Coronavirus and produce. 

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has stated that cooking food will destroy any Coronavirus. Additionally, it is not thought that Coronavirus is transferred in food. Therefore the chances of contracting it from raw produce is very unlikely. However, we recommend taking the same food hygiene precautions one always would with fresh produce to avoid any disease.

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Even if there’s no reason to think that your tomatoes are covered in coronavirus, there’s also no reason not to wash what you bring home. Wash even the fruits you plan to peel.

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We recommend a thorough rinse under water for all produce, and wash items you are going to peel or cook anyway. Just water is recommended by the CDC. If you prefer to use soapy water or commercial produce washes be sure to rinse them off thoroughly. Do this just before you are going to prep, cook or eat them. 

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Some strategies for washing fruits and vegetables:

 

Lettuces and other leafy greens: Fill a large bowl with water and immerse the greens in it. Swish the greens around to loosen any grit, let stand for a minute so the grit can drop to the bottom of the bowl, then lift the greens out into a colander. If they’re really sandy, repeat, rinsing the bowl clean first. Run the greens in the colander under cold water very thoroughly, using a sprayer if you have one.

 

Root vegetables: If these are muddy scrub them under running water with a vegetable brush. If you don’t have one, you can use your fingers to scrub off any caked-on dirt.

 

Mushrooms: Some chefs prefer to never let mushrooms get wet because they absorb water like a sponge, which makes them steam instead of sear in a hot pan. You can still wash them, quickly swishing them in a colander. Immediately after rinsing, spread in a single layer on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels to dry.

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Sturdy vegetables and fruits: For items such as green beans, asparagus, cucumbers and grapes, rinse well under a high-pressure stream of water while rubbing with your hands. Let dry in a clean colander if needed.

 

Delicate vegetables and fruits: For soft stuff such as tomatoes, ripe stone fruit and berries, rinse under a steady but low-pressure stream of water, turning the items gently with your hands to ensure all sides are rinsed but not bruised. Spread on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels to dry so they don’t get crushed.