A Concise Guide to Checking Fruit for Tu b'Shevat

On Tu b'Shevat, the New Year for Trees, the custom is to eat from a large variety of fruit (as well as from the Seven Species (Shivat Haminim) of agricultural produce linked to Eretz Yisrael: wheat, barley, grape, fig, pomegranate, olive, and date).

Kosher Certification

Many people purchase dried fruits, which, while convenient, are often more infested with bugs than their fresh counterparts. It's important to note that kosher certification on the packaging doesn't relate to bugs but rather to ma'aser, shemittah, and orlah (tithes, produce from the Sabbatical year, and produce of the first four years of a fruit tree).

Another consideration with regard to dried fruits is that some are coated with various oils in order to enhance their appearance and preserve them. Some dried fruits are also enhanced with food coloring, and since there are non-kosher food additives (such as those derived from insects), good kosher certification  is essential.

While some produce is vacuum packed and certified as bug-free and does not require checking for bugs, most types of packaging do allow bugs to enter and proliferate, so knowing what to look for is vital.

Nuts

Walnuts: Tiny threads between the nuts are signs of bug activity and if found, the entire package should be thrown out. If the package contains lots of what look like tiny crumbs, infestation is likely and checking should be more rigorous.

The nuts should be sifted in a sieve and the powder that emerges visually inspected for bugs. The nuts themselves should also be examined on both sides. If bugs are found, the nuts should not be used.

Cashews: Since these nuts are often infested with bugs, they must be halved and checked for insects.

Pecans : Generally clean; one should glance over them before eating.

Hazelnuts: One should check them externally and open a small sample of nuts. If infestation is found, all the nuts should be opened and checked.

Pistachios: Must be halved and checked.

Almonds: Should be checked externally and a sample split to check internally. If infestation is found, all must be checked internally as well. 

Legumes

Many legumes such as peanuts and seeds are picked once a year and stored for long periods, creating the perfect conditions for bug proliferation.

Peanuts: Check them externally (after peeling the hard shell) and open a sample. If there are signs of infestation, all must be halved. Special attention is needed in the summer (as peanuts sold during this time of year have already been stored for a whole year -- it is advisable to halve them all).

Ground Peanuts: Spread out on a white background and check, or sift in a sieve. If infestation is found, do not use.

Granola: Many of the ingredients in commercial granola are liable to be infested with bugs. Granola should therefore be checked before eating, by spreading it out on a white background and checking for insects.

Pumpkin Seeds: Generally regarded as clean.

Sunflower Seeds: Must be shelled and checked individually. Those bought preshelled are very commonly infested and must be very carefully checked.

Fruit

Cherries: Israeli sour cherries are generally regarded as clean. With regular Israeli cherries, a sample should be checked. Sour cherries from other countries should also have a sample checked.

Regular cherries from most countries of the world should be individually inspected for the presence of insects, as should canned cherries.

With dried cherries, a sample should be soaked in hot water until they swell up and then opened and checked. If insects are found, the entire batch should be checked individually.

Carobs: Generally infested. Break into small pieces or split lengthwise with a sharp knife and check thoroughly inside.

Apricots: Fresh fruit should be halved and then the pit should be removed and the fruit checked inside. Dried apricots should be halved and checked against bright light from both sides. Red flecks should be removed.

Raisins: California yellow raisins are generally clean and should be checked by placing on the palm of one's hand, examining, and then transferring to the other hand to check on the other side. Dark raisins and Israeli yellow raisins should be soaked in warm water for a few minutes and then stirred. If worms float to the top, the raisins should be discarded.

Pomegranates: Commercial grown fruit is generally regarded as clean. Home-grown pomegranates are often infested (indicated by holes or brown areas in the fruit). 

Prunes: Generally clean. They should be washed externally, halved, and checked or rinsed inside.

Figs: Highly infested and very hard to check as worms look very similar to the threads inside the fruit.

Checking a Fresh Fig: Halve the fruit and open it inside-out. Place in a glass of water with the fruit facing down. If the fig is infested, tiny worms will be seen floating in the water; after about two minutes they will sink to the bottom. In such cases, the fig should not be eaten, as it's uncertain all worms have exited.

Dried Figs: These are more problematic, as worms turn brown after drying, making them harder to spot. It's therefore advisable to buy dried figs when they are still soft and juicy, not old and hard.

Dried figs should be thoroughly washed and checked for entry holes. Then, halve the fruit and press it until it is as thin as possible, and check against a strong light. Black areas inside usually indicate infestation and the fig should be discarded.

Strawberries: Cut away the entire leaf area plus a little surrounding fruit. Soak in soapy water for three minutes, then rinse thoroughly on all sides. Examine closely. Cracked fruit should be opened and examined internally, and a sample of all the fruit should also be opened. Be aware that insects may appear reddish in color and can be hard to see if one does not know what one is looking for.

Dates: Halve, remove the pit, and check both sides against strong light.