Questions from the Audience

As soon as someone finds I out that I study food, the questions coming pouring out of them. Why did my cookies get too crispy? Why can I eat to make my fingernails grow? What do you do with eggplant? So I've collected some reader questions that I think are common and I would like to take some time to answer them today.

Question: Can I just cut away the mold and eat the rest of [insert food here]?

Answer: Maybe. To fully answer this question, we really need to take a look at the structure of mold. Mold is like a tiny little flower that is growing on your food. It has roots, stalks and spores. The roots can grow deep within a product and the spores can travel to nearby foods and start new mold colonies. So, whether or not you can cut away mold and safely consume the food depends on the depth of the roots.

Bread and other baked goods are soft in texture, therefore the roots can grow very deep by the time the mold is visible to our eyes. These items should be thrown away. The same goes for soft cheese (like mozzarella) and sliced or shredded cheeses. Mold can be safely cut away from firm fruits and veggies such as cabbage, bell peppers, and carrotts. Make sure you are cutting away the food at least 1 inch around where the mold is visible. This will ensure that all of the roots are removed. Finally, cured hams and hard salamis are so dense that the mold is not able to develop roots in the product. So it is safe to scrub the mold away and then cosume the meat.

Question: Is it o.k. to eat pizza that has been left on the counter overnight?

Answer: Officially the FDA says 'No'. But the truth is we have all done this, and most often it will not make you sick. Just be sure to avoid pizza with exotic ingredients such as eggplant and fish because these are more likey to carry malicious bacteria.

Foods shouldn't really be kept out of the fridge for more than 2 hours at a time. Fridges were invented for a reason and that is because the cold temperature inhibits the growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria on foods.

Question: How closely do I have to pay attention to expiration dates?

Answer: Well that depends on the product, of course. Dehydrated packaged foods like Ramen noodles and Mac & Cheese are definetly safe beyond the expiration date. The date on these products is developed from a quality standpoint, so you may notice (if you have a discriminating palate) some flavor and texture changes within the product.

Milk is generally safe for 1 to 2 days after the expiration date, sometimes longer. The important thing here is to evaluate the milk before you drink it. Does it smell funny? Are there weird chunks in it? If so, then it needs to go. Also, if it tastes strange that is another sign its spoiled. Our body has these natural defenses (sense of smell, tasting off flavors) to prevent us from consuming spoiled foods, so pay attention to them!

Eggs should be used within 3 to 4 weeks of purchase, regardless of the expiration date. It is important with both milk and eggs to store them in coolest part of the fridge, the back (NOT the door, even though many fridges are designed this way) for the longest shelf life.

Bottled water is safe indefinetly. The only reason that it even carries an expiration date is simply because we as consumers feel more comfortable this way. But, it is important to check for leaks or holes in the bottles as this could be a potential entryway for bacteria and other organisms.

Feel free to send me any of your food related questions, I would be happy to answer them in a future post.