Little plastic containers of berries -- and mold?

[makedah]

If you buy one of those little plastic containers of raspberries, bluberries or blackberries and one or two (or three) of the berries molds, would you eat the rest? If you ate the rest, would you do anything to them other than just rinse/wash them as usual?

[mariakj]

I don't think that there would be anything wrong with the other berries. Maybe the carton isn't as fresh as it could be, but they will be fine. Just toss the moldy ones right away so they don't turn the others.

[sneezles]

I must confess that I rarely make it home with any of the raspberries, except the odd moldy one. I know it's probably not healthy but I can't resist them...
So I eat around the moldy one and have never given it another thought!

[Gail]

Oooh. Is this like a quiz? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

Seems to me I've been answering all these questions the past few days about food spoilage (and using my alias, She Who Breeds Things In The Fridge.)

I can't say I'd be quite as eager as Sneezles about eating 'em, but I'd just check the rest for spoilage and eat whatever looks good.

...you DID remind me, coincidentally, about that package of strawberries I threw in the veggie keeper about a week ago. Any bets on how many of 'em now look like out of season Santas? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

[Mamasue]

Gail you have me cracking up here!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif If I found mold on the berries my instinct would be to toss them and then curse on how much I paid for them and not eat them sooner. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif

[makedah]

Gail -- I've been enjoying your posts, speaking as a woman who has in the past thrown out whole containers rather than deal with the mold inside. I refuse to use opaque containers for this very reason. I have to SEE what's going on in there.

I ask this question because with my new part-time job at a health food store, I have an opportunity to get less than perfect produce for 5 cents per unit. This includes getting boxes of those berries for 5 cents each -- they seem to be the boxes that arrived in the store with a couple of molded berries in them. The store, of course, won't put them on display. I was just wondering if it was worth my while. 5 cents is a dang good deal, considering that these are often $3 or $4 dollars for a tiny amount of usually organic berries. But, its not worth food poisoning or yuckiness!

[HARRYET]

I too painstakingly search the grocer for the perfect raspberries, only to get home and find some of them moldy http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif

What I have done in the past is this: I call the store and tell them of the problem, 9 times out of 10, I'm told to save my receipt and bring it to the store on my next visit for a refund or replacement. When I've asked them if they would like me to bring to berries back to the store they generally tell me no, eat what you can and throw the rest away. So I end up with 1+ packages of raspberries for the price of 1, and with the prices of those raspberries, I never hesitate to call.

Ann

[This message has been edited by HARRYET (edited 05-26-2001).]

[mb]

5 cents a package - and you have to think about it?!?!? whenever i find a moldy berry, i toss that one and eat the others that have remained untouched! i haven't gotten sick...yet! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[sherri]

I was hoping someone would have a great solution to prevent the mold on berries (ok wishful thinking) I have the same problem with mold everytime I buy rasperries. I try to use them the same day I buy them, but sometimes they have mold when you get them home....it can be frustrating!

[sisofmamasue]

OK just a quick pointer that I got from my mother on how to prevent mold or spoilage of the berries. I always place a papertowel folded in 4's on top of the berries then recover. It absorbs the moisture. I usually by Strawberries which don't stay too long in our house...

[sneezles]

Like I said the raspberries don't even make it to the driveway, never mind the fridge. And with strawberries, I open the containers to make sure none are moldy!

And, sisofmamasue, Welcome! Too cool now we have sisters together here! Along with maizeyoats & valchemist (mom and daughter)!

[Gail]

Seriously (holding breath from the exertion, trying hard not to crack a smile) for five cents a package, I'd give it a go. I mean, it depends upon degree of mold. If there's several infected berries, I tend to chuck the whole package, but for just one, I'd pick over the rest and see what I can still save. In your place, I'd be inclined to buy five of em or so before making a determination.

[Wendy w]

I bought some raspberries last night and then decided to have them with yogurt for breakfast this morning only to find about 1/3 of them moldy. After reading this thread, I don't feel so bad.

PS Another warm welcome to sisofmamasue! I love your profile!

[This message has been edited by Wendy w (edited 05-29-2001).]

[csmcnamara]

I too just throw away the moldy ones and wash the rest. I like the tip of folding a papertowel and placing it over them!

[Julie O]

I just work around the moldy strawberries and raspberries, BUT not blueberries. I've found that all of the blueberries develop an off-taste if even one of them is moldy. I also read somewhere that this is a problem with blueberries.