Do you eat strawberries POLL:

amother

Thu, Jul 06 2023, 7:18 pm

amother [b]DarkYellow wrote:

If a bug is not visible to the naked eye you are not in transgression of a lav[/b]. Something that looks like a seed but is really a bug so is technically considered visible? A proper strawberry wash should take care of it

I think all these stringencies are a great way to keep kosher frozen food companies in business.

Afaik, this only applies to foods that are not known to be infested and rarely have bugs.

mrsnistar

Thu, Jul 06 2023, 7:34 pm

amother Brass wrote:

Grapes? Are you sure?

Lots of people don't eat grapes unless they've been washed a specific way, myself included. Thing is, I never have patience to do it, so haven't had grapes in a long time.

amother

Phlox

Thu, Jul 06 2023, 7:36 pm

I cut the tops and swirl in soapy water and rinse under a strong stream.

This whole bug craze is pretty recent and I don't buy into it.

Microscopic bugs that can't even be seen with a naked eye don't gross me out. I'm sure if you'd put the air we breathe under a microscope you'll see bugs too.

tweety1

Thu, Jul 06 2023, 7:38 pm

mrsnistar wrote:

Lots of people don't eat grapes unless they've been washed a specific way, myself included. Thing is, I never have patience to do it, so haven't had grapes in a long time.

Likewise. It's a huge treat for my kids when I wash it. I usually make frozen grapes when I finally do get to wash it.

mrsnistar

Thu, Jul 06 2023, 7:38 pm

amother Jasmine wrote:

I follow the CRC's guidelines in washing and checking strawberries. It's time consuming, so I don't do it often.

I also eat frozen strawberries with a heckscher and blend them. You're allowed to eat blended bugs Tongue Out

A lot of people won't eat them blended either, because blended just makes them בטל because it's not a whole beriya. However, there's a concept that ain mevatlin issur l'chatchila. Therefore, many hold that while it's ok to buy raspberry jam which is made from pureed raspberries which were made by a non-Jewish company (with a hechsher, of course), it's not good enough to just blend your own raspberries.
On the other hand, those that eat strawberries which they blended themselves are relying on it being a "sfek sfeika", meaning it's less certain that there are bugs there than on raspberries.

Every person should speak to their own rav about these intricate issues!

amother

Whitewash

Thu, Jul 06 2023, 7:46 pm

amother Phlox wrote:

It's actually not a "recent craze". I've read autobiographies from pre-war Europe where they talk about bug issues, and how communities would not eat certain berries because they were known to have lots of insects.

amother

Thu, Jul 06 2023, 7:50 pm

amother Phlox wrote:

The bug craze is as old as the torah, but as more produce became available for the general public to eat, we had to become more aware and educated on the checking process and which produce do or don't need to be checked.

amother

Forestgreen

Thu, Jul 06 2023, 7:52 pm

agreer wrote:

When I see my friends or people on insta using blackberries or raspberries I cry for them. They are known to have bugs

And yet I have been at simchas with reliable caterers where these were served. maybe they're grown hydroponically or in special enclosures.

amother

Thu, Jul 06 2023, 7:55 pm

amother Forestgreen wrote:

And yet I have been at simchas with reliable caterers where these were served. maybe they're grown hydroponically or in special enclosures.

Blackberries and Raspberries? Never have I seen them at simchas.

amother

Mintgreen

Thu, Jul 06 2023, 8:32 pm

agreer wrote:

When I see my friends or people on insta using blackberries or raspberries I cry for them. They are known to have bugs

Ha oy same!

amother

Mintgreen

Thu, Jul 06 2023, 8:33 pm

amother Forestgreen wrote:

And yet I have been at simchas with reliable caterers where these were served. maybe they're grown hydroponically or in special enclosures.

Are you sure?

amother

Cappuccino

Thu, Jul 06 2023, 8:44 pm

#BestBubby wrote:

Than You can't eat strawberry jelly or jam either

Same with peanut butter and techina and chummus etc.
as I heard from someone-you know why the peanuts and seeds etc all sit in the warehouse for six months? Because you can eat dust. You can’t eat bugs.
If people knew how food was made…

giftedmom

Thu, Jul 06 2023, 10:30 pm

I once cut the tops off some strawberries and after a couple seconds there were bugs crawling around the plate. Pretty gross but since then I actually know what to look out for and what they look like. I usually wait a bit after I cut the tops off to see if anything is moving. Hasn’t happened since.

amother

Lightcoral

Thu, Jul 06 2023, 10:38 pm

amother OP wrote:

Interesting, we were told to cut the tops first as there may be more bugs in that area.

We remove the leaves and wash. Then cut off the tops after, before eating.

BatZion

Thu, Jul 06 2023, 10:50 pm

My children get SO excited when we eat strawberries because IF we buy, it's only for a Shabbat treat because we clean according to "The Institute for Torah and the Land of Israel," which checked the state of strawberries and what happens when you wash them, I.e., what bugs can be viewed.
Their conclusion is that you need to cut the cop off with a bit of the fruit and then put the strawberries in soapy water and swish them around. Need to do the washes four times because from their checks, only after four washes were all strawberries completely clean...
I have got to be in a happy mood to be cleaning them strawberries like that...
It does make me shudder to think of the bugs we merrily chomped on growing up - my mother is unaware of all these things- strawberries, cabbage, brussel sprouts...oi.