20. Many fresh strawberries are assumed to have tiny, difficult-to-identify insects concealed in the indentation under the yellow seeds. Kashrus agencies’ guidelines state they may only be eaten if blended [or if one completely peels them until all indentations are gone and removes the leaves along with some of the flesh (מדריך הכשרות עדה''ח תשפ''ה ח''ב עמ' 37)]. Based on the above, one must still first soak them in soapy water for three minutes and then rinse them under a stream of water. Many people ask why the strawberries must be washed in soapy water and rinsed if they will anyway be blended.
21. The reason is as mentioned above (19). Fresh, untouched strawberries are assumed to be infested, so they may not be blended, as one may not nullify issur l’chatchila. Only after they are soaked in soapy water or the like are they not assumed to be infested. However, the rate of infestation is still a significant minority, as using soapy water and rinsing them does not fully get rid of all the bugs. Thus, then—and only then—may they be blended to remove the briyah status of potential insects without having any problems of nullifying issur l’chatchila.
