Washing your tomatos

cjp1953 · August 16, 2015

I started washing my tomatos in a little dish soap with the sink filled with water.Seeing bird dropings on some of the plants made me think about getting them clean for my grandchildren before eating.I have had cats get in the garden in past years and worry about them spraying the plants and fruit.How do others wash there tomatos.Reading up on them just now says only water should be used.Would like imput from others.Thanks to all who reply.

Worth1 · August 16, 2015

Well I dont and I think water would be okay but have you thought about a mild bleach solution of on table spoon per gallon of water.

It is a heck of a lot easier to rinse off.

Worth

joseph · August 16, 2015

I am an animal. I eat like an animal.

Therefore, I don't wash tomatoes.

cjp1953 · August 16, 2015

I thought about bleach but thought soaking them in a little dish soap and fresh water while I hand wash each one and rinse them in clean water would be safe.Ant thing wrong with that?

ginger2778 · August 16, 2015

You could also use vodka or any other drinking alcohol, and dip it in that, then evaporate off. Believe it or not, that is the active ingredient in Lysol spray that lets it kill 99.9% of all the germs.

cjp1953 · August 16, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginger2778

You could also use vodka or any other drinking alcohol, and dip it in that, then evaporate off. Believe it or not, that is the active ingredient in Lysol spray that lets it kill 99.9% of all the germs.

That's something I never thought about.But yet drinking alcohol does kill germs.Thank you,learn something new each visit to this forum.

KarenO · August 16, 2015

there are commercial products available specifically made for washing produce if you wish
Otherwise, a little dish soap won't hurt anything if you rinse it off.

KarenO

cjp1953 · August 17, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarenO

there are commercial products available specifically made for washing produce if you wish
Otherwise, a little dish soap won't hurt anything if you rinse it off.

KarenO

I was hoping to get your imput,that means alot to me.All of the ideas and answers to my question from all forum members are very important to me also.Thanks everyone.

RJGlew · August 17, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjp1953

I thought about bleach but thought soaking them in a little dish soap and fresh water while I hand wash each one and rinse them in clean water would be safe.Ant thing wrong with that?

Both soap & bleach are bactericides. If that is your concern then either will work, but do rinse them properly.

AlittleSalt · August 17, 2015

I don't wash tomatoes myself. If a bird chose the tomato to soil - it (The tomato) would become compost food. But I've grown mostly cherry tomatoes for the past 5 years. One less cherry tomato is no loss. I'll be learning next Spring/Summer about growing larger tomatoes like McKinley, Stump, and Texwine.

Washing with Vodka...interesting idea.

RJGlew · August 17, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

Washing with Vodka...interesting idea.

Waste of vodka, unless in a blender.

ginger2778 · August 17, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJGlew

Waste of vodka, unless in a blender.

I actually don't do this myself, I just use water and rubbing. But you can buy some awfully cheap vodka. I think you can even get cheap cooking wine, but it has a lot of salt in it. Of course, you would thoroughly have to rinse it off.

FarmerShawn · August 17, 2015

I remember reading recently that tomatoes actually absorb water through their skin. The recommendation in this thing I read was to use water of the same temperature as the tomatoes to minimize the effect, which can result in splits. If that's true, I'd avoid soapy water, since I doubt the tomato flavor would be enhanced by any soap at all!

Labradors2 · August 17, 2015

Vinegar would work too. I have a spray bottle of vinegar which I use on my hands to remove the tomato tar before washing with soap. However, I am happy with just plain water to rinse my tomatoes.

Linda

**coronabarb** · August 17, 2015

I would use just water, unless there was a big amt of droppings...in which case I'd throw it away. That's what I do with chicken eggs...I don't wash them. If they need washing because of poop on them, I don't eat them. I would wonder if using soap would leave a lingering flavor?

August 16, 2015	#1
cjp1953 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cuyahoga Falls,Ohio Posts: 818	Washing your tomatos I started washing my tomatos in a little dish soap with the sink filled with water.Seeing bird dropings on some of the plants made me think about getting them clean for my grandchildren before eating.I have had cats get in the garden in past years and worry about them spraying the plants and fruit.How do others wash there tomatos.Reading up on them just now says only water should be used.Would like imput from others.Thanks to all who reply.

August 17, 2015	#13
FarmerShawn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,001	I remember reading recently that tomatoes actually absorb water through their skin. The recommendation in this thing I read was to use water of the same temperature as the tomatoes to minimize the effect, which can result in splits. If that's true, I'd avoid soapy water, since I doubt the tomato flavor would be enhanced by any soap at all! __________________ "Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers

August 17, 2015	#15
coronabarb Tomatoville® Recipe Keeper Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseburg, Oregon - zone 7 Posts: 2,821	I would use just water, unless there was a big amt of droppings...in which case I'd throw it away. That's what I do with chicken eggs...I don't wash them. If they need washing because of poop on them, I don't eat them. I would wonder if using soap would leave a lingering flavor? __________________ Corona~Barb Now an Oregon gal

August 16, 2015	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Well I dont and I think water would be okay but have you thought about a mild bleach solution of on table spoon per gallon of water. It is a heck of a lot easier to rinse off. Worth

August 16, 2015	#3
joseph Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Cache Valley, N/E of The Great Salt Lake Posts: 1,244	I am an animal. I eat like an animal. Therefore, I don't wash tomatoes.

August 16, 2015	#5
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	You could also use vodka or any other drinking alcohol, and dip it in that, then evaporate off. Believe it or not, that is the active ingredient in Lysol spray that lets it kill 99.9% of all the germs.

August 16, 2015	#7
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	there are commercial products available specifically made for washing produce if you wish Otherwise, a little dish soap won't hurt anything if you rinse it off. KarenO

August 17, 2015	#10
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	I don't wash tomatoes myself. If a bird chose the tomato to soil - it (The tomato) would become compost food. But I've grown mostly cherry tomatoes for the past 5 years. One less cherry tomato is no loss. I'll be learning next Spring/Summer about growing larger tomatoes like McKinley, Stump, and Texwine. Washing with Vodka...interesting idea.

August 17, 2015	#14
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,895	Vinegar would work too. I have a spray bottle of vinegar which I use on my hands to remove the tomato tar before washing with soap. However, I am happy with just plain water to rinse my tomatoes. Linda