Soil clinging to the leeks' exterior is easy to see. Not visible is the grit between each thin layer.
Leeks—porri in Italian—are coming to market now. Their sweet flavor, tender texture, and lively green color practically sing spring. But, boy, are they dirty!
If you rinse a leek as you would a scallion, you’ll have a finished dish seasoned with grit.
Leeks contain dirt inside their layers, not only on the outside skin, according to Vegetable a Month.com. “Leeks grow layer upon layer, so any dirt surrounding a layer, gets trapped inside as the leek grows outward. It doesn’t help when wind blows or rain splashes more dirt inside the layers.”