The food industry does it for its own sake, not yours. A coating of wax helps seal in moisture and therefore extends storage life, as well as minimizing costly weight loss. It also gives the fruit or vegetable a sheen, which in the eyes of some customers is a sign of quality. Informed shoppers, however, know that it is an impossible chore to wash off all the wax. Even if food industry spokespersons are correct in their claim that the wax is safe to eat, it does give food an off-flavor. It also thwarts your efforts to scrub off pesticides that may have been sprayed on the fruit before it was waxed. The list of fruits and vegetables that are falling victim to the wax treatment is lengthy, and growing: Apples, cucumbers, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, bell peppers, pears, cantaloupes, plums, and yams are among the casualties.
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Asian Recipes **
