • #13
lisab said:
Awwww, they're so cute when they're brand new *sniff*!
Look at that little face! How much it nose!
 
  • #14
Our safety officer on campus told us that it's mostly the mechanical aspect of washing that removes bacteria from your hands (i.e. those waterless hand sanitizers are pointless). So I'd think a rinse is good enough for most veggies.
 
  • #15
BTW, my wife and I love fresh grapes and cherries, and the salad-spinner is a quick and easy way to dry them after rinsing. That critter gets used a lot.

It is easy enough to dump those fruits into a colander and let them drain over time, but when a relative pulls into the drive unannounced and they have a kid that loves fruit finger-food, the salad spinner gets you into business really quickly. I have a young niece that will gladly graze on carrot sticks, celery sticks, cherries, and grapes while I grill up steaks and burgers for my brother and others.

It's not just for salads anymore. (Parody of a US commercial ad.)
 
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