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Root vegetables are a staple in most households, but are you doing everything you need to be doing to remove any dirt or debris that could impact the safety and taste? Carrots, potatoes, and beets grow in the ground, which means they can easily collect dirt and bacteria. Washing them is important, but knowing the correct techniques matters most.

What's the best natural cleaner for vegetables?

One of the best natural cleaners for vegetables is white vinegar diluted in water. It's slightly more powerful than tap water, and strong enough to remove pesticide residue, bacteria, and some types of fungi from the surface of vegetables. 

If the vegetables are straight from the earth, a little extra muscle goes a long way—and by muscle, we mean baking soda. "While rinsing under running water is effective, adding the extra power of Baking Soda can help further lift soil and residues from produce," agrees Lisa Muentener, a representative from ARM & HAMMER. "Sprinkle Baking Soda onto wet produce, rub well, then rinse thoroughly." 

Washing carrots in a sink under water.
Properly clean soil and pesticides off your vegetables. Credit: Photo by Louis Hansel on Unsplash

Cleaning Root Vegetables

  1. Remove excess dirt. Dirt is completely normal (and honestly, expected, especially if you're buying fresh produce at a farmer's market). Start by rinsing the root vegetables under cold running water to remove any excess dirt or debris.
  2. Scrub with a clean brush. Run the vegetable under cool water, massage with baking soda, and use a vegetable brush, produce brush, or even just a soft-bristled scrub brush to rub the surface of the vegetable. Pay extra attention to crevices and hard-to-reach areas.
  3. Rinse and repeat. If needed, spray the surface and scrub again. Combine equal parts white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar) and tap water into a spray bottle. Let it coat the produce for a minute, and then use the vegetable cleaning brush to gently scrub at the outer skin again.
  4. Rinse produce in water one last time. Give the vegetables a final rinse under cold water to remove any remaining dirt or debris.
  5. Pat dry. After cleaning, pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels before storing or using them in recipes.

Looking for store-bought varieties? Here are three commercial produce washes we like:

Can I peel vegetables before cleaning?

Nah, wait until the skin is clean. This will help prevent residues and pesticides first to remove dirt and debris from the surface.

Person holds a container of homegrown potatoes while a child digs in the dirt for more.
Potatoes grown in a container still need to be properly cleaned and stored. Credit: Emily Fazio

Are there any special considerations for organic root vegetables?

Organic root vegetables may not have pesticide residue, but these types of produce still come into contact with natural mulches and soil additives to support growth. And, well, they grow underground, so of course they also have soil on their outer layer. Treat them the same as you would treat any non-organic type of vegetable.

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Can I soak vegetables in water to clean them?

Soaking root vegetables in fresh water can help loosen dirt and make cleaning easier, but avoid soaking them for too long, as prolonged exposure to water can cause some veggies to become waterlogged and lose flavor. Instead, rinse them under cool running water and scrub as needed.