The steamed buns are moldy, can you just peel off the skin and eat them? I really advise you not to do this again

"If the steamed buns are moldy, just peel off the skin and steam them and you can still eat them?"

Many people believe that "if steamed buns are moldy, only the moldy part is dirty, and you can just peel off the skin and heat it up and eat it again"; some people even peel off the skin of moldy steamed buns and expose them to the sun, thinking that "it will be fine if it dries and it won't hurt you to eat it."

Rumor Analysis

This statement is debatable.

It is really not recommended to eat moldy steamed buns. Moldy steamed buns will grow molds such as Aspergillus flavus, green mold, and Aspergillus niger. These molds will secrete corresponding toxic substances. After eating, mild symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension and diarrhea may occur. If the intake is large, more serious food poisoning reactions may occur, such as dizziness, headache, coma, etc., and may even lead to death.

Even if you peel off the skin, there are still many invisible molds inside. In short, it is recommended that you really don't eat moldy steamed buns. Don't sacrifice your health for the sake of saving money.

Steamed buns are the staple food of many people in northern China. However, many people, especially the older generation, always think that "if the steamed buns are moldy, just peel them and heat them up to eat them again"; some people even peel the moldy buns and expose them to the sun, thinking that "it's fine if they dry out, and it won't hurt you to eat them."

Can we really just tear off the skin of this moldy steamed bun (or remove the moldy part), steam it and then continue to eat it?

What kinds of mold are there on steamed buns?

What are the risks of these molds?

The mold on steamed buns is usually small green or black mold spots. This is usually the "masterpiece" of green mold or black mold. Green mold and black mold are harmful molds that secrete harmful toxins. If you accidentally eat food containing green mold, black mold and their toxins, you may experience gastrointestinal discomfort symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension and diarrhea. If you consume a large amount, you may also experience more serious food poisoning reactions, such as dizziness, headache, coma, etc.

Although Aspergillus niger can be used for food fermentation, the niger toxin produced by some Aspergillus niger strains is carcinogenic. Although the production of niger toxin secreted by Aspergillus niger is not large, it still has adverse effects on human health.

In addition, some friends may have allergic reactions to molds such as green mold and Aspergillus niger, which may induce asthma, pneumonia, or allergic dermatitis.

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In addition to black mold and green mold, Aspergillus flavus must also be prevented. Aflatoxin is a type of carcinogenic toxin that is extremely harmful to human health . It is produced by Aspergillus flavus and has strong liver toxicity. Among them, the most common aflatoxin B1 is the most toxic, with a toxicity equivalent to 68 times that of arsenic.

Although staple foods made of wheat flour, such as steamed bread, are not the types of food that Aspergillus flavus "likes" to settle, reproduce and produce toxins, if uneaten steamed bread is placed in a hot and humid environment for a long time, it may also be contaminated by Aspergillus flavus.

Do not eat moldy places

Can I eat it after removing the skin?

First, when we see mold on a certain part of the steamed bread, it often means that the mold spores produced by the moldy part (mold spore sac) are already present on the entire food . Moreover, the toxins produced by mold are often odorless and colorless, and it is difficult for us to distinguish them with our naked eyes and nose. Therefore, as long as the food is moldy, those parts where mold spots cannot be seen are likely to have mold distribution.

Second, although high temperatures can theoretically kill molds or inactivate the toxins they produce, some molds and toxins are very insensitive to high temperatures . For example, aflatoxin is very heat-resistant and usually requires 280°C to be destroyed. Ordinary steaming is only 100°C, which does not reach the destruction temperature at all.

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Think back to the way we usually heat steamed buns. It is most likely that they are heated in a microwave oven or steamer for tens of seconds or minutes. For some molds (such as Aspergillus niger, which also needs to be cooked in a pressure cooker to be completely killed), it can only temporarily inhibit their growth and production of toxins. If food that has not completely killed the mold is eaten by the human body, it will undoubtedly increase health risks.

Therefore, if you see that steamed buns are moldy, it is really recommended that you do not eat them . Especially for the elderly and children with weak constitutions and low resistance, you should definitely not take the risk and try it.

How to tell if steamed buns are moldy?

If you don't want steamed buns to go bad, the best way is not to stock up, and buy them when you eat them. But once you stock up too much, you will naturally worry about how long it will take for the steamed buns to go bad, and whether they are bad or not now.

First, look at it . Observe the surface of the steamed bun or break it open to see if there are small black or yellow-green mold spots inside. Even if there is only one, it means that the steamed bun has gone bad.

The second is to smell . Fresh steamed buns have a light flour aroma. Spoiled steamed buns often have a sour or other odor, so we should be alert.

The third is to touch . The surface of fresh steamed buns is smooth but dry. Once it goes bad, the surface of the steamed buns will become sticky, and it will not bounce back quickly like fresh steamed buns when pinched. This often means that the steamed buns may have gone bad.

How to store steamed buns

How to extend its shelf life?

1

Freezing: The most recommended storage method

You can pack fresh steamed buns that are not contaminated by bacteria in a clean sealed bag and put them in the freezer of the refrigerator. This way, they will not easily deteriorate and will not affect the taste after reheating.

It can usually be stored for three months in the freezer. If you can create a vacuum when sealing and store each bun separately so that you can take one bun at a time without affecting the others, it can be stored for a longer time. Although it can be stored for a longer time in the freezer, it is still recommended that you eat it within a month .

2

Refrigeration: short-term storage

The temperature of refrigerated storage is usually 4~6℃, which is still not suitable for the growth and production of aflatoxin, but if the storage time is too long, the steamed buns are easily contaminated by green mold, black aspergillus or listeria. In addition, the refrigerator is frequently opened and closed, and the food is of various types, which can easily bring in bacteria. Therefore, it is recommended not to store in the refrigerator for more than 3 days, and it should also be sealed and stored in a dry place .

It should be noted that: whether frozen or refrigerated, the steamed buns must be thoroughly heated before eating next time to eliminate pathogenic bacteria and toxins to the greatest extent .

3

Roasted dried fish: Unlock new ways to eat it

Unlike refrigeration and freezing, which are ways to lower the temperature, toasting steamed bread slices can quickly reduce the water content of steamed bread, which will greatly inhibit the reproduction of various fungi. Although toasted steamed bread slices are not as soft and sweet as steamed bread just out of the pot, the high temperature gives the steamed bread a crispy taste and a burnt flavor.

Moreover, the steamed bread slices are baked at high temperature, which makes the starch gelatinization more thorough and easier to digest. For some friends with gastric ulcers, eating steamed bread slices can also protect the gastric mucosa to a certain extent. But you must pay attention to chewing slowly and let the steamed bread slices fully soften.

Although toasted steamed bread slices are not easy to mold, they should be kept dry and ventilated when stored. Check the condition of the steamed bread slices frequently to avoid deterioration due to moisture and affecting the taste. It is also recommended that the storage time should not exceed one week .

In fact, if you want to eat safely and healthily, you must remember: cook before eating, buy less before eating, and store carefully .

If you really find that the steamed buns are moldy and spoiled, the safest thing to do is: throw it away and don’t put it in your mouth!

Looking in the mirror of rumors

Many elderly people who have lived through the era of material scarcity have the habit of "being thrifty and frugal", which is of course a virtue. However, with the development of the times, we should also re-examine the traditional "experience" from the perspective of modern science, and in addition to being considerate of our elders, guide them to consider their own health more.

Author: Wang Lu, registered dietitian, master of public health, Peking University

Review | Ruan Guangfeng, Deputy Director of Kexin Food and Health Information Exchange Center

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