Can shepherd's purse be soaked in water overnight before washing?

Dec 08, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Huang Yuhong

Introduction

In general, it is not recommended to soak shepherd's purse in water overnight before washing. Short-term soaking can help remove impurities, but prolonged soaking may damage its nutrients and texture, and could promote bacterial growth. Shepherd's purse is a common wild vegetable whose surface easily traps dirt, insect eggs, and other contaminants. Soaking it briefly in clean water for 10–20 minutes helps loosen these impurities, making them easier to wash off.

Generally, it is not recommended to soak shepherd's purse (荠菜) in water overnight before washing. Short-term soaking can help remove impurities, but prolonged soaking may damage its nutritional value and texture, and could promote bacterial growth. Here’s a detailed explanation:

Shepherd's purse is a common wild vegetable whose surface easily traps dirt, insect eggs, and other impurities. Soaking it briefly in clean water for 10–20 minutes helps loosen these contaminants, making cleaning easier. However, soaking it overnight is too long—this causes significant loss of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, and the texture becomes mushy and less crisp, diminishing its fresh, aromatic flavor. Moreover, extended soaking creates an environment conducive to bacterial growth; especially at higher room temperatures, spoilage may occur, potentially leading to digestive discomfort like bloating or diarrhea after consumption. It is advisable to rinse shepherd's purse under running water and soak it briefly in salted water or flour water to remove impurities, then drain thoroughly and use promptly.

In daily life, proper handling of fresh vegetables is important. Avoiding prolonged soaking helps better preserve their nutrition, flavor, and overall food safety.

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Can shepherd's purse and shrimp be eaten together?

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Can you eat shepherd's purse leaves with white spots after cooking?

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