Food Mold Growth

5/4/2018 (Permalink)

Moldy Food

How can you minimize mold growth?  Cleanliness is vital in controlling mold. Mold spores from affected food can build up in your refrigerator, dishcloths, and other cleaning utensils.

• Clean the inside of the refrigerator every few months with 1 tablespoon of baking soda dissolved in a quart of water. Rinse with clear water and dry. Scrub visible mold on rubber casings using 3 teaspoon of bleach in a quart of water.
• Keep dishcloths, towels, sponges and mops clean and fresh, a musty smell means they’re spreading mold around. Discard items you can’t clean or launder.
• Keep the humidity level in the house below 40%.

How can you protect food from mold?

• When serving food, keep it covered to prevent exposure to mold spores in the air. Use plastic wrap to cover foods you want to stay moist – fresh, or cut fruits and veggies, and greens and mixed salads.
• Empty opened cans of perishable foods into clean storage containers and refrigerate them promptly.
• Don’t leave any perishables out of the refrigerator more than 2 hours.
• Use leftovers within 3-4 days so mold doesn’t have a chance to grow.

How should you handle food with mold on it? Buying small amounts and using food quickly can help prevent mold growth. But when you see moldy food:

• Don’t sniff the moldy item. This can cause respiratory trouble.
• If food is covered with mold, discard it. Put it into a small paper bag or wrap it in plastic and dispose in a covered rash can that children and animals can’t get into.
• Clean the refrigerator or pantry at the spot where the food was stored
• Check nearby items the moldy food might have touched. Mold spreads quickly in fruits and vegetables.