How to Wash Citrus Fruit To Remove Waxes and Germs, According to Food Safety Experts

How to Wash Citrus Fruit To Remove Waxes and Germs, According to Food Safety Experts

Oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits are some of the few fruits we regularly handle more than we eat. We peel them, zest them, slice them, and sometimes drop them straight into drinks—rind and all. That naturally raises questions: What’s that waxy coating? Are there germs on the peel? And does organic citrus make any difference? We consulted food safety experts, and the answers are reassuring—and simpler than the internet would have you belie…