We usually just throw out strawberries that have fungus on them, but I just bought this box and was going to eat them when I saw a few small green spots. Can I just wash them off and eat them?
2007-03-25 09:55:29 · 8 answers · asked by retzy 4 in Food & Drink ➔ Other - Food & Drink
For the most part, common household molds are harmless (unless taken in very large amounts) for humans. Some common molds are cobweb and Trichoderma, a very aggressive mold that has a white mycelium and then starts turning green when it starts to sportulate. The Aspergillus niger molds (they are usually black or yellow in color) are very dangerous but are not that common on food. At least not in urban places in the US.
You really can't be sure which of the thousands of fungi/bacterial contamination has infected your food unless you have a microscope, so it's best to just toss the item in question. However, if you feel you must eat the mold, you can do one of two things:
1) Eat around it, but keep in mind that you will likely still be eating some of the mold because the questionable area you see on the surface of the food is usually only part of the contamination.
2) Mold cannot survive on foods that have a moisture content less than 30%. You can dry the food in a dehydrator, which will kill bacteria and mold and make it safe to eat or store for later use.
3) You can add salt or lime onto the contaminated area. This will make the area too basic (pH > 7) for the mold to survive, but read #1. You will likely not kill all of it. This method has another negative. It affects the taste of the food.
2007-03-25 10:20:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wash them, if they are mushy do not eat. The mold that generally grows on fruits is black or white or blue, not green. Cut off the green spots and see what is under them. If the flesh is allright they should be fine.
2007-03-25 10:03:49 · answer #2 · answered by science teacher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eww. That definitely sounds gross. If it was me, I would definitely wash them and see if they come off. If they looked ok after that from the inside and out, then I would eat them. My dad always told me that all food is ripe/too ripe. It just depends on your taste and what stage in ripeness you prefer to eat it at. If the small green spots wash off, and it looks ok to eat, then you're probably aok.
2007-03-25 10:01:24 · answer #3 · answered by allydally 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well this may sound wierd but you can actually eat most fungus and it is extremly high in penecillin but make sure you aren't allergic first
2007-03-25 12:06:06 · answer #4 · answered by ernest t 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
eat around the fungus
2007-03-25 10:00:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Dont take a chance. It might have bacterial culture living inside.
2007-03-25 10:00:09 · answer #6 · answered by SM 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
why would you want to? Thats pretty gross and besides you dont want to chance making yourself sick. I would suggest tossing them and buying more.
2007-03-25 10:11:14 · answer #7 · answered by mrspam 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldnt take the chance...just throw them away..
2007-03-25 10:01:04 · answer #8 · answered by Cody 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋