It's easy to tell when some food is spoiled. Leftovers that are growing mold in the back of the refrigerator have obviously gone bad, but signs of food spoilage may not be so obvious. Eating spoiled food can cause food poisoning, so it's important to be sure your meals are made of fresh ingredients. Feed yourself and your family safe and healthy foods by learning how to spot spoiled items in your fridge and pantry.
- Skill level:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Take a close look at the food. Spoiled bread, cheese and items left exposed to air may have green or blue mold spores growing on them. Other mold may look like white fuzz, similar to dandelion fluff. Spoiled fruits and vegetables are often brown and mushy. The edges of spoiled food may be hard, crumbly or discolored. Spoiled milk curdles; pour out a bit, and if it comes out in globs, it's bad.
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2
Smell the food. Oil that has gone bad may have a rancid odor, while spoiled milk smells sour. If you find the smell unpleasant, the food is often unsafe to eat.
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3
Check expiration dates. While some sealed, prepackaged food may be safe to eat a few days after it expires, you should throw away fresh foods like milk, eggs and butter if the expiration date has passed.
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4
Check canned foods for signs of distension or damage. Botulism toxins can build up inside damaged cans. Rusted, severely dented, bulging or leaking cans often contain spoiled food and should be thrown away.
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5
Avoid certain products canned at home. Home-canned oil, bread, butter (including fruit butters) and sauces containing dairy should be avoided. Goods canned at home should be in glass jars with tight seals or a layer of parrafin wax covering the top of the food. If possible, ask the person who canned the food whether they boiled the jars after sealing them; this important final step helps to keep toxins from forming inside.
