In daily life, raisins are loved by the public as a sweet and sour snack with a rich nutritional taste. However, there have been different opinions and practices on whether raisins need to be washed before eating. Some people believe that the surface is clean and does not need to be cleaned, while others insist that it should be washed before eating.
How? I'll tell you the correct answer, because you may have been wrong all along.
[1] Let's talk about the process of making raisins. Raisins are mainly dried or dried to remove water from fresh grapes to achieve the purpose of long-term preservation. In this process, raisins are exposed directly to the air, and although they may not appear to be visibly dirty, they may actually absorb a lot of dust, impurities and even microorganisms.
In addition, in order to prevent mold and mildew of raisins during the drying process, some manufacturers will spray mold inhibitors or cooking oil on their surfaces. All of these factors make the surface of raisins not as clean as we think.
[2] From the perspective of food safety, it is particularly important to wash raisins. Although antifungal agents and cooking oils are food safety compliant additives, for some people with allergies or sensitivity to food additives, eating unwashed raisins directly may trigger an uncomfortable reaction.
In addition, if raisins are contaminated by the environment during transportation and storage, the surface may be contaminated with bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms, and eating them directly without washing will undoubtedly increase the risk of foodborne diseases.
[3] Washing raisins can also improve the eating experience. Washing not only effectively removes dust and impurities attached to the surface, making raisins look more attractive, but also washes away mold inhibitors or edible oils that may affect the taste, allowing us to taste the purest and most natural taste of raisins.
How do you wash raisins properly? Simply soak the raisins in clean water for about 5 minutes to allow the water to penetrate the inside of the raisins, helping to dissolve and rinse off dust and additives from the surface.
Stir gently a few times, then rinse several times with water. Be careful not to soak for too long, so as not to absorb too much water and affect the taste. Washed raisins should be drained before eating to avoid mildew caused by residual moisture.
In this way, raisins should indeed be washed before eating. For too long, you may have mistakenly thought that raisins could be eaten as is, overlooked the potential contamination factors involved in making raisins and the many benefits of washing.
Now the answer is clear: in order to ensure food safety and optimize the eating experience, remember to "bathe" raisins before eating them. This small change will add an important layer of protection to your healthy eating habits.