What is the point of a salad spinner?

In this brief article, we will provide you with the answer to the question: “What is the point of a salad spinner?”, and discuss how to properly clean salads.

What is the point of a salad spinner?

A salad spinner (or salad tosser) is a kitchen item that is used to wash and drain salad greens. It separates the water from the leaves using centrifugal force, allowing salad dressing to adhere to the leaves without dilution.

Improperly cleaned veggies can contain hazardous germs that might be lethal by producing salmonellosis and toxoplasmosis, for example.

Fresh foods are highly nutritious, so we must consume them. Thus, thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing veggies, as well as using a salad spinner, are critical for removing water that may contain such harmful tiny creatures.

Another excellent application for salad spinning is to extend the shelf life of leafy greens and vegetables in the refrigerator. This feature is critical for today when the rush and bustle of daily life leads us to prefer practical cooking gadgets that help us save precious time.

Salad spinners are typically constructed of plastic and consist of an outer bowl with a detachable inner colander or strainer basket. A cover that goes around the outer bowl has a spinning mechanism that, when activated, forces the inside strainer to whirl quickly. 

The water is forced into the outer bowl through the perforations in the basket. The gadget is controlled by a variety of methods, including crank handles, pushbuttons, and pull cords. Salad spinners are relatively simple to use.

How to properly clean salad?

With the rising use of pesticides and insecticides in food, as well as the widespread of viruses and germs, understanding how to properly sanitize fruits and vegetables may ensure the consumption of protected items for you and your family.

Using sodium hypochlorite

Sodium hypochlorite, which is widely used in surface disinfectants, is a material that may clean foods such as fruits, leaves, and vegetables as well as purify water. Bleach is its common name, and it may be acquired at supermarkets, greengrocers, pharmacies, and other facilities that offer cleaning supplies, for example.

Furthermore, the product can be supplied as tablets (dissolved in water according to the recommendations on the label), and it is important to note that there are sodium hypochlorites for uses other than those allowed for home use, with a higher concentration of chemicals.

These are mostly used to disinfect wells, swimming pools, cisterns, and other locations, although they can be dangerous if taken in food or water.

Sodium hypochlorite is used to clean fruits, vegetables, and leaves in three stages:

Washing

Washing should be done first, one at a time, on each fruit, vegetable, or leaf. In this scenario, wash them in running water with a little detergent at first. Then, place the food in a dish or bowl with filtered water and hypochlorite solution. For every liter of filtered water, this solution should include roughly 20 mL (two teaspoons) of sodium hypochlorite.

Sanitization

Sanitization is the process of removing all biological bacteria from food, however, it generates a chemical environment in the food that can be damaging to health.

Rinsing

To supplement sanitization, thoroughly rinse the vegetables and fruits, as well as any leaves that come into touch with the solution.

Using dishwasher

The detergent is a powerful degreaser that is particularly effective in cleaning fruits and vegetables. However, because the substance might enter the food, it is vital to rinse thoroughly until all layers that have come into touch with the food are removed. Here is how to perform it:

• Separate fruits and vegetables into separate bowls.
  
• Scrub the food with a brush or sponge and a small amount of detergent.
  
• Then rinse the food to remove any surplus product.

Another tip: to keep apples and pears from browning, wash them lightly with detergent before eating them.

Using baking soda

Although it is less effective in removing pesticides from food, sodium bicarbonate can be used to clean fruits and vegetables before consumption. You must take advantage of it:

Individually soak the meal

Pass the bicarbonate through a sponge or your hands, massaging vigorously.

Rinse well with running water until all traces are gone.

Using vinegar

Vinegar, a wonderful bacteria-killing agent, is highly effective for the proper cleanliness of numerous foods, including fruits, vegetables, and leaves. It is safer to use than sodium hypochlorite and should be used as follows:

• For every liter of water, dilute between 40% and 50% vinegar.
  
• Allow the meal to soak for around 20 minutes.
  
• Take them out and rinse them.

To check other great devices that can facilitate your operations in the kitchen, click here.

Conclusion

In this brief article, we provided you with the answer to the question: “What is the point of a salad spinner?”, and discussed how to properly clean salads.

References

“Salad Spinner.” In Wikipedia, February 13, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Salad_spinner&oldid=1006456127.

Westwing.com.br. “Secador de Salada: Praticidade às Mãos | WESTWING,” May 31, 2021. https://www.westwing.com.br/guiar/secador-de-salada/.