Should dry salami develop green mould?
I recently (5 weeks ago), purchased a set of dry salami from a food festival. I kept them in the plastic bag that they came in; however, when I recently checked them, they were completely covered with furry-looking green mould.
My understanding of dry salami is that it is supposed to be able to be kept for (in some cases) several years without risk. So I am confused, What could have caused the mould growth that I experienced?
Best Answer
Take the salamis out of the bag.
Are they complete sausages or has it been sliced? Whole sausages should not be kept in a plastic bag without desiccants even if it's just a ball of paper towels.
Sliced salamis shouldn't be kept for more than a couple weeks.
If they are whole, don't be fooled that you can just wash the skin, molds grow tendrils into its food, not unlike roots, so don't risk it.
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Quick Answer about "Should dry salami develop green mould?"
In general, the higher the humidity, the more molds, including green, will appear. Most, if not all, of my batches, dry-cured at 75%-78% RH did not develop green mold. As such, I can confidently say that high humidity is the cause. By lowering the humidity, you can almost certainly avoid green mold.Does dry salami have mold?
Yup, you read that right. The powdery stuff on your salami is mold, but it's the good kind of mold, and it's completely edible.Why does salami turn green?
That dusty stuff is a natural, edible mold similar to those found on aged soft cheeses. Its called Penicillium, and we inoculate our salami with it to help the aging process. The mold acts as a natural barrier to protect the salami from any competing\u200b mold \u200bor bacteria growth during the drying process.How can you tell if dried salami is bad?
You can tell that salami has gone bad when it has gray edges, black fuzz, or other common signs of discoloration and change in appearance. Additionally, spoiled salami will give off the smell of ammonia, rotten eggs, and other foul odors.What is the green stuff in salami?
Salami often has a moldy covering that is safe to eat. Mold often develops on foods such as lunch meat and hard salami. While some forms of mold are not harmful, others contain dangerous mycotoxins that can make you sick if they are inhaled or ingested.Understanding Mould
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