A - THRIP CLOTH METHOD - cRc recommends this method for many vegetables.
Supplies: Thrip-cloth, light box, large bowl, dish soap, and 2 strainers
“Thrip-cloths,” fine silk cloths which filter insects from water, can be purchased from the cRc - Book Store. Seventh Generation Free and Clear dish soap is a good choice for this procedure. cRc does not recommend using salt water or vinegar to remove insects from fruits and vegetables.
Procedure
1. Separate the leaves, and place them into a bowl of water.
2. Put dish soap or kosher vegetable wash into the bowl until the water and leaves feel somewhat slippery.
3. Soak and agitate the leaves in soapy water for 1-2 minutes.
4. Remove the leaves from the bowl, and discard the water.
5. Repeat Steps 2-4, OR, put the leaves in a bowl of water to soak, and wash both sides of each leaf under running water.
6. Place leaves into a bowl of fresh soapy water, and agitate for 1-2 minutes.
7. Remove leaves, and pour the soapy water through a thrip-cloth which is sandwiched between 2 strainers.
8. Check the cloth carefully on top of a light box. If no insects are found, put the leaves back into plain water, soak and agitate for a minute, remove leaves, and enjoy. If an insect is found, repeat Steps 6-8. If insects are found after doing these procedures 3 times, the produce is overly infested and should be discarded.
Demonstration Video: https://bit.ly/TC-Method
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B - SCRUB AND RINSE METHOD - cRc recommends this method as an alternative for non-organic romaine lettuce and other flat leafy greens
Supplies: A bowl, dish soap, a sponge, and running water. Seventh Generation Free and Clear dish soap is a good choice for this procedure.
Procedure
1. Prepare a bowl of water, and put in dish soap or kosher vegetable wash so that the water and leaves feel somewhat slippery.
2. Separate the leaves from the romaine heart or other flat leaf produce, and put them into the bowl.
3. Agitate the leaves for a minute.
4. Remove leaves from the soapy water and discard the water. Gently rub all areas on both sides of every leaf with a sponge, including flattening curled-up edges of the leaves so they can be scrubbed.
5. Rinse each leaf under a stream of water while running your fingers across the leaf to undo the folds.
6. Place the leaves into a new bowl of soapy water and repeat Steps 2-5. There is no need to scrub the leaves with a sponge again.
Demonstration Video: https://crckosher.org/video/romaine-hearts-scrub-and-rinse-method-april-2022/
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C - SOAK AND CHECK METHOD - cRc recommends this method for non-leafy vegetables when a person does not have a thrip-cloth
Supplies: A large bowl, dish soap, and a room with bright sunlight or overhead lights. Seventh Generation Free and Clear dish soap is a good choice for this procedure. cRc does not recommend the use of salt water or vinegar to remove insects from fruits and vegetables.
Procedure
1. Separate the leaves and place them into a bowl of water.
2. Put dish soap or kosher vegetable wash into the bowl until the water and leaves feel somewhat slippery.
3. Soak and agitate the leaves in the soapy water for 1-2 minutes.
4. Remove the leaves from the bowl.
5. Carefully check the water to see if there are any insects present. It is difficult to see insects in the water, so the checking should be done slowly and methodically, and in an area with very good lighting.
6. If insects are found in the water, repeat the procedure with fresh soapy water.
7. When the soapy water is found to be free of insects, visually inspect three samples of the vegetable for insects. If no insects are found, the produce may be used without further checking.