How to Clean Apples and Other Fruit the Right Way—Plus Whether You Need a Produce Wash

For most people, cleaning apples and other fruit is a practice that's (hopefully) done on autopilot. It also seems like a relatively straightforward task, even if there are many aspects to consider—including soaking vs. running water, the temperature of said water, and the type of brush and produce wash used, if any at all. These factors will determine how well your fruit is washed.

But what is the correct method? Food safety experts share the best way to wash fruit, including whether special store-bought washes are better than using water.

Why You Should Wash Fruit

According to the experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), washing fresh fruit removes contaminants that might cause foodborne illness. This includes dirt and microorganisms that may come from the environment, hands, or debris, says Bryan Quoc Le, Ph.D., food scientist and author of 150 Food Science Questions Answered. After all, by the time fresh fruit arrives at your table, it's traveled quite a distance—from the farm to the grocery store (or farmers market) and, eventually, your cart, bag, and kitchen. The fruit can pick up contaminants during this journey, so it's important it is washed before eating.

This is particularly important when serving people with compromised immune systems, as they're more susceptible to severe sickness from a foodborne illness, says Kimberly Baker, Ph.D., RD, LD, director of the Clemson Extension Food Systems and Safety Program Team. This includes babies, young children, older and pregnant individuals, and folks with chronic diseases.

How to Wash Fruit

Follow this step-by-step guide for washing fruit, as provided by Le and Baker:

1.  Wash your hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds. Clean your countertops, cutting boards, and utensils.
2. Wash the fruit under cool (45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit) running water for 10 to 20 seconds. For porous fruits such as strawberries, wash them under running water for 20 seconds, says Le.
3. Gently scrub the fruit to loosen any dirt on the surface. Use a soft-bristle or silicone brush for tender fruits (like berries) and a vegetable brush for apples and other firmer skinned fruits. The brushes should only be used for cleaning produce, says Baker.

Washing vs. Soaking

It's best to wash fruit under running water vs. soaking it in the wash water. The movement of running water will help remove dirt and pathogens from the fruits' surface, says Baker. In contrast, if the fruit sits in the wash water, pathogens may enter the pores. "Fruits soaked in wash water also have the potential to spread pathogens to other fruits," she says.

Different Types of Fruit Washes

The best fruit wash is nothing more than plain running water, per the Food and Drug Administration. (FDA). Our experts agree there is no need to use another product—whether it be soap, baking soda, detergent, or a commercial fruit and vegetable wash. For starters, the surface of fruit is porous, meaning it can potentially absorb these products. Soap and detergent, in particular, are not food grade—so using either item to wash fruit is a form of chemical contamination, says Baker. Additionally, "any contaminants that can be removed with water will be washed off [when rinsed with water], while many pathogens are not removable with soap or produce washes," says Le.

What About Vinegar?

Many people use vinegar to wash their fruit—although vinegar is food grade, it's no more effective than cool running water, says Baker. "For vinegar to be effective in killing pathogens, it would need to be soaked with the fruit at a [length] of time and concentration that would [change] the quality of the fruit (think fruit pickles)," she explains.

The expert advice is to use plain tap water when washing fruits and save the vinegar for cleaning around the home.