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Why You Should Think Twice About Trying to Salvage Moldy Food


If you have a nice block of cheese or load of bread and part of it is growing mold, you might think it's okay to just slice off the moldy bits and enjoy the rest. In some cases, that's perfectly legit—but in others, it's a really bad idea. This video explains when it's okay and when it can be harmful to your health.

For those who can't watch it, long story short is that on the microscopic level mold—which, as you might already know, is a fungus—grows in tiny strands called Hyphae. Those hyphae aren't visible to the naked eye, so even though you can see a big section of your bread or cheese or fruit or vegetables that have mold on it and cut it off, there are likely additional strands of the mold colony spidering through the soft parts of whatever food it is that's gone off.

This is less of an issue with foods that are dense and hard, like hard cheese and cured meats. For soft and porous foods though, like bread or veggies, this means cutting off the "bad part" may eliminate most of the problem, but not all of it by any means. Of course, your safest bet is to just throw the spoiled food away, but we know it can be tricky when you don't want to waste food, or you've bought an expensive piece of cheese or meat only to see it spoil. Whatever you choose to do, this video from the folks at DNews will help you make the best call for your health and your kitchen.

Can You Cut the Mold Off Food and Eat It? | DNews