How do you wash blueberries? Did you wash them correctly?

Have you noticed whether store-bought or wild blueberries are covered in a white powder on their surface? What is it exactly? Is it safe to eat?

The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council points out that the white film covering the skin of blueberries is called 'bloom', which protects the fruit from insects and bacterial invasion. Blueberries belong to the category of berries, and this white film is a natural wax coating produced by berries. It acts as a natural barrier to seal the fruit's natural moisture, keeping the blueberries fresh and slowing down the rate of water loss in the fruit. If the fruit is deep blue-purple and has a white mist-like bloom, it is considered better because the bloom is a sign of freshness. As blueberries age, the bloom on their skin becomes lighter and less visible.

So this white film is edible.

This white film contains anthocyanins and is of high nutritional value, which helps protect eyesight, has antioxidant properties, anti-aging effects, and brain-boosting effects. If you happen to buy blueberries in a transparent box from the market and find that the white film on the blueberries is very little or has faded, it indicates poor freshness and they will soon spoil. Remember to consume them quickly after purchasing.

How to wash blueberries ?

1. Gently rinse with water: Just rinsing blueberries with a little water can wash away surface dust. The goal is to avoid damaging the layer of bloom on the fresh skin of the blueberries.

2. Soak in salt water: If you are worried about pesticide residue on blueberries, you can soak and wash them in salt water. Soak fresh blueberries in salt water for a few minutes and then rinse with clean water.

3. Consume directly: If the blueberries are picked directly, and you are sure that there are no pesticides, they can be consumed directly.

Grapes, like blueberries, also have a layer of white powder to protect them, but the grapes we often buy not only have the white powder, but also dust, spider webs, exudate, and insects. Therefore, it is important to wash them thoroughly before eating to ensure their safety.

How to wash grapes to make them clean?

If you want to eat grapes with the skin, cleaning them thoroughly is not a simple task. However, by using some tricks, it's easy to wash them clean. Those of you who love to eat grapes can give it a try.

Wash with white powders: including flour, cornstarch, or baking soda. Method: Mix the white powder with water to create a thick, paste-like texture. This thick mixture can absorb the dirt and impurities from the grapes. Then, rinse the grapes with clean water to finish the cleaning process. We have experimented with flour and cornstarch, but we highly recommend using cornstarch for better results.

Reference：

https://blueberry.org/