How To Wash Broccoli To Remove Dirt and Pesticides, According to an Expert

Broccoli was always one of the vegetables that caused the most drama at dinnertime when I was growing up. My mom would boil it (only), and my siblings and I would push it around our plates, trying to hide it under mashed potatoes.

Thankfully, I’ve learned to love this versatile veggie and cook it in ways my kiddos love. I typically just rinse it under water and have always wondered if that was enough to clean it properly. It seems like those tight little florets could hide all sorts of things.

To settle my curiosity, I reached out to Jennifer Pallian, a dietitian, food science expert, and creator of the award-winning Foodess blog to learn the most effective methods for washing this cruciferous vegetable. What I discovered was both surprising and reassuring.

The Best Way To Wash Broccoli

Washing broccoli doesn’t have to be complicated. “Rinsing broccoli under running water can effectively reduce dirt, bacteria, and some pesticide residues,” Pallian reassures. “Rinsing for a full minute is best…and soaking it in warm water is even more effective,” she adds.

As a busy working mom of three, Pallian also understands the need for simplified and straightforward solutions, so she advises rinsing the broccoli under running water for about a minute while rubbing it briskly with your hands to get between florets. “For me,” she says, “this is enough, from a cleanliness-to-time-investment standpoint.”

What About Baking Soda and Vinegar?

While plain water works well, some people prefer more rigorous cleaning methods and baking soda and vinegar solutions take the top ranks on social media. But do they actually do what they purport to do?

Pallian says baking soda is effective but requires some extra effort. If you want to take it a step further, she advises making a 1% baking soda solution by mixing “one teaspoon [of] baking soda with two cups of warm water.” Then, “submerge the broccoli [in it] and let it soak for 12 to 15 minutes” to remove more surface pesticide residues. Just remember to rinse thoroughly before using it. 

When I asked Pallian if the extra baking soda step was necessary, her response was refreshingly honest. Ultimately, she sees the added step as a barrier to getting enough fruit and vegetables and worries that, for many, it could lead to more harm than good.

“My priority for eating as much fruit and veg as I can FAR outweigh whatever additional cleaning I’d get from baking soda soaking,” she emphasizes. Besides, “pesticide residues on food are closely monitored and already within safe limits even before taking extra cleaning measures,” she assures me.

“The FDA,” she goes on to say, “finds that 97% of U.S.-grown food has pesticide residues below the strict safety limits, while 47% showed no detectable residues at all.” As a dietitian, she doesn’t have safety concerns and would never “ignite fear where it doesn’t belong.” For her, the potential benefits simply don’t outweigh the effort involved.

How Not To Wash Your Broccoli

There is one no-no when it comes to cleaning your broccoli: Avoid washing “any veggies with soap, detergent, or commercial produce washes,” Pallian says. “The FDA doesn’t approve [of] them as safe for that use, and the soap itself can soak into the produce and make you sick.”

After speaking with Pallian, I feel much more confident about my simplified and approachable broccoli-washing routine. Her practical advice reminded me that we shouldn’t let perfect be the enemy of good—especially when it comes to eating our vegetables.