Washer Selection Worksheet

Answer four questions about the product and the line. The worksheet returns the washing mechanism that fits, the mechanisms to rule out, and the items that still have to be confirmed before anyone can quote.

1. What are you washing? Leafy greens, herbs or salad mixes Root crops such as carrot, potato, beetroot or ginger Soft fruit, berries or tomatoes Firm fruit or hard vegetables such as apple, melon or squash A mixed intake that changes through the season

2. How much soil arrives with it? Light — field dust and leaf debris only Heavy — caked field soil, sand or clay Already washed upstream; this is a post-cut rinse

3. Is skin removal part of the job? No, washing only Yes, peeling is needed before cutting

4. Is there a lethality step downstream? Yes — cooking, retort, pasteurisation or equivalent No — the product is sold ready to eat

This answer does not change the machine. It changes what the machine is allowed to be called in your food safety plan.

The mechanism table behind the worksheet

Mechanism	Suited to	Mechanical action	Damage risk
Air bubble agitation	Leafy greens, herbs, berries	Turbulence lifts soil without direct contact	Low, weak on heavy adhered soil
Brush roller	Root crops	Rotating brushes scrub under a spray bar	Abrasion on thin skins
Spray and rinse bar	Irregular surfaces, post-cut rinse	Nozzle pressure and coverage	Low, depends on nozzle layout
Vortex or turbulence flow	Mixed float-and-sink loads	Directed flow separates and carries	Moderate, rises with velocity
Abrasive roller peeler	Root crop skin removal	Abrasive rollers with continuous rinse	Yield loss if dwell time is too long
Drum or trommel	Bulk items with heavy soil	Tumbling plus immersion	Bruising on soft produce

Reference points this worksheet assumes

Wash water is held at or above product core temperature, because colder water is drawn inward through stem scars and wounds.
Agricultural water carries no detectable generic E. coli in 100 mL under 21 CFR 112.44(a).
Recirculated process water meets potable standard under Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, Annex II, Chapter VII.
Product-contact surfaces are finished to Ra 0.8 µm (32 µin) or better, per 3-A and EHEDG hygienic design guidance.
Transfer drops stay below 30 cm (12 in) onto a smooth surface, with height differences between machines removed.

Washer Selection Worksheet

The mechanism table behind the worksheet

Reference points this worksheet assumes

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