What should be done with washed fruits and vegetables?

Washed fruits and vegetables are considered ready-to-eat once they have been properly cleaned. This means that they are safe to be consumed without further cooking required, assuming they are handled correctly throughout the preparation process. Washing fruits and vegetables helps remove dirt, bacteria, and residues of pesticides, thus making them safer for direct consumption.

When prepared and stored properly, these items can be enjoyed raw in salads or as snacks. It's important to note that while they are ready-to-eat, they should still be stored correctly, typically in a refrigerated environment, to maintain their freshness and safety. The other options suggest practices that either do not apply to fresh produce or might compromise the quality and safety of the food, such as cooking, storing at room temperature for extended periods, or freezing, which is not standard for most fruits and vegetables intended to be consumed raw.