On Sunday it was reported in the news that salmonella was found in cut melons and had sickened multiple people in several states.
Those packages of precut fruit are expensive.
It's an important safety issue that the food you are going to eat is properly cleaned. Sometimes when we count on other people to do that for us, those safety precautions are not always met.
Melons should always be cleaned on the outside before cutting into them to avoid getting any fertilizer that is on the outside of the melon getting inside to the meat of the melon.
I place my melons in the sink and give them a good scrubbing with a vegetable brush and water. That ensures that the melon is clean on the outside and I'm not introducing any foreign matter to the inside.
If you're buying precut melons in the store, you are paying more money for your fruit than if you were to buy a whole melon and cut it up yourself.
By buying whole melons you are going to save money and not pay for the convenience of precut fruit. Also, you are going to be extra careful in preparing your own food and hopefully prevent any illness to you and your family.
I always buy whole melons. If it's too much to eat , I make a drink. Pieces of melon, just a bit of water and lemon juice in the blender. Perfect for hot summers. 😊
Thanks so much for your blogging efforts Belinda. I enjoy reading your posts and checking out the blogs you follow. My hubby is a long haul trucker. Truck stops charge $3 for a cup of fresh strawberries! One can buy a lot more on sale for that price. We send him off with a bag of apples. His company doesn't allow fridges. In the truck as they need extra batteries that can ruin the electrical or cause fires. To get arround this, we use a cooler with "blue" ice packs. These last about 1 day. I will send grapes, blueberries, cut strawberries and "cutie"mandarins to help him avoid "trucker scurvy" LOL (Not a real disease) I buy all fruit. In sale and in season. The only inexpensive fruit in a truck stop seems to be the bananas which are sold 2 for $1. Not cheap when compared to the grocery store, but a truck stop bargain.
Ellie, that's a great way to save money on your hubby's fruit needs. I know those $3 strawberries are convenient, but the price is just too high. Good for you for taking the time and effort to make sure your hubby has what he needs fruit wise. He has a real jewel in you. :)
I'm so over the precut fruit drama. Cutting a melon isn't that hard. I fill the sink with water and vinegar and scrub the heck out of the rind everytime. Then I dry it off and slice away. It's not complicated. If all I needed was a little melon and knew I would waste it - simple choice is to buy a different fruit that week.
Hi Belinda, DeeAnn here. I haven't been on forever. Life drama's & e-mail changes. :) I missed your blog. Glad to be back. I have to admit this effects me. Luckily, I did not got to one of the stores listed that week or I would have bought pre-cut melon. I know a lot are shocked about buying pre-cut. There are very good reasons for many of us frugalites that do. For example people with fibro have trouble cutting melons so buying pre-cut is a lifesaver for those who want to get their nutrients. I do have mobility issues and cutting melons is so hard on my hands. The way I view it is $3 cut melon or $300 prescription. :) I don't know if you peek at Reddit's Eat Cheap and Healthy. One of the nutritionist who posts over there was helping somebody with depression eat better. People who are depressed need easy to prepare foods. She has this mantra buying pre-cut is better than long term medical bills. I remember that so well. I have anxiety and PTSD which can lead to depression. I was setting there reading Cheap & Healthy while eating ramen noodles because it was fast and funny enough I wanted cantaloupe but it was setting there staring at me making me feel overwhelmed. The following shopping trip I stocked up on pre-cut. I am now eating clean and green and actually saving a lot of money.
I always buy whole melons. If it's too much to eat , I make a drink. Pieces of melon, just a bit of water and lemon juice in the blender. Perfect for hot summers. 😊
ReplyDeleteOh, that souuds so good and refreshing, Nil.
DeleteTotally agree. I can get a whole melon for the price of those little pre-cut containers. Never have understood it. such a waste of money.
ReplyDeleteExactly, Cheryl!
DeleteThanks so much for your blogging efforts Belinda. I enjoy reading your posts and checking out the blogs you follow.
ReplyDeleteMy hubby is a long haul trucker. Truck stops charge $3 for a cup of fresh strawberries! One can buy a lot more on sale for that price.
We send him off with a bag of apples. His company doesn't allow fridges. In the truck as they need extra batteries that can ruin the electrical or cause fires. To get arround this, we use a cooler with "blue" ice packs. These last about 1 day. I will send grapes, blueberries, cut strawberries and "cutie"mandarins to help him avoid "trucker scurvy" LOL (Not a real disease) I buy all fruit. In sale and in season.
The only inexpensive fruit in a truck stop seems to be the bananas which are sold 2 for $1. Not cheap when compared to the grocery store, but a truck stop bargain.
Ellie, that's a great way to save money on your hubby's fruit needs. I know those $3 strawberries are convenient, but the price is just too high. Good for you for taking the time and effort to make sure your hubby has what he needs fruit wise. He has a real jewel in you. :)
DeleteI meant on sale...drat you auto correct!
ReplyDeleteI didn't even notice that, LOL. I knew what you meant. :)
DeleteI'm so over the precut fruit drama. Cutting a melon isn't that hard. I fill the sink with water and vinegar and scrub the heck out of the rind everytime. Then I dry it off and slice away. It's not complicated. If all I needed was a little melon and knew I would waste it - simple choice is to buy a different fruit that week.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, Carol.
DeleteHi Belinda, DeeAnn here. I haven't been on forever. Life drama's & e-mail changes. :) I missed your blog. Glad to be back. I have to admit this effects me. Luckily, I did not got to one of the stores listed that week or I would have bought pre-cut melon. I know a lot are shocked about buying pre-cut. There are very good reasons for many of us frugalites that do. For example people with fibro have trouble cutting melons so buying pre-cut is a lifesaver for those who want to get their nutrients. I do have mobility issues and cutting melons is so hard on my hands. The way I view it is $3 cut melon or $300 prescription. :) I don't know if you peek at Reddit's Eat Cheap and Healthy. One of the nutritionist who posts over there was helping somebody with depression eat better. People who are depressed need easy to prepare foods. She has this mantra buying pre-cut is better than long term medical bills. I remember that so well. I have anxiety and PTSD which can lead to depression. I was setting there reading Cheap & Healthy while eating ramen noodles because it was fast and funny enough I wanted cantaloupe but it was setting there staring at me making me feel overwhelmed. The following shopping trip I stocked up on pre-cut. I am now eating clean and green and actually saving a lot of money.
ReplyDelete