Moldy food usually has to be thrown away, but sometimes the mold can be cut off. It depends on the nature of the food, ie density and water content. In moist and airy foods, mold can grow much longer and the threads are not visible to the naked eye.
Some molds can cause allergic reactions and breathing problems, others can contain mycotoxins, which are cancer-causing substances. If mold toxins are present, they do not disappear when cooking food. But when is it safe to cut off mold and when to throw away the food:
Moldy bread
Moldy bread should always be thrown away, as mold may be present without being visible.
Moldy fruits and vegetables
Moldy watery fruits (eg plums, oranges, melons) and watery vegetables (eg cucumbers, tomatoes) should always be thrown away. It is very important to use only undamaged berries and fruits when making jam and juice.
In denser and less watery vegetables such as carrots and cabbage, mold spots can be cut off.
White membrane on mushrooms
If there is a white membrane on the root of mushrooms, it is not mold but their own mycelium. The white membrane can simply be cut off along with particles of soil.
Moldy jam
If mold spots are visible in the jam, it should always be thrown away, the fungicide may have spread throughout the jam in the jar.
Moldy nuts
Always throw away moldy nuts. You have to check especially if Brazil nuts are moldy in the middle.
Moldy dairy products
All dairy products such as cream, sour cream or soft cheeses (eg brie) should be discarded if any mold is present (other than mold that is a normal part of the cheese). Mold spots on hard cheeses can be cut off, plus 1 cm of the cheese itself around the mold spot.
Moldy meat
Moldy meat should always be thrown away if mold is detected. It is not enough to remove visible mold spots, the same applies to liver pate and other meat toppings.
FoodWorld 