Why you must always wash cantaloupes before slicing and eating

You always wash your fruits and vegetables before eating them, right?

But how about melons?

I’ll be honest, I’ve never washed any type of melon. But from now on I will.

According to the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, you can avoid harmful microorganisms by washing melons with a soft brush.

When you cut into a melon, a knife blade can pick up bacteria, pesticides, and herbicides on the surface, then contaminate the flesh inside.

Washing is especially important with cantaloupes. Niches on the rough surface give contaminants plenty of tiny places to hide.

Sources:
“Melons: Safe Handling Practices for Consumers” Amy Simonne, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, edis.ifas.ufl.edu