You Should Never Skip Washing Your Greens, So Here’s How to Do It

Lettuce Remind Ourselves: Last week’s Cyclospora outbreak, eventually linked to bad lettuce at Taco Bell, sent more than 1,600 people across the country into GI distress before officials found the source. But that unsettling stretch of not knowing left an obvious question for anyone eating salad in the meantime. Luckily, there are specific ways to wash your fresh produce to lower your risk of illness no matter what’s happening upstream.

How to Do It: Wait until you’re about to eat your produce to wash your greens, since doing so too early can lead to spoilage. Separate the lettuce leaves and other greens, then briefly soak them in a bowl to loosen the dirt. Using a salad spinner afterward can help dry things more quickly. Rub firmer produce like cucumbers or apples under running water. Root vegetables, however, do better with a firm scrub or a peel. And whatever you do, skip the soap or bleach since they can affect taste.

The Benefits: No washing method will kill everything, but plain running water really helps reduce dirt and bacteria. And a quick rinse is worth the trouble, given how often fruits and vegetables get linked to outbreaks each summer.