Here are some options for cleaning fruit and vegetables in Mexico. When traveling, you often eat produce that is grown, handled and stored in different conditions than your body is accustomed. Every body is different, and the strength of a body’s immune system can change moment to moment. So here are some tips to keep your body healthy as you gobble up fruits and vegetables in Mexico, or wherever.
How to Clean Fruit and Vegetables in Mexico
When in Mexico, you want to sanitize your fresh produce, with more than just the tap water and dish detergent. You want to sanitize/treat your produce even if you’re going to discard the skin, or cook the produce before eating. As you cut or handle the skin, you will touch parts you’re going to eat. Whatever is on the outside of the produce skin will get on the edible parts, and cooking produce does not always kill the pathogens that can make you ill.
There are many products available that make treating produce easy. When choosing a product, look for an antimicrobial treatment, not just a chemical detergent like the detergent you use to wash your dishes.
The soaking time differs for different products, and some also require a rinse. However, the treatment process is basically the same.
Give Fruit and Vegetables a Preliminary Wash
Tap water is fine for this task. And scrub the skins when possible, to remove extra dirt.
Treat the Produce with Disinfectant Solution
There are a number of products you can choose to clean fruit and vegetables in Mexico. In the video above, we use a product that was available at our AirBnB, but we have used several different brands and types of sanitizing solution during our travels. Read below to find several treatment options, but whatever solution you choose, follow the directions completely.
Many fruits and veggies will float when you put them in water, so occasionally rotate the items so all sides are treated. You can place plates on non-bruising items to keep them submerged.
Drain/Dry and Store the Treated Produce.
Removing the extra moisture, prior to putting produce away on a shelf or in the frig, can extend the life of your fruits and veggies.
Once dry, store refrigerated items in plastic bags. This can extend the life of your produce and prevent it absorbing odors from other refrigerator items.
Options for clean fruit and vegetables in Mexico
There are a wide range of treatment options. Here are some of the most common.
Produce Treatments That DO NOT Require A Rinse
Grapefruit Seed Extract This is our preferred treatment solution to clean fruit and vegetables in Mexico. It’s effective, inexpensive, easy to carry and easy to use. You generally use 10 drops to every liter of water. It also is a natural way to treat produce.
Silver nitrate – based Solutions BacDyn and MicroDyn are two popular options. They are also effective, inexpensive, easy to carry and easy to use. Generally you can find them at the ever-present OXXO convenience stores. You can find a variety of silver nitrate strengths, which require a different amount of product for effective produce treatment. Read and follow the instructions provided on the particular bottle. Silver nitrate is not the same as colloidal silver; see our related note in the Other Frequently Asked Questions section of this blog.
Produce Treatments That DO Require a Rinse:
These 3 solutions require a rinsing soak in order to remove the cleaning solution from the produce. That means you will need more potable water for the rinse.
Iodine-based Cleaning Solutions If you’ve ever been on a multi-day hike, you may have used an iodine-based solution to treat water you retrieve from a stream. There are several brands of liquid or tablet forms of iodine-based treatments. Although we haven’t experienced this, some folks say they can taste the solution or that treated produce stains their plastic ware. If you do experience an after-taste, you can rinse the item in potable water.
Diluted Peroxide Wash and Vinegar Rinse Wash. Use 1/3 to 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide to 9 gallons of cool water (the size of many kitchen sinks). Soak the produce for 15-20 minute. Then Rinse. Use 1/4 cup of white vinegar (or the juice of one whole lemon or lime) to 9 gallons of cool water. Note: do not use bottled lemon or lime juice – it’s not the same.
Diluted Bleach Solution If you go this route, find a bleach that contains 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. Do not use scented or non-splash bleach.
To treat your fruits and veggies, use 1 1/2 teaspoons of bleach for one gallon of water. Soak for 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with drinkable water. You can also rinse with the vinegar or citrus dilutions noted previously.
If you want to check out prices for vegetable washes online, here are some options on Amazon: Arm and Hammer Fruit and Veggie Wash, Fruit and Veggie Wash Concentrate, Trader Joe’s Fruit and Vegetable Wash.
OTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do these vegetable washes get rid of pesticides?
No. Although a rinse will get rid of many things that can make you sick, it will not get rid of pesticides. And like anywhere you go, some crops are more sprayed than others. The Environmental Working Group puts out an annual list of the ‘Dirty Dozen’, produce that seem to be treated more heavily with pesticides.
Can you reuse the treatment water?
Treatment items containing grapefruit seed extract can be reused, as long as the water is not too dirty. Generally, I wouldn’t keep it for multiple days, especially if you have washed several items in the water. Instead, perhaps try to treat a sinkful of produce at one time to save time, water and solution.
Do you treat all raw fruits and vegetables in Mexico?
In Mexico, we try to buy pre-washed greens (e.g. lettuce, spinach, cilantro). However, we have a hankering for a salad but can’t find pre-washed greens, we don’t despair. We just treat them. Some produce, like strawberries or mushrooms, can turn to mush if soaked. There are separate products you can use to treat these items, or you can just eat other things. And we personally don’t treat garlic bulbs – any treatment seems to us to diminish the garlic’s taste and value.
What about colloidal silver as an alternate rinse?
You may also see references to colloidal silver as another way to treat produce. Ionized silver and colloidal silver are NOT the same thing. Colloidal silver still contains tiny bits of metal and it has NOT been scientifically verified. Mayo Clinic suggests staying away from such products.
Should I avoid eating from street or market vendors?
We love Public Markets in Mexico, and we do eat street food, sometimes. It’s some of the most fun we have on a trip. We look around and search for places that are popular with the locals. If we get the ‘not clean’ vibe from a place, then we don’t eat there. We tend to be especially cautious if the dish involves mayonnaise or a dairy product that may have sat around. When it comes down to it, some people can eat in the most filthy conditions and not get sick. Alternatively, some food-borne issues occur in fancy-pants eateries. You determine your boundaries.
What about produce used for garnishes?
Generally, restaurants do not want to make their customers sick. We haven’t had a challenge. Again, you have to determine your own comfort level.
What if I just want to grab some fruit or carrots to eat as I travel?
Carry a ziploc bag and a bottle of a no-rinse treatment solution with you. You can treat your munchies with nonpotable water, since these products also disinfect water.
How accessible is organic produce?
Organic produce is not readily available at most public markets similar to the one shown in this video. And many of the larger supermarkets have little to no organic produce. Yes, organic produce is available but you will have to research those spots. And remember, organic produce can still be contaminated by pathogens that can make you sick during the handling, processing and storage process.
If I’m treating produce while I’m in Mexico, why don’t I treat Mexican produce when I’m home (e.g. U.S. or Canada)?
Exporting produce involves different regulations. And some people DO treat fruits and vegetables wherever they are. And in reality, every country has had outbreaks of foodborne illnesses caused by contaminated fruits or vegetables.
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO TO AVOID GETTING SICK?
Consider a Hepatitis A vaccination / booster before you travel
Especially if you want to enjoy things like ceviche or other raw foods, why take the chance? People think that a case of diarrhea is the worst you can get from food. Nope. Hepatitis A lingers and often does more damage to your system than many other food-related illnesses.
Drink only potable water
Your body needs water for virtually all of its processes to be effective. However, unless you’re using a Smart Straw or you know the water is filtered, do not drink the tap water. When in doubt, get bottled water.
Include plenty of lime juice, chili peppers, and papaya in your diet
These are three great flavors that are easily available in Mexico and help your body combat pathogens. Maybe have some warm lime water before breakfast. Fresh papaya with lime juice is a refreshing afternoon snack. And of course chili peppers are great in soooo many delicious dishes.
Recognize that alcohol kills some of the good bacteria we need in our stomach
No, you don’t have to give up trying the local beer, vodka, mezcal, or pulque but, depending on your health and what your body tells you, maybe you consider moderation. And give your body some healthy nutrients to help your body keep a good equilibrium.
IF I GET SICK FROM THE FOOD, WHAT DO I DO?
When you don’t feel well, you want to stay hydrated with drinkable water.
Consider traveling with pepto-bismol and Imodium. Both can be found in tablet form which is extra handy and light to pack.
And of course, if you’re particularly poorly, or not feeling well for an extended time, see a doctor.
CG and I are traveling long term in Mexico, but we are only carrying the things we need. We’ve been traveling now for more than a year each carrying a single Osprey Porter 30 Travel Backpack. Nothing makes travel more enjoyable than traveling light. You can find more info about our travel packs and the current prices on Amazon.
One of the best reasons to come to Mexico is the incredible food. Check out this video and blog featuring tips for dining out in restaurants in Mexico.
We appreciate you watching our Mexico travel videos…Thanks!
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