This Is When It Is and Isn’t Safe to Eat Moldy Food — Eat This Not That

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By Ghuman

Introduction

Moldy food can be a tricky subject. On one hand, it can be a sign of food spoilage and a potential health hazard. On the other hand, some types of mold can be safe to eat. So, when is it safe to eat moldy food and when should you throw it away? This article from Eat This Not That will help you answer that question. We’ll discuss the types of mold that are safe to eat, the types of food that are more likely to grow mold, and the signs that you should throw away moldy food. By the end of this article, you’ll know when it is and isn’t safe to eat moldy food.

This Is When It Is and Isn’t Safe to Eat Moldy Food

Moldy food can be a tricky subject. On one hand, it can be a sign of food spoilage and should be avoided. On the other hand, some types of mold are safe to eat and can even be beneficial to your health. So, when is it safe to eat moldy food and when should you throw it away?

When Is It Safe to Eat Moldy Food?

In some cases, it is safe to eat moldy food. Soft cheeses, such as brie, camembert, and blue cheese, are often safe to eat even when they have visible mold. This is because the mold is part of the aging process and is not harmful. The same is true for hard cheeses, such as cheddar and Parmesan, as long as the mold is only on the surface. Simply cut away the moldy part and the rest of the cheese should be safe to eat.

Fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and pickles, are also safe to eat even when they have visible mold. This is because the fermentation process creates an acidic environment that prevents harmful bacteria from growing. As long as the food is still acidic, it should be safe to eat.

When Should You Throw Away Moldy Food?

In most cases, it is best to throw away moldy food. This is especially true for soft fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, peaches, and berries. These foods are highly susceptible to mold and should be discarded if they have visible mold. The same is true for bread, baked goods, and other grain-based products.

It is also important to throw away any food that has an off odor or taste. This is a sign that the food has spoiled and should not be eaten. Additionally, it is best to avoid eating any food that has been stored in the refrigerator for more than a few days, as it may have gone bad.

Conclusion

Moldy food can be tricky to navigate. In some cases, it is safe to eat, such as with soft cheeses and fermented foods. In most cases, however, it is best to throw away moldy food, as it may have spoiled and could be harmful to your health. If you are ever unsure, it is best to err on the side of caution and throw the food away.

How many times have you gone to make a sandwich and there’s teeny freckle of mold on the bread? Do you taste it or toss it? Sometimes mold can put you at risk of getting sick, and other times, it’s nothing to worry about. Curious as to which moldy food has worrisome effects, we searched for the answers.

Did you know: beyond that little dot of blue on your brie lay strands of toxic layers? If you’re hungry to know more, read on to find out which foods you can keep, and which need to be tossed.

Plus, don’t miss These Are Costco’s Most Popular Items Right Now.

Moldy Foods You Should Toss

Most of the time, the first sight of mold is an indicator to throw that food right into the trash—and chances are you’re better off doing so. Not only can mold produce toxic substance like mycotoxins and aflatoxins, but it’s known to cause allergic reactions. Thanks to the USDA, we’ve learned which foods you definitely need to toss when finding even the smallest bit of mold.

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Foods like turkey and roasted chicken breast rarely get moldy in my fridge because their high levels of sodium and nitrites decrease moisture content and help prevent the spread of bacteria. But if they were to have mold… to the trash they go! Any food with a high moisture composition is more likely to be tarnished beyond what you can see, meaning, they invite more germs to stand beside the mold before we can tell.

cooked and seasoned whole wheat pasta in pan
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Nope—toss it! Turns out, we can’t just scoop away the moldy section of the pasta salad from the other night. Because of the moisture this food group obtains, bacteria is more likely to spread before your eyes can actually see the infected areas. But it’s there!

mozzarella cheese
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Sure, sometimes you want moldy cheese. (Think: bleu cheese.) But in the case of soft cheeses like brie, cream cheese, or slices of Swiss, new sightings of mold should be a major indicator that they need to be thrown out and not eaten. Unless you bought cheese with manufactured mold, it is not safe to eat once contaminated.

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Cucumbers, tomatoes, peaches, berries, and all fruits and veggies alike should not be consumed when a speck of mold is found. While the hydrating foods are great for you, they can be extremely dangerous when moldy because they’re likely to retain the bacteria and become spoiled beyond the surface. Be sure to check other fruits and vegetables for mold that were close by in your refrigerator, too.

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On to the trend yet? Wet foods and mold are a major red flag. These dairy products leave too much room for comfort when it comes to bacteria and mold. Similar to the bacteria in a kiddie pool, in moldy yogurt and sour cream, bacteria get to swim and play without being seen. Yikes.

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We know you wouldn’t think about purchasing a nut butter with preservatives, right? The one downfall: foods produced without the chemicals are at higher risk for mold. So when you see a little mold, toss it out, and then purchase another jar of our favorite nut butters.

RELATED: The easy way to make healthier comfort foods.

chocolate chip muffins with bread
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The chances of letting your bread and baked goods get moldy are slim, but when it does, just toss them out instead of debating if you can possibly still salvage them. Foods like bread, muffins, scones etc. have deep pores, so this allows mold to seep right in through all the nooks and crannies to completely infect the product.

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Contrary to popular belief, these long-lasting spreads totally do have an expiration date. Mold found on these is likely to be mycotoxin, a poisonous element that can make you sick. So while you may think it’s fine to just scoop out the infected area and use the rest, the FDA states that microbiologists recommend you shouldn’t do this and just throw out the spread.

Foods You Can Still Keep If There’s Mold

Even though most of the time you’re better to play it safe than sorry, there are a few foods you’re still in the clear to eat once you chop off the infected areas.

Apples
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The key to debating whether or not you should keep or toss moldy fruit and veggies has a lot to do with their texture. Firm fruits and vegetables—apples, carrots, and cabbage, for example—are okay to eat once the moldy area is removed. Simply remove 1 inch around the molded speck and discard. As long as your knife doesn’t touch the infected area you’re good to go! So why are these fruits and veggies okay to eat? That’s because it’s more of a challenge for mold to enter through dense foods.

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When it comes to cheeses that weren’t supposed to have mold—let’s say parmesan—treat the product as you would a hard fruit or vegetable with a mold speck. The same goes for cheese with manufactured molds, such as gorgonzola—just slice off the invaded spot and get your crackers ready for the rest.

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Shockingly, it’s quite alright for these foods to get a little moldy. Just scrub off any surface mold and then enjoy. Be sure to rinse any utensils you may have used to discard the specks to prevent cross-contamination, though.

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