Hey everyone, I'm curious about what you do when your fruits or veggies have been in contact with slugs before they're eaten raw. I've heard slugs carry a lot of bacteria and parasites, so I'm wondering if a simple rinse with water is enough to get rid of everything, or if you guys are using vinegar or some other method. Recently, after some rain, I found slugs on my raspberries that touched the ground. They're so delicate, so what's the best way to clean them without damaging them?
4 Answers
Honestly, I'd advise against eating any produce that slugs have touched unless you’re prepared to deal with some serious health risks. I mean, slugs look harmless, but they carry some nasty stuff. It's better to lose some food than to risk your health!
From what I’ve learned, it's best to cook or freeze food if slugs have been around them. Eating raw produce that slugs have touched can be risky. Losing those beautiful raspberries hurts, but trust me, it’s not worth the risk of potential parasites!
I do a vinegar rinse with mine, especially with berries. Just let them soak for a little while, then rinse and dry. I'm pretty cautious about slugs, but it seems like you’d need to actually eat an infected slug to get sick. A good rinse usually does the trick!
Make sure to give your berries a good rinse under running water! Some people swear by doing a vinegar soak first (like 4 parts water to 1 part vinegar), let them sit for a bit, then rinse them again with fresh water. Just keep in mind, tropical areas have more risks with slugs, so if you’re not in one of those places, a thorough wash should be fine. Plus, using beer traps or crushed egg shells around your plants can help keep those slugs away!
Great tips! I’ve tried the vinegar soak method and it definitely helped my berries last longer. Just be super gentle with raspberries as they bruise easily.