James Silverton wrote:
>
> In principle I am in favor of natural approaches to growing
> vegetables but today I made some Vichysoisse soup and I was
> reminded that leeks are perhaps the filthiest vegetables on
> sale. As usual, the leeks I bought were covered with soil,
> organic I hope! I wonder why this should be? Celery can also
> require careful cleaning but hardly ever as much as leeks.

In leeks, the most prized part is the white part.
To get as much white part as possible, dirt is
piled up around the base of the plant as it grows,
to shield it from sunlight. That's why so much
dirt gets trapped inside the plant.

I suppose it would be possible to put some other
kind of light shield around the base of the plant,
but that would cost much more than simply heaping
up dirt around the plant. If people would pay more
for "dirtless" leeks, farmers could grow them that
way. But I doubt that demand exists for such a
product at any reasonable price.

Mark wrote on Mon, 27 Aug 2007 12:50:43 -0700:

MT> James Silverton wrote:
??>>
??>> In principle I am in favor of natural approaches to
??>> growing vegetables but today I made some Vichysoisse soup
??>> and I was reminded that leeks are perhaps the filthiest
??>> vegetables on sale. As usual, the leeks I bought were
??>> covered with soil, organic I hope! I wonder why this
??>> should be? Celery can also require careful cleaning but
??>> hardly ever as much as leeks.

MT> In leeks, the most prized part is the white part.
MT> To get as much white part as possible, dirt is
MT> piled up around the base of the plant as it grows,
MT> to shield it from sunlight. That's why so much
MT> dirt gets trapped inside the plant.

That blanching may be the reason why leeks are so filthy but
they are the dirtiest vegetable you can buy. Blanched celery is
made the same way and is nothing like as dirty. Saying as others
have done "Live with it!" is singularly unhelpful and
contributes nothing useful to a discussion that was only a
request for information. I do rinse all vegetables but nothing
else needs dismemberment and careful rinsing like leeks.

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

In article <gZGAi.1$cA6.0@trnddc05>,
"James Silverton" > wrote:

> Mark wrote on Mon, 27 Aug 2007 12:50:43 -0700:
>
> MT> James Silverton wrote:
> ??>>
> ??>> In principle I am in favor of natural approaches to
> ??>> growing vegetables but today I made some Vichysoisse soup
> ??>> and I was reminded that leeks are perhaps the filthiest
> ??>> vegetables on sale. As usual, the leeks I bought were
> ??>> covered with soil, organic I hope! I wonder why this
> ??>> should be? Celery can also require careful cleaning but
> ??>> hardly ever as much as leeks.
>
> MT> In leeks, the most prized part is the white part.
> MT> To get as much white part as possible, dirt is
> MT> piled up around the base of the plant as it grows,
> MT> to shield it from sunlight. That's why so much
> MT> dirt gets trapped inside the plant.
>
> That blanching may be the reason why leeks are so filthy but
> they are the dirtiest vegetable you can buy. Blanched celery is
> made the same way and is nothing like as dirty. Saying as others
> have done "Live with it!" is singularly unhelpful and
> contributes nothing useful to a discussion that was only a
> request for information. I do rinse all vegetables but nothing
> else needs dismemberment and careful rinsing like leeks.
>
> James Silverton

Other than avoiding leeks, I don't see any other solution.
I have to wash celery too to avoid eating sand.

Spinach is so bad, I tend to avoid it and buy the baby bagged.

I can wash leeks and celery. Spinach is a pain in the ass and I can
never get all the sand out of it.
--
Peace, Om

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"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

Omelet wrote:
>
> Spinach is a pain in the ass and I can
> never get all the sand out of it.

Do you not own a salad spinner?
I put the spinach leaves in the basket,
with the basket in the bowl run a few
changes of water through it (with gentle
agitation from my hand each time),
then spin it to get the water out.

After that treatment, no problems at all
with sand or mud sticking to the leaves.

"Mark Thorson" > wrote in message
...
> Omelet wrote:
>>
>> Spinach is a pain in the ass and I can
>> never get all the sand out of it.
>
> Do you not own a salad spinner?
> I put the spinach leaves in the basket,
> with the basket in the bowl run a few
> changes of water through it (with gentle
> agitation from my hand each time),
> then spin it to get the water out.
>
> After that treatment, no problems at all
> with sand or mud sticking to the leaves.

I used to have a salad spinner. Gave it away because it was taking up too
much room in my cupboard and really didn't work all that well. It was no
match for dirty spinach. Now I just do a few leaves at a time, rinsing and
soaking as I go, blotting with paper towels.

In article >,
Mark Thorson > wrote:

> Omelet wrote:
> >
> > Spinach is a pain in the ass and I can
> > never get all the sand out of it.
>
> Do you not own a salad spinner?

No. And afaik, spinners are to get water off, not dirt?

> I put the spinach leaves in the basket,
> with the basket in the bowl run a few
> changes of water through it (with gentle
> agitation from my hand each time),
> then spin it to get the water out.
>
> After that treatment, no problems at all
> with sand or mud sticking to the leaves.

I've been considering investing in one. We've talked about this before.
--
Peace, Om

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"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

James Silverton wrote:
> Mark wrote on Mon, 27 Aug 2007 12:50:43 -0700:
>
> MT> James Silverton wrote:
> ??>>
> ??>> In principle I am in favor of natural approaches to
> ??>> growing vegetables but today I made some Vichysoisse soup
> ??>> and I was reminded that leeks are perhaps the filthiest
> ??>> vegetables on sale. As usual, the leeks I bought were
> ??>> covered with soil, organic I hope! I wonder why this
> ??>> should be? Celery can also require careful cleaning but
> ??>> hardly ever as much as leeks.
>
> MT> In leeks, the most prized part is the white part.
> MT> To get as much white part as possible, dirt is
> MT> piled up around the base of the plant as it grows,
> MT> to shield it from sunlight. That's why so much
> MT> dirt gets trapped inside the plant.
>
> That blanching may be the reason why leeks are so filthy but they are
> the dirtiest vegetable you can buy. Blanched celery is made the same way
> and is nothing like as dirty. Saying as others have done "Live with it!"
> is singularly unhelpful and contributes nothing useful to a discussion
> that was only a request for information. I do rinse all vegetables but
> nothing else needs dismemberment and careful rinsing like leeks.
>
> James Silverton
> Potomac, Maryland
>
> E-mail, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not
>
>
Celery doesn't grow as tightly as do leeks, which is probably why
blanched celery still isn't as dirty as leeks, despite being grown in
the same fashion.

James Silverton > wrote:

> In principle I am in favor of natural approaches to growing
> vegetables but today I made some Vichysoisse soup and I was
> reminded that leeks are perhaps the filthiest vegetables on
> sale. As usual, the leeks I bought were covered with soil,
> organic I hope! I wonder why this should be? Celery can also
> require careful cleaning but hardly ever as much as leeks.

Many people have said all this about leeks and celery on this newsgroup
over the years, and yet every time I am surprised. Here in Germany,
both leeks and celery are among the cleanest vegetables imaginable and
never require more than a simple, short rinse. I have yet to detect any
visible dirt on either vegetable, except, very occasionally, for a bit
of sand in the centre part where the stem connects to the leaves.
Cleaning them is never a problem - cut off the root, cut off most of the
green part. What is left is a solid stem. Give it a quick rinse and
chop it up... that's all.

No matter where I buy vegetables here, they are generally very clean,
but leeks and celery are particularly so.

Victor

In article >,
(Victor Sack) wrote:

> James Silverton > wrote:
>
> > In principle I am in favor of natural approaches to growing
> > vegetables but today I made some Vichysoisse soup and I was
> > reminded that leeks are perhaps the filthiest vegetables on
> > sale. As usual, the leeks I bought were covered with soil,
> > organic I hope! I wonder why this should be? Celery can also
> > require careful cleaning but hardly ever as much as leeks.
>
> Many people have said all this about leeks and celery on this newsgroup
> over the years, and yet every time I am surprised. Here in Germany,
> both leeks and celery are among the cleanest vegetables imaginable and
> never require more than a simple, short rinse. I have yet to detect any
> visible dirt on either vegetable, except, very occasionally, for a bit
> of sand in the centre part where the stem connects to the leaves.
> Cleaning them is never a problem - cut off the root, cut off most of the
> green part. What is left is a solid stem. Give it a quick rinse and
> chop it up... that's all.
>
> No matter where I buy vegetables here, they are generally very clean,
> but leeks and celery are particularly so.
>
> Victor

Are they being grown hydroponically?
That keeps veggies very clean.
--
Peace, Om

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"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

Omelet > wrote:

> (Victor Sack) wrote:
>
> > No matter where I buy vegetables here, they are generally very clean,
> > but leeks and celery are particularly so.
>
> Are they being grown hydroponically?
> That keeps veggies very clean.

No, hydroponics is still an exception rather than the rule here.

Victor

In article >,
(Victor Sack) wrote:

> Omelet > wrote:
>
> > (Victor Sack) wrote:
> >
> > > No matter where I buy vegetables here, they are generally very clean,
> > > but leeks and celery are particularly so.
> >
> > Are they being grown hydroponically?
> > That keeps veggies very clean.
>
> No, hydroponics is still an exception rather than the rule here.
>
> Victor

Could be soil or growing methods then.
A lot of leeks here are imported.
--
Peace, Om

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"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

"James Silverton" > wrote in message
news:3eEAi.30318$Bv1.4712@trnddc06...
> Hello, All!
>
> In principle I am in favor of natural approaches to growing vegetables but
> today I made some Vichysoisse soup and I was reminded that leeks are
> perhaps the filthiest vegetables on sale. As usual, the leeks I bought
> were covered with soil, organic I hope! I wonder why this should be?
> Celery can also require careful cleaning but hardly ever as much as leeks.

I think the layers of leeks overlap more tightly so the dirty sinks down in.
Not sure though. Those baby red potatoes I had tonight could have given
your leeks a run for their money as far as being dirty. I buy leeks about
once every two years. And each time I remind myself that the dirt is the
reason I don't buy them more often.

"Julie Bove" > wrote in message
news:xxKAi.489$2p5.248@trndny05...
>
> "James Silverton" > wrote in message
> news:3eEAi.30318$Bv1.4712@trnddc06...
>> Hello, All!
>>
>> In principle I am in favor of natural approaches to growing vegetables
>> but today I made some Vichysoisse soup and I was reminded that leeks are
>> perhaps the filthiest vegetables on sale. As usual, the leeks I bought
>> were covered with soil, organic I hope! I wonder why this should be?
>> Celery can also require careful cleaning but hardly ever as much as
>> leeks.
>
> I think the layers of leeks overlap more tightly so the dirty sinks down
> in. Not sure though. Those baby red potatoes I had tonight could have
> given your leeks a run for their money as far as being dirty. I buy leeks
> about once every two years. And each time I remind myself that the dirt
> is the reason I don't buy them more often.


For me, it's the price -- same as artichokes -- not enough value for the
money. The first time I had purchased leeks was at the farmers' market a
few weeks ago because they looked good and were a fair price IMO.
Dee Dee

"Dee Dee" > wrote in message
...

> For me, it's the price -- same as artichokes -- not enough value for the
> money. The first time I had purchased leeks was at the farmers' market a
> few weeks ago because they looked good and were a fair price IMO.

I cooked an artichoke once. For my husband. I knew how to do it because it
was something we made in Jr. High Home Ec class. Husband is the hoity toity
type who thinks anything expensive must be good. He is also one of those
food wolvers. As you can imagine, his plucking off the leaves and dipping
them in melted butter didn't last long. That was the last artichoke I
bought. Although I will sometimes buy the jarred ones.

I made a creamy potato and leek soup last year. Amazingly it contained no
dairy of any kind but it had a buttery taste. I liked it, but felt I could
have gotten the same taste by using a mild onion and it would have been a
lot quicker to make. Husband and daughter were less thrilled with it so I
haven't made it again.

In article >,
"Dee Dee" > wrote:

> "Julie Bove" > wrote in message
> news:xxKAi.489$2p5.248@trndny05...
> >
> > "James Silverton" > wrote in message
> > news:3eEAi.30318$Bv1.4712@trnddc06...
> >> Hello, All!
> >>
> >> In principle I am in favor of natural approaches to growing vegetables
> >> but today I made some Vichysoisse soup and I was reminded that leeks are
> >> perhaps the filthiest vegetables on sale. As usual, the leeks I bought
> >> were covered with soil, organic I hope! I wonder why this should be?
> >> Celery can also require careful cleaning but hardly ever as much as
> >> leeks.
> >
> > I think the layers of leeks overlap more tightly so the dirty sinks down
> > in. Not sure though. Those baby red potatoes I had tonight could have
> > given your leeks a run for their money as far as being dirty. I buy leeks
> > about once every two years. And each time I remind myself that the dirt
> > is the reason I don't buy them more often.
>
>
> For me, it's the price -- same as artichokes -- not enough value for the
> money. The first time I had purchased leeks was at the farmers' market a
> few weeks ago because they looked good and were a fair price IMO.
> Dee Dee

The one reason I occasionally purchase leeks is that they are just plain
yummy... but I tend to only get them on sale in season. ;-)

Or when I hit the asian market where they are always reasonable.
They do keep for a long time.
--
Peace, Om

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"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson