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No matter what season it is, it is very important to look after one's nutritional intake in every meal of the day. A great way to replenish the body with a dose of vitamins and minerals is by eating a lot of green vegetables. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, spinach, kale, cauliflower, and lettuce have an abundance of antioxidants and essential minerals that can help in improving health.
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However, many people might know that during summer, these vegetables are more susceptible to getting affected by pests and various bacterial infestations. This is the reason why it is very important to properly wash these vegetables and only then cook them at home. One should also properly check the vegetables before buying them from the vendors. Here are some smart tips and tricks to ensure that your cruciferous vegetables are fit for consumption.
* Soak In Salt Water
A saltwater bath for vegetables is extremely effective in taking out any dissolved or hidden dirt in different parts of a vegetable. Vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower can be a little difficult to clean by hand. So it is always better to soak them for half an hour before using them. One has to simply take some room-temperature water and add one tablespoon of salt to it. After adding salt, cut your vegetable into small parts and dip it inside the water. Within 15 to 20 minutes, a person will be able to see the hidden dirt or small pests coming out. After doing it, wash the vegetable from freshwater once again before using it.
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* Separate The Leaves
In the case of vegetables that have a lot of leaves, like lettuce, cabbage, and other leafy vegetables, one has to make sure that they properly separate all the leaves before soaking them in lukewarm water. Separation of leaves is going to help better in cleaning the vegetables properly. One can also add a tad bit of salt or vinegar to the solution for more immaculate results. However, one must remember that they need to have a huge bowl to do this process, as all the leaves will take up a lot of space for proper cleaning.
* Cold Water Rinse
For vegetables like turnips and radishes, just keeping them under some cold water is enough to wash them properly. Since these vegetables do not have complex textures and are multi-layered, unlike other leafy vegetables of cauliflower, it's a lot easier to wash these vegetables. Just make sure that you are keeping them under a tap of chilled water for 3 to 4 minutes. This will help remove all the dirt and will make the vegetables squeaky clean. However, if a person has doubts, then they can keep the vegetables soaked in a salt and water solution.
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* Vinegar
Vinegar is one of the ingredients present in the kitchen that can be used to clean vegetables properly. To clean cruciferous vegetables at home, one has to take a huge bowl and put lots of water in it. Now, put a tablespoon of vinegar in this water and mix it properly. Now cut your vegetables into small parts so that they can absorb the vinegar solution from all the ends, and let it stay there for 10 to 15 minutes. Vinegar helps remove the bacteria and break down the effects of pesticides on vegetables. After soaking these vegetables in vinegar solution, one has to make sure that they wash their vegetable store only with some fresh water so that the vegetables still do not taste like vinegar.
* Wash Them Once Again After Peeling
Most people consume vegetables like turnips, cabbages, and radishes only after removing the most external layer of these vegetables. These vegetables are washed before being peeled. If a person wants to be extra careful, then they can include this step in their vegetable cleaning regime. After peeling the external layer of a vegetable, wash it once again under some fresh water as it is going to ensure some extra safety and remove dirt particles that might still be present. After washing the edible part of the vegetable also, one can cut it into small pieces to cook it.
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* Keep Your Hands Clean
Another important tip that one should follow while cleaning cruciferous vegetables at home is to make sure that their own hands are clean. Cleaning vegetables with different types of solutions and tricks would mean nothing if a person is not looking after their hygiene whilst washing these vegetables. Make sure that you have properly washed your hands with soap and water before starting the cleaning process. Also, keep washing your hands from time to time while cleaning these vegetables.
