This is a sweet hack.
A Detroit food truck owner is sharing the “best” way to wash berries to rid them of mold and pesticides.
“This is a must-learn, especially if you have kids at home,” Mike Nassar, co-owner and executive chef at Detroit 75 Kitchen, declares in his November TikTok, which has soaked up 84,000 views.
In the 26-second clip, he adds a cap full of white vinegar into a bowl of cold water and soaks the berries in the solution for about 15 minutes.
He gives the berries a quick rinse and lays them out on a towel to dry. Once they are dry, he adds them back into the container they came in.
“This is a must-learn, especially if you have kids at home,” says Mike Nassar, co-owner and executive chef at Detroit 75 Kitchen. tiktok.com/@detroit75kitchenSouthern Living recently noted that berries are susceptible to mold because they have thin skins and are full of moisture.
The outlet suggests soaking berries for 5 to 10 minutes in a mixture of 3 cups water and 1 cup white vinegar.
Southern Living recommends keeping different types of berries separate because some ripen faster than others and trashing ones that are overripe or moldy already.
In the 26-second clip, he adds a cap full of white vinegar into a bowl of cold water and soaks the berries in the solution for about 15 minutes. tiktok.com/@detroit75kitchenFor its part, EatingWell prefers a 4:1 ratio of cold water to vinegar and a 5-minute soak.
“It’s not exactly that vinegar itself extends the life of berries,” Sean Brady Kenniff, EatingWell’s senior digital food editor, explained in a blog post last year.
“It’s the fact that vinegar is so acidic that it kills or inhibits the growth of a lot of the bacteria and fungus, including mold, that may grow on berries, which makes the fruit last longer,” he added.
EatingWell also advises drying the berries thoroughly — consider using a salad spinner — and lining the container that holds them with a cloth or paper towel to absorb excess moisture.
He gives the berries a quick rinse and lays them out on a towel to dry. ahirao – stock.adobe.comNassar’s followers thanked him for the video and peppered him with follow-up questions.
“My raspberries always end up mush with this process. Even when I set them out to dry. What am I doing wrong??” one commenter complained.
“Try soaking them for less time — start with 7-10 minutes,” Nassar responded.
When one TikToker asked about vinegar allergies, Nassar suggested using baking soda instead.
The Post reached out to Nassar for comment.
