How to Clean Garden Produce to Remove Dirt, Bugs, and Bacteria

Few things are more rewarding than picking fresh produce from your garden. However, before it becomes part of a tasty stir-fry or crudité platter, you need to clean it thoroughly so that it is safe for consumption. A quick rinse to rid produce of visible dirt and debris might seem thorough, but it’s not that simple. 

Homegrown fruits, vegetables, and herbs can harbor bacteria from organic treatments, compost, or irrigation water, as well as residue from insects and droppings from pets, birds, and other wildlife. Washing your produce thoroughly reduces the risk of foodborne illness.

So, how do you clean your freshly picked produce so that it is safe to enjoy? Here is how to wash your produce the right way, according to food safety experts.

How to Clean Produce From Your Garden

There are many different types of produce you can grow in your garden, and each one will have its own cleaning needs. That said, these are the basic steps to keep in mind.

1. Wash your hands: Before cleaning fresh produce, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, scrubbing between fingers and under nails, says Vanessa Coffman, director of the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness.
2. Remove outer leaves: Remove the outer leaves of your produce and discard any damaged or wilted outer portions, says Justine Reichman, founder of NextGen Purpose. This is a perfect opportunity to compost if you can.
3. Rinse under cool, running water: Rinse your produce under a gentle stream of cool water to avoid damage or bruising, says Reichman.
4. Soak if needed: Particularly dirty items should be soaked in potable lukewarm water for a few minutes to loosen soil and rocks, as well as to allow any bugs to escape, according to food consultant Bryan Quoc Le.
5. Scrub gently: "For firm produce like carrots, potatoes, or squash, use a dedicated produce brush to gently scrub away dirt and microbes," says Coffman.
6. Rinse and dry: After soaking and scrubbing, rinse the produce again under cool running water and pat dry using a clean towel.

Tips for Cleaning Specific Produce

Not all fruits and vegetables are created equal, and some are more challenging to clean than others. Some are downright dirty, and it can be hard to know how to clean them properly. Here are some tips to keep in mind when cleaning these items.

Lettuce and Other Leafy Greens

Lettuce, kale, Swiss chard, and spinach are just examples of leafy greens that can be particularly gritty when harvested, especially in the folds and creases of the leaves and around the base of the stems. After removing and discarding any damaged outer leaves, Reichman recommends the following steps to thoroughly clean your leafy greens.

1. Fill a large bowl with cool water and separate the leaves.
2. Swish each leaf gently in the water, paying attention to the stem end where dirt collects.
3. For any remaining stubborn residue or debris, gently rub the leaf surface with your fingers. 
4. When finished, rinse each leaf under running water.
5. Use a salad spinner or pat dry. 

Bell Peppers

Bell peppers of all colors tend to collect dirt around the stem and in the folds. To clean a bell pepper thoroughly, follow these simple steps.

1. Softly rub the top, sides, folds, and crevices to remove any visible dirt.
2. Rinse the outside of the pepper with lukewarm water.
3. Before cooking, cut around the stem and remove the top. Rinse the inside thoroughly.
4. Pat dry using a clean paper towel or cloth.

Mushrooms

Anyone who has soaked a mushroom in a bowl of water or cleaned it under the tap knows mushrooms can get very soggy, which makes them harder to cook. For this reason, avoid excessive water when cleaning mushrooms.

1. Gently brush the dirt off or wipe using a damp cloth.
2. Pat dry using a clean paper towel or cloth.

Leeks

Leeks can harbor a surprising amount of soil and dirt in their tight folds and layers. For this reason, extra attention must be paid to the cleaning process. Quoc Le offers these simple steps for cleaning leeks.

1. Rinse leeks under cold running water.
2. Cut off both ends.
3. Slice the leeks horizontally.
4. Soak the sliced leeks in a bowl of cool water.
5. Rub the dirt off the leeks by separating the layers with your fingers.
6. Pat dry using a clean paper towel or cloth.
   

Tips for Cleaning Bulk Produce

If you have a big harvest, washing your produce in bulk can save time. "To do this safely, start with clean hands, clean kitchen surfaces, and clean containers," says Coffman. How you wash your produce in bulk will again depend on the type of fruit or vegetable at hand, but here are some general tips.

• Wash one type of produce at a time to avoid possible cross-contamination. "Be sure to wash your hands and sanitize any brushes, colanders, or work surfaces between different types of fruits and vegetables to maintain food safety," says Coffman.
• Trim stems and remove bruised parts that may damage neighboring fruits or vegetables.
• Sturdy produce, like apples, potatoes, and carrots, can be rinsed with cold water in a large colander or clean sink, says Reichman. She recommends rinsing the entire batch under running water while gently agitating with your hands. Scrub individual items with a brush as needed. 
• Reichman recommends cleaning medium-sized items like zucchini and tomatoes in batches of 6-8 items at a time. "This allows you to give proper attention to each item while maintaining efficiency," she says. 
• Mushrooms need to be cleaned individually with damp paper towels or cloths, working in small batches to prevent them from sitting too long and absorbing moisture. "The key to effective bulk cleaning is working in manageable batches that allow you to properly clean each mushroom without rushing through the process," she says.