Washing USA Apples & Grapes - How Much Does it Help?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the effectiveness and necessity of washing USA apples and grapes before consumption. Participants explore the nature of coatings on these fruits, including waxy substances and potential pesticide residues, and question the extent to which washing removes contaminants.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about how much washing actually removes contaminants from apples and grapes, questioning the necessity of using specialized soaps.
  • Another participant suggests that the frosty-looking coating on red grapes may be a natural occurrence, possibly related to oxidation or skin cells.
  • Some participants mention that they primarily wash off dust, indicating skepticism about the perceived need for thorough washing due to concerns over pesticides and preservatives.
  • There is a suggestion that the 'dust' on grapes could be mostly yeast, leading to a lighthearted remark about it being a "yeast feast."
  • One participant notes that blueberries exhibit a similar coating to that of grapes.
  • A participant shares an experience of encountering a waxy coating on apples that did not wash off easily.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views regarding the necessity and effectiveness of washing fruits, with no clear consensus on the best practices or the nature of the coatings present on the fruits discussed.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various assumptions about the coatings and their origins, but these remain unresolved. The discussion does not clarify the chemical nature of the coatings or the specific effectiveness of different washing methods.

DaveC426913
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I've been negligent in washing my (USA) apples & grapes before eating them. I know you're s'posed to, but somehow I wonder just how much washing them removes anyway.

I know there's soaps that you can get that are designed for rinsing fruit, but I don't want to go that far if I don't have to.

What is the frosty-looking coating on red grapes? Simple rinsing doesn't take it off, it seems somewhat waxy. If there's pesticides in that, no simple washing will get rid of it.
 
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It's even on wild grapes, so I've always thought it was a slight oxidating of the skin, something produced by the grape skin, or 'dead skin cells'.
 
I just wash off the layer of dust that sometimes can blanket a fruit. Other than that I don't know what the hype is all about.
 
rewebster said:
It's even on wild grapes.
True, true.
 
what said:
I just wash off the layer of dust that sometimes can blanket a fruit. Other than that I don't know what the hype is all about.
Well, the hype is about pesticides and preservatives that are sprayed on fruit so they don't go bad in transport or on the shelf.
 
rewebster said:
It's even on wild grapes, so I've always thought it was a slight oxidating of the skin, something produced by the grape skin, or 'dead skin cells'.

Hmm I have been reading that the 'dust' on grapes is mostly yeast
 
ahhhh---a yeast feast
 
Blueberries have a very similar "coating".
 
I bought some apples recently that had a very waxy coating on them, wouldn't wash off.
 

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