How many times do you wash your mangoes before consuming them?
Washing fruits and veggies before eating is an easy thing to do, but many people forget to do it.
There are varieties of the most popular and healthy fruits in the world, and Mangoes are no exception.
Mangoes are full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which means they are very good for your health. They can boost your immune system and help improve your skin.
They are very sweet and juicy, and they have a unique flavour. It would help if you washed your mangoes to truly enjoy them. This is why they have become a common food item in many homes.
Nevertheless, mangoes can pick up many unwanted things on their journey from the tree to your plate.
It would be best if you washed your mangoes before eating. The dirt from the plantation they are grown in, and the hands that handle them during shipping and storage can leave behind dirt, germs, and even chemical residues from pesticides.
Why must You wash Your Mangoes Before Eating?
If you don’t wash your mangoes well, these things can make you sick when you eat them. That’s why it’s so important to give mangoes a good wash before enjoying them.
This simple step can go a long way in keeping you healthy and in this article, we are going to give you reasons why you should always wash your mangoes thoroughly before eating them.
1. Pesticide Residues
Farmers often use pesticides when growing mangoes and other fruits and vegetables. This is to protect them from bugs and diseases.
While these chemicals help the farmers grow lots of healthy mangoes, they can also leave behind small amounts of pesticides on the fruit.
Eating mangoes with pesticide leftovers on them can be bad for your health. These chemicals have been linked to all kinds of problems, like hormone issues, developmental troubles, and even cancer.
That’s why it’s important to thoroughly wash your mangoes before eating them. Rinsing them thoroughly under running water can get rid of a lot of the leftover pesticides. You can’t remove them completely, but washing helps limit how much of these chemicals you’re exposed to.
2. Bacteria and Microbial Contamination
It’s not just pesticides we have to worry about – unwashed mangoes can also pick up all kinds of harmful germs that can make us sick.
Think about all the different people who touch a mango as it goes from the farm to the market. Bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria can easily end up on the surface of mangoes if they aren’t cleaned properly.
The scary thing is, that you usually can’t tell if a mango has these bad germs just by looking at it. That means eating an unwashed mango is playing a risky game with your stomach and gut.
Do you want to take the chance of getting a case of food poisoning just from enjoying your favourite fruit? I’m sure you don’t. So, wash your mangoes before eating them.
3. Surface Dirt and Debris
Mangoes don’t just magically appear in the grocery store or market – they are grown on farms where they can easily get dirt, dust, and other contaminants on their skin. During the trip from the tree to the market, mangoes are often handled by different people, and each person can leave a little bit more dirt behind.
You might think a little dirt isn’t a big deal, but that’s not necessarily true. Those surface contaminants can have harmful germs like E. coli or salmonella, which you don’t want to eat.
Let’s be honest, no one wants to bite into a piece of fruit that’s covered in dust and debris. It just doesn’t look or taste very good. Are you going to wash your mangoes before eating now?
4. Improved Taste and Texture
Washing your mangoes doesn’t just get rid of harmful things, it can also make them taste and feel better in your mouth. Those mangoes straight from the tree have been exposed to all kinds of dirt.
When you bite into a mango that hasn’t been washed, you might notice it has an unpleasant, slightly rough texture or an earthy taste that takes away from the sweet, tropical flavour.
Washing removes any dirt on the outside, letting you enjoy the mango’s naturally sweet, honey-like taste. The flesh will also feel smoother and more delicate in your mouth.
Conclusion
We have shown you reasons why you should always wash your mangoes before eating them.
It may seem stressful to wash each mango, but it’s worth the small amount of time it takes. Would you rather enjoy a juicy, tasty mango, or risk getting sick from eating an unwashed mango? The choice is yours.
Read here: What you may not know Mangoes
