The container of my food is domed/bulged, is it spoiled?
This happens every now and then. It can be a package of fresh mozzarella, or a jar of marmelade, or something else. The packaging used to be flat, now it is plump.
Is this a sign of spoilage or not? How can I tell?
Best Answer
When your packaging has inflated over time, this is always a sign of bacterial activity. The bacteria start multiplying, and produce gases as a waste product, so your airtight packaging acts like a balloon. The pressure can get enough to bulge jar lids too.
For most foods, this is a clear sign of spoilage. You don't want bacteria in your food, especially in canned food! So, discard the food to which it has happened.
The major exception are fermented foods. They are supposed to have a thriving colony of known harmless bacteria in them. When the colony gets larger than you planned, it can inflate the packaging. Nowadays, it is unlikely to see it with storebought food, since they control the bacterial population, but it can still happen e.g. if you leave yogurt in a warm room for a long time, and of course food you have fermented yourself can do it frquently, if you keep it in a closed container. Fermented food is safe after bulging, but you have to check if you still like the taste, which will become quite sharp after overfermentation.
Also, this only applies to foods which changed their volume over time. Potato chips (crisps) are sold in already-inflated bags, but this is not a sign of trouble, it was done in the factory.
If you have no good reason to know that the bulging was caused by a safe process (overfermentation of fermented food, or factory-plump packaging), this is a sign of spoilage. The food is unsafe, no matter if other signs of spoilage are present, or if the typical storage conditions were present.
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Quick Answer about "The container of my food is domed/bulged, is it spoiled?"
When your packaging has inflated over time, this is always a sign of bacterial activity. The bacteria start multiplying, and produce gases as a waste product, so your airtight packaging acts like a balloon. The pressure can get enough to bulge jar lids too. For most foods, this is a clear sign of spoilage.What does it mean when packaging expands?
When bacteria grow on food they sometimes produce gases, which can make packaging swell. This is the most likely explanation for what happens when a package is inflated.What causes food packaging to bloat?
Bloating is a clear indication that bacteria are present inside the packet. Bacteria feed on the contents of the pouch and produce gas. Since this gas cannot escape from the sealed packet, it accumulates inside and causes the pouch to bloat.What does it mean when a meat package is puffed up?
Carothers explains that MAP is a packaging method in which a combination of gases is introduced into the package during processing and it can add a little bloating or swelling to things like meat, seafood, salad mixes or cheese. In this case, there's likely nothing to worry about.Is meat OK if packet is blown?
Damaged packaging could mean that food will not be safe to eat. Swollen or 'blown' packs can be a sign that bacteria have grown in food or drinks. If bottles or jars have been opened, or if seals have been broken, the food or drink might not be safe to eat.55 Year Old Canned Foods, Opening decades-old Canned Foods 3
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Yaroslav Shuraev, ROMAN ODINTSOV, Pixabay, Omotayo Tajudeen