Do You Wash Your Citrus Fruit?

[Christine]

I never used to, but with all the media hype about germs and e-coli problems with fruit, I noticed that I've been doing this.

I also noticed that sometimes (even after washing) when I peel my oranges (navals) that there is this white film on them that comes off on my hands. What is that? Wax? Pesticides? YUCK.

 

[ElizaB39]

I wash my apples and bananas with a soapy scrunge (that of course had been de-bacteriaed in the mircowave). Apples get washed just before eating, bananas get washed when I get home from the store.

Wierd I know, but just think of all the hands that have touched those food items!

 

[Maleficent13]

No, I only wash fruit that I'm actually going to eat the skin of (apples, pears, grapes...).

 

[stinkerbelle]

No, I only wash fruit that I'm actually going to eat the skin of (apples, pears, grapes...).

ditto
and I ain't dead yet...

and I haven't gotten sick from fruit.

I've heard of cases of people getting samenella (sp?) from fruit...I should be more diligent...but...chalk it up to being lazy I guess.

 

[VSL]

No, I only wash fruit that I'm actually going to eat the skin of (apples, pears, grapes...).

 

[CEDmom]

I pretty much wash all fruit now. I didn't worry about it that much until DD came along. I got concerned that her little body wouldn't be able to fight off germs the way an adult could and now it's just habit. I even wash melon because anything on the skin will get inside the minute I cut it.

 

[ilovepcot]

Well Christine, I "should" be able to answer your questions because my house is built right in the middle of an orange grove. For decades there was nothing as far as the eye could see but orange trees. Now, there are new houses all around and we only have about 40 or so citrus trees left here. Anyway, I'd strongly advise washing ALL fruit before cutting into it....I've seen some of the things that crawl over it! Another thing, workers that pick the fruit are sometimes in the groves all day and don't always have access to restrooms with hand washing facilities. KWIM??? And the white film that sometimes gets on your hands after peeling a naval orange is "probably" the thin membrane that lines the inside of the orange. Not harmful at all.

 

[Christine]

ditto
and I ain't dead yet...

and I haven't gotten sick from fruit.

I've heard of cases of people getting samenella (sp?) from fruit...I should be more diligent...but...chalk it up to being lazy I guess.

Gee, stinkerbelle, I had you pegged for a citrus fruit washer!! I somewhere got the idea that you liked to clean??? I guess it doesn't transfer over to citrus. Oh well, time to make another appointment with my therapist!

 

[Christine]

Anyway, I'd strongly advise washing ALL fruit before cutting into it....I've seen some of the things that crawl over it! Another thing, workers that pick the fruit are sometimes in the groves all day and don't always have access to restrooms with hand washing facilities. KWIM??? And the white film that sometimes gets on your hands after peeling a naval orange is "probably" the thin membrane that lines the inside of the orange. Not harmful at all.

Oh, my.

No the white stuff isn't from the inside--I can actually see it on the peel of the orange. Then it gets on my fingers and it almost "shimmers."

I figure, I'm usually peeling my oranges with my hands and then my hands are ripping apart the orange and getting whatever "crud" all over the actual edible part.

I haven't yet started washing bananas because, even though I peel them with my hands, the fruit inside just goes directly in the mouth.

 

[stinkerbelle]

Gee, stinkerbelle, I had you pegged for a citrus fruit washer!! I somewhere got the idea that you liked to clean??? I guess it doesn't transfer over to citrus. Oh well, time to make another appointment with my therapist!

dear lord what kind of reputation do I have here?!?!?!

 

[Laurajean1014]

I'm a tangalo kind of girl - but the under-peel is sticky. I thought it was the pulp or pre-pulp. I don't know if it has anything to do with genetic enhanced fruit.

Do you know how to tell the difference? That to me is just as important as washing fruit.

BTW, I do not wash my bananas - I just peel and !

 

[Saffron]

The white stuff on the oranges is indeed wax. It's put on the fruit, almost all fruit and vegies, to make the produce more attractive to buyers. Usually organicly grown foods are free from wax, but even the organic markets like Fresh Fields advocate washing fruits and vegies with soapy water ... due to contaminates beyond their control IE: potty hands.

I honestly don't wash all my fruits and vegies. I sometimes love to buy blackberries just to eat in my car on the way home from the produce store. I live life in the fast lane I guess.

 

[In a hurry]

Well Christine, I "should" be able to answer your questions because my house is built right in the middle of an orange grove. For decades there was nothing as far as the eye could see but orange trees. Now, there are new houses all around and we only have about 40 or so citrus trees left here. Anyway, I'd strongly advise washing ALL fruit before cutting into it....I've seen some of the things that crawl over it! Another thing, workers that pick the fruit are sometimes in the groves all day and don't always have access to restrooms with hand washing facilities. KWIM???

I could have gone my entire life without knowing this...

 

[horseshowmom]

Well Christine, I "should" be able to answer your questions because my house is built right in the middle of an orange grove. For decades there was nothing as far as the eye could see but orange trees. Now, there are new houses all around and we only have about 40 or so citrus trees left here. Anyway, I'd strongly advise washing ALL fruit before cutting into it....I've seen some of the things that crawl over it! Another thing, workers that pick the fruit are sometimes in the groves all day and don't always have access to restrooms with hand washing facilities. KWIM??? And the white film that sometimes gets on your hands after peeling a naval orange is "probably" the thin membrane that lines the inside of the orange. Not harmful at all.

OT, I know, but wanted to comment that we were on Hwy. 27 in November and were shocked at how few orange groves are left. We used to be on 27 a lot but haven't been in several years. There's a huge change now (and kind of sad).

 

[ilovepcot]

Yes, that's because it's *far more profitable* to sell the land to developers (got to put you Disers some place!) than to continue with the profits coming in from the citrus.

And IN A HURRY, are you preparing fruit salad for dinner tonight??? Yum!