What is this cotton-like stuff growing on my pizza sauce?

What is this cotton-like stuff growing on my pizza sauce? - Baked Pizza on Pizza Peel in Oven

The sauce was to expire in Nov 2013. I kept it in the fridge all the time. The thing that grew on it was white in color (just like cotton). There was a greenish center. The overall "ball" was about 1 cm in diameter, and they were all over in the bottle.

I don't have a picture of it, because I had to throw it out. I don't know what it was, or how it started growing.

What was it? Why was it there?



Best Answer

It's mould. You've probably seen it growing on bread. Refrigeration slows it down, but eventually it'll grow.

You didn't say when you bought it and opened it. Perhaps your fridge is not set cold enough?




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What is this cotton-like stuff growing on my pizza sauce? - Shallow Focus Photography of Several Pizzas
What is this cotton-like stuff growing on my pizza sauce? - Person Slicing A Pizza With A Pizza Cutter
What is this cotton-like stuff growing on my pizza sauce? - Person Holding Pepperoni Pizza on Tray



What does mold on pizza sauce look like?

Check for Visible Mold on the Spaghetti Sauce Lid The most telling sign that your pizza or spaghetti sauce has spoiled is visible green, black or white mold on the sauce lid. You'll likely see the fuzzy mold on the inside of the lid and even some mold on the top of the sauce too.

Why is there white stuff in my tomato sauce?

Sometimes white dots appear around the top of the jar in canned tomato products, especially those that have added ingredients such as onion and green pepper. It occurs after the tomato product has been stored for a long period of time.

Will moldy pizza sauce make you sick?

This website says that it is usually totally fine, and that if you scrape off the mold, the only problem might be a slight undesired taste. If you really don't want to throw it out, just eat it and take the risk. Chances are you won't die.

What does mold on pasta sauce look like?

Mold is usually easy to spot. It often appears as a blue or green discoloration, which can grow a hairy coat if left long enough, Kirkpatrick says. If you're examining foods in jars\u2014things like pasta sauce or salsa\u2014it's best to check the underside of the lid and rim of the container for suspicious growths.



pizza sauce recipe | homemade pizza sauce recipe




More answers regarding what is this cotton-like stuff growing on my pizza sauce?

Answer 2

Like @sarino and @megasaur mentioned already, it is mold and you did the right thing by throwing it away. This link explains pretty well why mold grows on the food: http://wanttoknowit.com/why-does-mold-grow-on-food/

Also, the reason that food stays good in these unopened bottles in normal temperatures is that the food is vacuum sealed, so it doesn't come into contact with air or outside moisture. Once its opened, it is highly recommended to go into the fridge straight away, like you did.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Eneida Nieves, Narda Yescas, Polina Tankilevitch, Edward Eyer