We’ve all been there: You see a ‘buy 2 get one free’ special on berries and start piling them into your trolley. You leave the shop knowing you’ve bought delicious (and usually very pricey) berries for a bargain and can’t stop dreaming about all the tasty recipes and dishes you can make with them.
Alas, disaster strikes. The very next day, just as you’re about to grab a handful of tart blackberries for a morning treat, you spot mould. Now what? You’re torn between disposing of the whole lot (along with the small fortune you’ve just spent) or nitpicking through the entire bunch.
What’s causing the mould?
Berries contain a lot of water and sugars, a mould’s favourite take-away order. Typically, the mould that affects berries is an airborne type of fungi, and its spores easily penetrate the thin skins of berries. These spores germinate and grow, thriving on the berry’s water and sugar. They eventually start looking like a greyish fuzz (what we eventually see). Now, you might think a little fuzz is no big deal. It’s like a little blue cheese or special salami, right?
Is it safe to eat mouldy berries? Mould that grows on cheeses and aged meat items is cultivated and grown carefully under strict regulations. Mould that you discover growing on foodstuffs, like in your berry punnets, is not controlled or carefully cultivated, and may harm you if ingested.
Types of fungi that can penetrate berries include:
- Botrytus
- Phytophthora
- Fusarium
While these won’t instantly kill you, many people may have an allergic reaction or other adverse effects.
Mould protocol: Your next steps
Once mould contaminates a berry, it’s difficult to gauge how deep the contamination has gone and as difficult to prevent further spread. So what now?
It’s kind of up to you. Pick out and dispose of any fuzzy, mushy, or broken berries. If the rest of the bunch looks plump, juicy, and intact, they should be fine. Just make sure to wash the berries you’re planning on eating.
How much mould is too much?
If one or two berries are fuzzy, dispose of them, and you’re good to go. However, if around a quarter of the bunch is fuzzy and oozing, it’s safe to say that you’ll need to throw out the whole bunch.
Tips to keep berries fresher for longer
- Check the punnet before purchasing: Take some time to inspect the punnet of berries you want to buy, before discovering the fuzz when it’s too late.
- Don’t wash before storing: Mould loves moisture and humidity. Washing or soaking berries before storing can accelerate the growth of mould.
- Store in a breathable (not airtight) container: Airtight containers trap moisture, not what we want. Store berries in a breathable container (like the one you bought them in) or containers with enough breathing holes to let excess moisture escape.
- Store in the fridge: Cold temperatures slow down the rate at which any bacteria and mould grow, keeping berries fresher for longer.
- Rinse berries right before eating or using: Common practice for any fresh foodstuff, rinse berries right before eating or using, making sure you are rid of any pesky bacteria on their skins.
- Pick through the bunch every couple of days: To make your berries last that little bit longer, pick through the bunch every couple of days to remove any mushy or slightly fuzzy ones, preventing further contamination.
- Use up excess berries fast: If you think you might not finish the lot of berries, consider freezing them, making them into compote or jam.
A single mouldy berry doesn’t always spell doom, but it is a warning sign. Act fast, store smart, and enjoy every last berry before the mould does.
