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How Do I Clean Watercress?

Mel Frank

Watercress is a nutritious, leafy green that is commonly used in stir-fry dishes, salads and sandwiches. Just like other types of greens, watercress needs to be thoroughly cleaned to remove any bitter or dirty taste.

Clean watercress in a vinegar mixture.

Trim down the watercress to get rid of unneeded stems, as this will provide you with a healthy bunch of greens.

  1. Snip off the stems of the watercress with a knife or scissors. Snip the hollow stems until you begin to reach the leafy foliage.

  2. Place the watercress into a colander. Rinse thoroughly with cool water, tossing the watercress with your hands for an even rinse.

  3. Fill a large bowl with a solution of 2 tbsp. white vinegar per 2 qt. cool water. Place the greens inside, and let soak for 30 minutes. This will remove any dirty smell or taste from the watercress.

  4. Pour the watercress into the colander. Rinse thoroughly once more with cool water.