Check out this great new 2-for-1 find: A vegetable scrubber + fresh herb colander for just $3.50
Although I’m a still big fan of my $2.50 nail scrubber from the cleaning supply store, I put the “Veggie Scrub” to the test on Jerusalem artichokes (also known as sunchokes.) These gnarly and knobby vegetables are the toughest vegetable I’ve ever scrubbed, but the Veggie Scrub did a great job with them. I am always reluctant to buy sunchokes just because they are so hard to wash, but now that’s not the case.
The packaging instructs to either wear it like a mitt to scrub vegetables with your hand, or to pop the vegetable inside the pouch and rub under flowing water. The first method worked best with large vegetables, while the second worked best for small things like baby turnips and potatoes.
Either way, you get a decent and inexpensive vegetable scrubber. But wait, there’s more: The Veggie Scrub doubles as a fresh herb “colander.” Washing herbs is always problematic, not only because they’re small and hard to manage, but also because they get soaked and become difficult to chop. The Veggie Scrub contains them handily while washing. Then take the pouch outside, fling it up and down vigorously and the herbs are quickly dried enough for a decent chopping job.
Green Kitchen Tip: See tomorrow’s post, about reusing the mesh bags from lemons and limes as an herb washer/spinner
Where can I purchase veggie scrubbers?
Sadly, the Veggie Scrubber company has gone out of business. I recently checked because mine got diverted to the trash by accident. So consider making your own from the bags used to hold lemons or limes. Better yet, if you can find a sturdier bag, like one used for potatoes and onions, the scrubbing will be better. I did find plenty of other good scrubbers at our hardware store, but for small things, the bag surely was handy. Thanks for writing.