Wash fresh fruit and vegetables thoroughly with clean running water just before eating, cutting or cooking. The Singapore Food Agency also advises soaking vegetables in fresh tap water for 15 minutes, then rinsing them again. Special produce detergent is unnecessary.
Wash your hands first and keep the produce away from raw meat juices. Scrub firm produce such as cucumbers and melons with a clean brush under running water. Wash a melon before slicing it even though you will discard the rind.
- Wash hands, utensils and work surfaces before preparing produce.
- Use clean running water and follow SFA’s soak-and-rinse advice for vegetables.
- Wash firm produce before cutting and use a clean brush where suitable.
- Refrigerate cut fruit and vegetables promptly.
In this guide
Section 1 of 5
Match the washing steps to the produce
Use clean hands and a clean preparation area. Remove the soil-covered base of leafy greens and discard outer leaves of lettuce or cabbage as appropriate. SFA recommends removing damaged areas and discarding rotten produce. SFA’s guidelines on handling raw fruits and vegetables
| Produce | What to do |
|---|---|
| Chye sim or leafy greens | Remove the soil-covered base, wash, soak in fresh tap water for 15 minutes and rinse again |
| Cabbage or lettuce | Remove outer leaves as appropriate and wash the usable leaves |
| Cucumber or carrot | Scrub firm surfaces with a clean brush under running water |
| Melon | Scrub the rind before slicing and use a clean board |
| Berries or soft fruit | Rinse gently under running water just before eating and discard rotten pieces |
If you are preparing several ingredients, finish washing one group at a time. Put clean produce into a clean container, away from the bowl or surface that held it before washing.
Section 2 of 5
Keep clean produce away from raw meat
Raw chicken, fish and meat can drip onto other food. Store them below produce and ready-to-eat items, in a container that catches leaks. Prepare fruit and vegetables on a clean board and use clean utensils. If a board has been used for raw meat, clean it thoroughly before using it again or use a separate board. SFA’s home food safety tips
An example from a family dinner
If dinner includes raw chicken and a cucumber side, prepare the cucumber first on clean equipment and put it away safely. Then handle the chicken. Wash your hands and clean the work area before going back to the cucumber. This helps keep raw juices out of a dish that will be eaten without further cooking.
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Section 3 of 5
Wash before cutting and keep cut food cold
Wash firm-skinned fruit before cutting so the knife does not carry material from the rind into the flesh. Use a clean knife and board. Cut what you expect to eat and store any remainder promptly. SFA’s produce guidance says to refrigerate cut fruit and vegetables below 5°C within two hours of peeling or cutting, and to discard leftover cut produce if it has sat at room temperature for more than two hours. Aim to refrigerate it sooner rather than waiting for the limit.
For a school snack, whole fruit is often simpler than cut fruit if you cannot keep the container cold. If you do pack cut produce, keep it appropriately chilled until eaten. After-school snack ideas and storage options
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Section 4 of 5
Set up an easy routine at home
Keep a clean produce brush where it can dry and a clean colander near the sink. Clear away meat packaging before preparing fruit. Wash the items you will eat or cook, then clean the equipment. If several people use the kitchen, agree where washed produce can go so no one puts it back on a dirty surface.
Tap water is suitable for washing produce under normal Singapore mains conditions. If there is a supply issue, follow PUB’s specific advice. What PUB says about Singapore tap water
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Section 5 of 5
Common produce-washing questions
Do I need soap or produce wash?
SFA’s guidance uses clean water and says special detergent or washing liquid is unnecessary. Use soap for your hands and for cleaning kitchen equipment.
Can I skip washing a melon because I peel it?
Wash the rind before cutting. A knife can carry material from the surface to the flesh.
Does cooking remove the need for clean preparation?
Wash and prepare the vegetables as directed before cooking, and keep raw meat juices away from them.
When should I wash berries?
Wash them gently just before you eat or prepare them. Handle soft fruit carefully and remove any rotten pieces.