To wash or not to wash? That is the question

[Nature's Babe]

Just as important is to peel or not peel? If its my carrots then a quick scrub etc under running tap - retain the skin, all the goodness is just under the skin, if its chemically grown I would peel to remove herbicides

[Johnboy]

Hi NB,
The latest research information is that Carrots should always be peeled because the peel contains a bitter element which will not actually do you harm but will not do you any good.
I suspect that the bit about the goodness is just under the skin is a piece of good old organic myth.
JB.

[Nature's Babe]

To allay your suspicians Johnboy, here is an article with all the research references and they agree with me peel if not organically grown.

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tnam ... ce&dbid=21

[Johnboy]

Hi NB,
Nothing to do with Organics whatsoever. It is to do with the make-up of the Carrot and apparently nothing to do with how it is grown.
I am only reporting what was published in The Grower magazine,which is now part of Horticulture Week, earlier on in the year. It was the report of the findings of a scientific study carried out.
Quite frankly it is of no consequence to me whether you accept what I pass on or not but I do so in good faith!
JB.

[PLUMPUDDING]

I've just been thinking about why I always at least rinse veg from the garden and it is really basic food hygiene. We wash our hands before we eat and it is in our best interests to eat clean food. Apart from cats spraying on plants as they walk past, manure, animal faeces and just dirt can splash up on to plants when it rains and they can contain all sorts of nasties.

I've been brought up not to be afraid of a bit of dirt and we probably will get away with ingesting it more often than not, but it realy isn't worth risking making ourselves ill with parasites or sickness just for the couple of minutes it takes to clean what we eat.

And bought stuff always gets either peeled or a good scrub to hopefully remove pesticides or whatever people handling it might have had on their hands! Then we get on to the waxed fruit and veg sealing in the pesticides and the systemic pesticides within the produce which is another problem.

I'm not sure what happens to Johnboy's carrots, but my home grown ones straight from the garden taste lovely and sweet with just the dirt scrubbed off the skins. Perhaps the bitter chemical he refers to forms as a protection if they are left for a while after being picked.

[peter]

Weills disease, most commonly caught from rat urine.

If Andy Holmes can die from ingesting a drop of river water then I'll be washing my veg cos I see rats in the park and the adjacent allotments where my plot is.

Fruit tends to be out of their reach.

See Report of Deathand more informative article Medical facts

[Tony Hague]

COnsider also:

E. Coli (from manure)
Toxoplasmosis (from cat faeces)
Toxocaria Canis (from dog faeces)
etc ...

I think I'll wash them.

[Johnboy]

It thoroughly dismays me but it is typical of a certain breed of woman, who, when given the very latest scientific information on Carrots can only turn round and shoot the messenger! Isn't that the typical of women!
It seem to me that us men seem to have cleaner habits! For a change!
JB.

[Gerry]

What's more, Johnboy, these women seem to think that us men find, being perfect, easy.

I'll have them know that it isn't at all easy. We really have to work at it don't we.

Regards, Gerry.

[PLUMPUDDING]

That certain breed of woman fully understands you were quoting from a scientific article but thought she would rattle your cage a bit. I'm sure your carrots are wonderful, and I wouldn't dream of mentioning men's dirty habits!

[KGAdmin]

It thoroughly dismays me but it is typical of a certain breed of woman, who, when given the very latest scientific information on Carrots can only turn round and shoot the messenger! Isn't that the typical of women!
It seem to me that us men seem to have cleaner habits! For a change!
JB.

Johnboy,
Seems to also take a "certain breed of men" to cause others offence! So please, let's keep the mood light and the posting non-personal.


KGAdmin

[glallotments]

I thought that it was just a joke - I don't think JohnBoy was intending to be insulting or offensive.

[PLUMPUDDING]

No offence taken. Back to carrots I tested what he said by leaving some carrots I picked a week ago and picking fresh ones. I just scrubbed them both and cooked them in the pressure cooker for five minutes, and the ones that had been left for a week definitely had a taste not as sweet and pleasant as the newly picked ones. Perhaps they produce a chemical in their skin that helps preserve them.

Just a thought about taking offence, I nearly brained a man who came into my office and said "Run along and get the manager my dear" - I was the manager!

[glallotments]

Don't blame you - I'd have loved to have been a fly on the wall!!

[Nature's Babe]

Plumpudding, that figures, I usually pull mine just before eating them, it must be a change that occurs with time delay. I was thinking I should harvest my salsify, just tried a small crop this year will grow more if I think its worth it, it will be interesting to see if the same happens with that.
I wonder if it's a light sensitive thing, like the way potatoes turn green in the light? I leave my carrots dirty till I use them, then i wash them, any stored go in a potato sack type bag in the dark.
I laughed when i read that last comment, like you I would have felt like braining him, but like you would have restrained myself