Many people won’t eat grapes without rinsing them or apples without at least a quick buff on a shirtsleeve. However, we rarely give the same kind of attention to fruit we plan to peel. After all, the rinds of many popular fruits — from bananas and melons to pineapples and oranges — are usually discarded.
But if you’re cutting up the fruit, skipping the wash is a mistake. Before you reach for a knife to tackle your next watermelon, take a moment to learn the proper way to prep.
Wash Before You Cut
Any fruit with a sturdy rind that requires a knife should be washed before you make the first cut. To do it right, follow these steps:
Wash your hands, knife, and cutting board with hot, soapy water, then rinse them well.
1. Rinse the fruit under cool, running tap water, working from end to end.
2. Cut the fruit and remove the rind.
3. Wash your hands and work surface again when finished
Why go to all this trouble just to make a fruit tray? The skin is where bacteria, pesticides, and dirt accumulate. Rinsing removes the vast majority of pathogens that cause foodborne illness. Otherwise, the knife transfers bacteria from the surface into the fruit. Washing your hands before and after also prevents cross-contamination throughout your kitchen.
More from our network
House Outlook is part of Inbox Studio, which publishes content that uplifts, informs, and inspires.
A Couple of Special Cases
A few fruits, such as pineapples, jackfruit, and cantaloupes, have rough skins that can trap dirt and bacteria. For these, you’ll need to take the extra step of scrubbing with a vegetable brush under running water to dislodge any debris. You will also need to sanitize the brush between uses; a hot cycle in the dishwasher will do that effectively.
You may be tempted to use a bleach solution or produce wash, but don’t. The FDA advises against it, as the chemical residues can make you sick. A thorough rinse and basic hygiene are more reliable. If you follow this process, you can worry less the next time there’s a food recall for contaminated fruit.
