I have a dirty secret. No, not that kind of dirty—it's a kitchen secret. Don't tell my mom. I don't wash my produce. Despite the countless harrowing news headlines I read (on Delish!) about listeria outbreaks and dangerous microbes, you will rarely find me rinse a thing.
You're judging me. I get it, but unfortunately I'm the type who believes that if you buy organic, you lose most risk of bacterial contamination. (I'm also blessed with an immune system of steel.) I know that this is completely untrue, but I can't seem to stop believing that if I buy a more premium product to begin with, I'm in good hands.
But I don't even buy strictly organic. I do try to mostly eat fruits and vegetables from local farms (grown within 500 miles), which is easier for me than most because I belong to a food coop, largely run by members (if you wanna belong, you gotta work!), so the prices are 40 percent less than regular retail. So I'm not splurging on wild strawberries and green garlic at Whole Paycheck; I'm getting the cream of the crop for cheap. What's more, my shift at the coop is produce receiving, so I actually stock the shelves with the very produce I then cook with. I ogle over gorgeous heads of broccoli glistening with ice from their box and organize the most showy bunches of rainbow Swiss chard. I trust these guys after I handle them myself (with gloves!); why wash them?
Now I'm not a total idiot. I do try to keep in mind that I should wash the Dirty Dozen—the list of the dirtiest/most pesticide-covered produce in the supermarket (check out this year's list here)—if I'm not feeling lazy AF. But I'll admit I've been avoiding buying them altogether so I don't have to deal. I'm tired after work. It's a miracle if I manage to throw together dinner for my boyfriend and myself; I need shortcuts where I can find them.
You know the saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"? My bad habit unfortunately might fall under that. Until I get sick from kale, strawberries, or bagged spinach, no rinsing for me.
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