Most People Don't Wash Strawberries Correctly: Try This Expert-Backed Method

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There are no two things that go more perfectly together than fresh fruit and the summertime. When the temperature is rising and the heat is tamping down your appetite, somehow a bowl of fruit or a cool and satisfying smoothie always manages to save the day. But one thing that does not mix so well with the sunshine is unwashed produce.

We get it, you don’t necessarily want to go through the effort of scrubbing down your berries before you throw them on top of your overnight oats or yogurt, but knowing how to properly wash your strawberries may actually protect your health, removing all the grime or even pesticides that resides on the skin. And hear me out: We've all seen someone swapping out the strawberries at the grocery store for better ones in a different container—just think about what may be on their hands.

We got to the bottom of how exactly you should be washing your strawberries, why it’s important, and anything else you may need to know when it comes to enjoying your fruit. 

Unfortunately, strawberries top the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Dirty Dozen list of produce most likely to be coated with pesticides—even if the packaging claims they have been pre-washed. In fact, USDA testing revealed that nearly all strawberries house at least one variation of pesticide. 

Washing your strawberries at home can help to remove some of this residue, as well as any dirt that may be leftover from growth and harvest. “Strawberries have a rough surface due to their seeds so it is important to wash them (and lightly scrub them) with running water,” notes Ginger Hultin, M.S., RDN, author of the Meal Prep for Weight Loss 101 ebook. 

There is such a thing as going overboard when you’re washing your fruit, and as noted above, a gentle scrub with some running water is enough to do the job on your strawberries. “You don't need anything special to wash your fruit or berries. Soap, detergent, bleach or even commercial produce wash isn't recommended or necessary,” explains Hultin.

However, you may be under-cleaning your strawberries as well. “If you’re just wiping with a paper towel or giving a brief rinse, that’s not enough,” warns Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, nutrition expert and author of Smoothies & Juices. There should be some mild scrubbing, too.