Washing broccoli with just water is wrong! Here’s how to clean it safely.

**Washing Broccoli with Just Water Is Wrong! Here’s How to Clean It Safely**

Broccoli is one of the healthiest vegetables you can eat — packed with fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, and cancer-fighting compounds. But before you steam it, stir-fry it, or toss it into your salad, there’s something important you need to know:

**Rinsing broccoli with just water doesn’t clean it properly.**

Broccoli’s tightly packed florets and complex structure make it a **magnet for dirt, bugs, pesticides, and bacteria**. So if you’re simply rinsing it under the tap for a few seconds, chances are you’re leaving unwanted things behind — and that’s not something you want on your plate.

Luckily, there’s a simple, natural way to **properly clean broccoli** to make it safe and healthy to eat.

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### 🥦 Why Broccoli Needs More Than Just Water

Here’s what can be hiding in those little green florets:

* **Trapped dirt or sand**
* **Tiny bugs and larvae** (common in organic or garden-grown broccoli)
* **Pesticide residues**
* **Mold spores or bacteria**

Water alone often can’t reach deep into the crevices of the florets, and it certainly won’t dissolve waxes or residues from chemicals.

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### ✅ How to Properly Clean Broccoli (Step-by-Step)

#### 🧂 Method 1: Salt & Vinegar Soak (Best for Store-Bought or Garden Broccoli)

**You’ll Need:**

* 1 large bowl or basin of cold water
* 1 tablespoon of salt
* 2 tablespoons of white vinegar