What's this off-white particulate stuff on my pickled asparagus?

What's this off-white particulate stuff on my pickled asparagus? - Set of white carton packages on marble surface

I just opened a new jar of Foster's pickled asparagus and discovered off-white particulate matter on the stalks:

pickled asparagus, with mysterious stuff on it

The stuff can be scraped off with a fingernail, but doesn't come off effortlessly to the touch.

The jar was opened just moments ago, and was thoroughly airtight prior to opening (I had a hell of a time getting the lid off). Is this mold that grew prior to pickling? Is this salt that has settled out of the brine for some reason? Something else?



Best Answer

From luv2garden.com:

Powdery Mildew “appears as a dusty white to gray coating over leaf surfaces or other plant parts. In most cases this fungal growth can be partially removed by rubbing the leaves. It might be identified incorrectly as dust that has accumulated on the leaves.

So it appears to be powdery mildew on your asparagus...

From Ask an Expert:

Soaking leaves in hydrogen peroxide will kill powdery mildew. However, I would not recommend eating leaves with powdery mildew on them. Powdery mildew is not toxic to humans, but fungi cause allergic reactions in some people.

But hold up! Since the asparagus is pickled, powdery mildew just might not be the case.

From reddit:

The flecks are actually a protein buildup called rutin, a natural flavonoid in asparagus that sometimes reacts harmlessly with the vinegar. Rutin is created within pickled asparagus when asparagus is heated within an acid such as vinegar in the pickling process. Through this process, rutin is drawn out of the asparagus.


So the white specks on your asparagus should be rutin.




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Quick Answer about "What's this off-white particulate stuff on my pickled asparagus?"

The flecks are actually a protein buildup called rutin, a natural flavonoid in asparagus that sometimes reacts harmlessly with the vinegar. Rutin is created within pickled asparagus when asparagus is heated within an acid such as vinegar in the pickling process.

What is the white stuff on pickled asparagus?

A. These flakes are called rutin and occur naturally in canned asparagus. The spears also may be wrinkled. The acidic brine sometimes pulls liquid out of the asparagus spears.

How do you know if pickled asparagus is bad?

The best way is to smell and look at the canned asparagus: if the canned asparagus develops an off odor, flavor or appearance, or if mold appears, it should be discarded. Discard all canned asparagus from cans or packages that are leaking, rusting, bulging or severely dented.

How long does pickled asparagus last in fridge?

Pickled asparagus lasts up to one month in the refrigerator as long as the spears are completely covered with the liquid brine. However, if the spears are sticking out of the water youu2019ll run the risk of bacterial growth, so make sure to choose a tall jar and to completely submerge them in the brine.

Is pickled asparagus healthy for you?

Here is the thing, pickled asparagus is full of fiber and probiotics, which makes it great for digestion. And asparagus in general is a great, healthy, and delicious vegetable source for Vitamin B6, calcium, zinc and magnesium.



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