Is it normal this white substance in my canned green peas?
I just opened a can of petit pois and I found them covered in this white, gooey substance, as opposed (or maybe better "in addition") to the usual clear liquid.
I don't think I have seen it before. I think it's weird that something canned goes bad like that (expiration date is in mid 2020), but I guess it's possible. The weird thing is that I opened a second can (the same brand and kind) and found the same thing. The smell isn't really bad, but I'm still rather hesitant to eat it (in fact I probably won't no matter the answer to this question, but now I'm curious). The cans were stored in a closet cabinet, with the rest of the cans, and I've never had a similar problem before.
I tried to look it up but I didn't find anything clear. Is it possible that this stuff is normal?
Best Answer
Looks like starch. Several sites I find mention this for different vegetables containing starch, and they all seem to quote Causes and Possible Solutions for Problems with Canned Foods from the National Center for Home Food Preservation (note that these are guidelines for canning):
Problem:
Cloudy liquid (sometimes denotes spoilage)Causes and solution:
1. Starch in vegetables - Select products at desirable stage of maturity. Do not use overmature vegetables. If canning potatoes, use fresh boiling water to cover and not cooking liquid from preparing hot pack.
2. Minerals in water - Use soft water.
3. Additives in salts - Use pure refined salt (pickling or canning salt) without additives.
4. Spoilage - Prepare food as directed with published canning process. Process by recommended method and for recommended time.
I would just drain and rinse them, and let my taste and smell be the ultimate guide.
Pictures about "Is it normal this white substance in my canned green peas?"
How do you know if peas are bad?
Although not a perfect test, your nose and eyes ares usually the most reliable instruments to tell if your peas have gone bad. Signs of bad cooked peas are a sour smell and a white colored liquid surrounding the peas. Signs of bad frozen peas are a white skin (freezer burn) and a wrinkled texture.Why are my canned peas cloudy?
It's normal for jars of peas to go cloudy after canning. It's all the starch in the peas leaching out into the water.Should canned peas be drained?
Drain the water from the canned peas. Some cans impart a metal taste and everything will taste better with fresh water. Some people will tell you that there is flavor in the water inside the can, but that probably isn't a flavor you actually want.Can peas be white?
Southern Fresh White Acre Peas are a real Southern delicacy and one that brings to mind warm summer days and farmers' markets overflowing with fresh vegetables.Signs That Your Canned Food Is BAD
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