The Best Way to Wash Vegetables and Fruits for your Parrots.

Intro: Why Baking Soda Is the Best Wash

The best way to wash your veggies and fruits is with baking soda. It gets rid of dirt, bacteria, and pesticide residue. It can remove a significant amount of pesticides from the surface of produce and stops the growth of germs.

A 2017 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that soaking apples in a baking soda solution (1 teaspoon per 2 cups of water) for 12–15 minutes removed up to 96% of certain pesticides.

How to Make the Wash

• Mix 1 teaspoon baking soda in 2 cups water.
• Soak produce for 10–15 minutes.
• After soaking, rinse thoroughly under cold running water.

How to Wash Different Types of Produce

Small fruits (grapes, cranberries, etc.):
Agitate small foods against each other in the baking-soda bath.

Produce with waxy coatings (apples, cucumbers, pears):
Many have natural or store-applied waxes. Use a soft produce brush to lift dirt and residues the baking soda loosens.

Hard-rind or firm-skin produce (squash, sweet potatoes, root vegetables):
Scrub thoroughly with a vegetable brush. If you’ll be using the rinds for foraging opportunities, go ahead and soak, scrub and rinse those veggies before using too. 

Delicate produce (tomatoes, leafy greens):
Wash under cold running water or gently agitate in the baking-soda wash for just a few minutes to avoid damaging them.

Berries:
Hold off washing until you’re ready to use them. Getting them wet ahead of time increases germ growth and reduces shelf life.

Drying & Storing Cleaned Produce

Any fruits and veggies you aren’t going to eat immediately should be blotted dry with a paper towel to remove moisture and reduce germ growth. Then store them in a covered container in the fridge.

Pre-cut grocery produce has higher bacterial risk because more surface area is exposed. If feeding pre-cut items, washing and drying is even more important.

Why Baking Soda Works (The Science)

• Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is mildly alkaline.
• Alkali can break down certain pesticide chemicals, making them easier to remove from the peel.
• Baking soda is food-safe and leaves no harmful residues when fully rinsed.

Why Not Vinegar?

Vinegar’s acidity is useful for bacteria but not nearly as effective for pesticides.
It can also leave a residual taste and alter the texture of some foods.

Yes—Even Organic Produce Needs Washing

You should still wash foods labeled organic. Organic simply means no synthetic pesticides were used, but:

• naturally derived pesticides may still be present
• soil bacteria can cling to surfaces
• handling, transport, and storage can all add contamination