Apples are a common household staple. Many people will go to the store, buy a bunch of apples, and go home feeling like they have done something good for their family. Well, think again, because your store-bought apples may be covered with harmful wax.

Apples produce a natural wax, but many are covered by a food-grade wax so they can stay in storage for long periods of time. Some food-grade wax is made from petroleum products, and it is well known that petroleum is not good for the body.

So, what is a person to do? First off, try to buy all your apples from a farmer’s market or a local farm stand. The only wax you will find on those apples is the natural wax the fruit creates to seal in moisture. If you have to buy apples from the store, give them a good cleaning before eating them or serving them to your family. Actually, do this with all fruits and veggies you buy from a store. Food grade wax is put on most of them.

Finding Joy in My Kitchen suggests filling the sink with about 4 inches of lukewarm water and adding 1 tablespoon of both lemon juice and baking soda. Put the apples in the water and scrub them with a fruit or veggie scrub brush. Rinse them and pat them dry. This should remove most of the wax.

The video below shows wax falling off an apple. Check it out!

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