Is It Really Necessary To Rinse Fresh Picked Berries?
Hello, Mr. Bunny!
I’ve come to pick the blueberries today.
I’m really sorry to interrupt your breakfast.
I won’t be long … I promise.
Oh! You were expecting company for breakfast?
What about we compromise?
I’ll pick the high berries and leave the lower berries for you and your friends.
How ’bout that? Would that work?
I managed to pick one medium sized shopping bag full of berries before Mr. Bunny and his friends started bullying me. I think I overstayed my welcome!
These two blueberry trees were planted by my good friend several years ago in her backyard garden, but she has since moved and the trees have been left to fend for themselves. They have not been fertilized or treated with chemicals, so I debated about whether I should wash them or not. It was early morning, and the dew was just drying on the trees, so everything was fresh and clean when I picked.
I’ve been told that it isn’t necessary to wash fresh picked berries if they are going to be cooked. Supposedly the cooking cleans them, but I REALLY like to be sure when it comes to cleaning, so I decided to wash them with a little water and rubbing. I dumped the berries into a sink filled with water then scooped up a handful at a time and rolled them around under the running water in the opposite sink. I spread the washed berries on a towel beside the sink and let them dry. These process makes them clean enough to freeze whole for use in cereal, oatmeal, or pancakes, and it makes me feel better about the jam I’m going to make too … but that’s just me!
So, is it really necessary to rinse fresh picked berries? You can decide for yourself. This is how the sink water looked after I had scooped most of the berries out. It wasn’t totally gross, but then most of the rinsing and rubbing took place under the running water in the opposite sink. I’m glad I chose to wash them … but like I say, that’s just me!
