Distinguish edible and non-edible mold

Carrots, salami, hard cheeses, even mildew can still be eaten; and jams and jelly must be thrown away.

According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), mold is likely to cause allergies and respiratory problems, some of which even lead to poisoning. Bacteria grow with mold that makes moldy foods more susceptible to infection.

However, not all food is moldy and thrown away. Here are the foods that are still edible if moldy and those that are removed are recommended by USDA.

Edible food

Dried salami and salted pork thighs

Dry salami (bulk sausages made from fermented and dried animal meat) and salted pork thighs often have external Penicillium, Aspergillus molds. These types are not harmful to health but otherwise protect food. According to Dr. Wynn Huynh Tran, founder of the nonprofit medical organization VietMD, in general, the types of molds that grow outside salami and salted thighs after removing the mold are safe to eat.

Note: if dry salami and salted thighs appear unpleasant odors, floating brown / black mold or mold inside the meat, you should throw it away.

Salami sausages are protected by a layer of benign mold.(Photo: Flickr / Kent Wang).

Hard fruits and vegetables, low humidity

Mold needs time to grow in fruits and vegetables like carrots, cabbage, bell peppers. You only need to cut at least 3cm around the mold to be used. Clean knives should be washed after cutting to avoid cross-contamination of other foods.

Hard cheeses

Just cut off the mold area to eat normally. Should pack cheese with clean paper.

Fermented cheese

There are many types of fermented cheeses such as Roquefort, Blue, Gorgonzola, Stilton that eat very well. Particularly soft cheeses such as Brie or Camembert do not eat if mold is found. With harder cheeses, put at least 3 cm around the moldy part that is edible.

Food is not edible

Soft fruits with high moisture content

Do not eat cucumbers, peaches or tomatoes once they are moldy.

Bread

Rhizopus stolonifer or black mold on bread and baked goods can make you poisoned or infected.

Bread mold is extremely dangerous.(Photo: Flickr / Manchester Metropolitan University).

Soft, crushed or sliced ​​cheeses

Creamy cheese, Neufchatel, Chevre and Bel Paese are moldy due to infection. Crushed or sliced ​​cheeses if moldy may be caused by unsanitary cutting tools.

Peanut butter, beans and nuts

Foods that do not contain preservatives are susceptible to mold and often produce dangerous toxins.

Jam and jelly

Mycotoxins on jams and jellies can appear even if you have removed moldy parts. So if you have molded, then completely remove the dish.

High moisture food

Ham, cheese, bacon, hot dogs, hot dogs, cooked meats, casseroles, prepared cereals, cooked pasta, yogurt and sour cream, are all susceptible to attack by mold bacteria .