Have fruit and vegetable recalls got you worried? Use these tips to help prevent the spread of bacteria.

Is regular old water really enough? According to the Food and Drug Administration, it is. The FDA does not recommend using soap, liquid detergent or any of the commercial fruit and vegetable washes out there. All produce should be thoroughly washed under running water, whether it’s grown conventionally or organically.

Image Credit: Jennifer Martine/Foodpix/Getty Images

The University of Maine’s Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and Cooperative Extension backed up this claim by testing three store-bought produce rinses and washes against regular tap water and distilled water. The study found that distilled water was the most effective way to remove pesticides and microbes. 

Image Credit: Getty Images

Why distilled? The water is filtered and purified to remove any contaminants, so you’re washing your produce with the purest possible liquid.

Image Credit: Getty Images

The researchers also said that “very clean cold tap water” can be used instead.

Image Credit: Getty Images

The key is to wash your fruits and vegetables even if you are peeling or cutting them. Slicing an unwashed cantaloupe, for example, can transfer bacteria from the outside of the melon onto the cut fruit.

Image Credit: Getty Images

Thick-skinned produce such as melons or cucumbers (or vegetables that grow underground, like beets and carrots) might need an extra scrub to remove excess dirt or hard-to-remove microbes. A vegetable scrubber is the best tool for this job.

Image Credit: Getty Images

The University of Maine recommends soaking produce with a lot of nooks and crannies (like cauliflower, broccoli or lettuce) for one to two minutes in clean, cold water before eating.

Image Credit: jupiterimages

Once your fruits and vegetables are nice and clean, experts recommend drying them with a dishtowel or paper towel – another step I usually skip. But drying produce may help reduce any residual bacteria that might be present.

Image Credit: Corbis

Another small but important step: be sure to wash your countertops, cutting boards and utensils with hot, soapy water after cutting and peeling produce. The FDA also recommends a solution of one teaspoon of chlorine bleach to one quart of water. Sure, this might seem a little excessive — especially if you’re a quick-rinse-under-the-tap kind of person like me. 

Image Credit: Getty Images

But given the recent surge of food recalls, maybe it’s time we start handling produce differently – more like raw meat. With a few extra steps, you could prevent a serious illness or worse.

Image Credit: Getty Images