When the sun’s rays begin to warm, cherry season begins. From mid-April to the end of July, these small but sweet fruits begin to star in the breakfasts and snacks of those with a sweet tooth. However, as with nuts, few people know how to wash them correctly. so as not to end up ingesting pesticides or chemicals used during cultivation.
Whether they are cherries, sour cherries or cherry blossoms, these fruits must be cleaned thoroughly to avoid ingesting chemical residues that can cause everything from intestinal problems to serious cases of poisoning. Likewise, these fruits can bring with them small insects, which it is preferable to avoid to preserve their duration and flavor. Therefore, it is important to know the different techniques that can be used for washing.
The three best techniques to clean cherries without damaging their flavor
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States recommend wash all fruits before consuming them. Put the cherries in a bowl and let the tap water remove dirt and chemicals, helping it with a light rubbing with your hands is enough to avoid any type of danger. However, if you want to ensure that they are completely free of pesticides, it is advisable to use other products.
First of all, and one of the best known, is use white vinegar. This variety of vinegar is quite common both in homes and supermarkets and thanks to its properties it is capable of kill most of the microorganisms. To do this, it is ideal to mix cold water with a cup of vinegar in a bowl and leave the cherries soak for at least fifteen minutes. Once this time has passed, they should be rinsed with water and dried.
Another of the most popular and affordable ways is use baking soda. This powder, easy to find in food stores, allows eliminate most of the pesticidesresidual chemicals and insects found in fruits without damaging its flavor or consistency. To use it, you only need to mix a tablespoon of baking soda, approximately 10 grams, in a liter of water, and let the cherries soak for fifteen minutes. As with vinegar, it is subsequently necessary rinse them with running water and dry them.
Why using soap or bleach can be harmful to your health and other essential tricks
These techniques have the characteristics of clean without damaging the fruit or putting health at risk of those who consume them. Something that does not happen with other widely used elements such as soaps, detergents or bleacheswell the cherries can end absorbing these chemicals and that people end up ingesting them involuntarily. Therefore, it is not recommended to use these products to clean food, not even fruits and vegetables.
Another of the most common questions is when you should wash fruits, before eating them or immediately after purchasing them to store them clean in the refrigerator. The answer, according to experts, is that it is moments before eating them to prevent them from generating mold and that its consistency ends up being damaged. In addition, other recommendations to preserve cherries for longer is store them in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator, which will slow down its maturation process.
What are the benefits of eating cherries?
In addition to their ability to sweeten and decorate any dessert or summer snack, cherries have great properties that They benefit the health of those who eat them. First of all, they are a great source of vitamin C and folic acidwhich guarantees a strong immune system and helps cell regeneration and red blood cells. Therefore, it is an excellent choice for pregnant women who do not want to give up sweets.
They also have small amounts of different minerals, organic acids, antioxidants and anti-inflammatorymaking them an essential snack to maintain hydration on the hottest days of June and July and help reduce fluid retention So typical these days. All this, added to its low caloric intake, 50 calories per 100 gramsmakes them one of the most consumed fruits in summer