Useful recommendations on how to remove wax from apples and why it is necessary to do this
A wax or paraffin coating on apples protects the pulp from spoilage, drying out and extends the shelf life of the fruit.
However, this thin invisible coating, once in the human body, can cause harm. Regular washing with water does not remove the wax, so it is recommended to use special methods to remove it.
We will tell you in this article how and how to remove wax from apples.
Content
Why is wax coating dangerous?
Wax is a natural beekeeping product and in small quantities does not cause harm to human health. But due to its high cost, it is rarely used for processing mass plant products.
Imported fruits are in the vast majority of cases coated with synthetic paraffin, which is a mixture of hydrocarbons.
An artificial analogue of wax is obtained by distilling petroleum products. In the human gastrointestinal tract, paraffin substances are not broken down into components and are not absorbed into the blood. Their harm can be expressed in disruption of the stomach and intestines.
The second danger is that the waxy shell may contain special preservative substances, as well as residues of insecticides that are used to treat apple trees until harvest.
These substances, which are dangerous to humans in large quantities, contribute to:
- fluid retention in tissues;
- the occurrence of intoxication;
- intestinal disorders;
- headaches.
How to delete?
The paraffin coating lies very tightly on the apple peel. It cannot be washed off with any detergent.
Hot water
This method is based on the ability of wax and paraffin substances to melt under the influence of heat. The melting point of synthetic paraffin is 40-45 degrees.
The waxed apple is dipped into very hot water for 8-10 seconds. Take out the fruit and immediately wipe off the exfoliated paraffin with a cotton cloth or paper napkin.
Since the holding time of the apple in hot water is short, all vitamins in the peel remain unchanged.
Lemon juice and soda
The product of the interaction of organic acids and sodium bicarbonate corrodes the wax, as a result of which it is easily removed from the surface of apples.
The cleansing algorithm looks like this:
- The apples are placed in a small container.
- Sprinkle the fruits with baking soda.
- Squeeze the juice out of the lemon.
- Pour fresh juice over fruits.
- Rub the fruits with the resulting mixture.
- Pour hot water into the container.
- Clean the peel with a soft brush.
- Rinse the apples under running water.
Peel off
Attempts to scrape off plaque with a knife end in failure, since wax particles penetrate into the pores of the peel and are securely fixed there.
An alternative and most radical method is the complete removal of paraffin along with the skin.. However, it should be used only as a last resort.
The peel, regardless of color, contains up to 70% of all biologically active substances of the apple.
If the waxed fruit is intended to be fed to a small child, it is recommended that the skin be removed.
Adviсe
To avoid wax related problem, It is recommended to choose environmentally friendly products. Almost all imported batches of fruit arriving on domestic shelves are treated with paraffin substances. Therefore, it is advisable to choose apples from local producers.
It looks like a matte coating, and if you rub the peel with your hand, the coating disappears. Artificially processed fruits have a gloss and shine that is not removed by friction.
Useful information on ways to remove wax from various surfaces can be found in this section.
Video on the topic of the article
This video will show you how to remove wax and paraffin from apples:
Conclusion
To maintain health, it is recommended to eat apples that have not been treated with artificial wax. Fruits covered with a protective layer must be washed in hot water or in a lemon-soda solution.
In some cases, completely peeling the fruit is acceptable. If you have a choice, then you should prefer environmentally friendly apples that are not coated with a special protective layer of wax or paraffin.
