Key takeaways
• You don’t have to throw the whole batch if a berry is moldy. As long as the remaining berries have not been in contact with the moldy, they are typically safe to eat after removing the spoiled pieces.
• Mold can penetrate deeper into soft fruit as berries – even if you can’t see it – so any berries showing, mold should be thrown out.
Fresh berries are rarely cheap, so if you have discovered a musty berry or two in the basket you brought home from the farmers market or grocery store, you are probably wondering if you should throw them all. That would be such a bummer!
Fortunately, the answer is that a bad berry does not necessarily spoil the whole flock. Here are what the experts say about when you can save your berries when you are better from garbage (or compost) them and how to reduce the risk of ending up with moldy berries.
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Is it ok to eat moldy berries?
You discover a musty strawberries, blueberries or raspberries lurking in your pint berries – what do you do? “If you open the container and find that a few of your berries look a little unclear, you can choose those who are moldy and the rest should be fine to eat,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, registered dietitian nutrition physiologist and author of Read it before you eat it. “If the moldy berry clung tightly to the carriage next to it, you might also be trenching it.”
And in the event that it is not obvious, throw away any berries that actually have mold on them. “When it comes to the moldy berries yourself, throw them out,” says Janice Revell, co -founder of Stilltasty.com, a site that helps readers avoid food waste. “It is not safe to eat soft fruits – like berries – who have mold on the surface because the shape could have penetrated the meat of the fruit where it is not visible to the naked eye,” adds Revell, repeating the advice of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Once you have discarded some moldy berries and any berries that affected the bad, the USDA says to examine the remaining berries to make sure they are not too cruel and do not show signs of mold. Then wash thoroughly the rest of the berries before eating them.
What happens if you eat a musty berry?
“If you ate a berry that was musty, it is not likely to make you sick. But when in doubt, it is best to throw them out,” says Taub-Dix. “The money you are wasting by throwing them away is not as expensive as wasting a day by not feeling good.” Both Revell and the USDA note that eating musty fruit can cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems. So in the unlikely case that you experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, call your doctor.
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Tips to avoid moldy berries
The best way to avoid eating moldy berries is of course to avoid having moldy berries in your fridge in the first place. Here are some tips for buying the best berries and keeping them in good shape.
Examine the package: TAUB-DIX recommends buying berries in clear containers so you can check them well for any visible shape. If you buy berries in a cardboard, make sure that the outside of the carton, including the bottom, is completely dry.
Keep them cool and dry: Once you’ve got your berries home, put them in the fridge and wait to wash them until just before planning to eat them or cook with them. Heat and/or damp berries are much more likely to shape, so keeping them dry in the refrigerator should make them last longer.
Use them quickly: Fresh, unwashed berries can last up to a week in the fridge, but the best choice is to use them within two or three days, especially if you are dealing with truly delicate berries like raspberries. If the clock ticks on your berries, you can always transform them into a quick microwave space or freeze them. To freeze, rinse the berries and clap them dry, slice on the desired, place in a single layer on a parchment or silpathy sheet pan, then freeze until firm and transfer to an airtight bag or container.
Consider buying frozen berries: When we talk about frozen berries whose berries are out of the season or you cook with them or cook smoothies, you may want to consider buying frozen berries. “Nutritionally, frozen foods are as valuable as fresh colleagues, plus they are easier to store, they last longer, and they will probably cost less,” says Taub-Dix.