What you see: A blackish, dark area under your potato’s skin; the surface may or may not appear damaged. What it is: The blackish coloration pictured above is a
Raw beef turned brown?
What you see: Your raw beef has turned brown in some areas. There may be brown patches on the surface (possibly under stickers) or you might see a layer of
Are bruised apples good to eat?
What you see: An apple with a soft brown area (or areas) on its surface.What it is: A bruised apple.Eat or toss: How bruised is the apple? An apple with a
Can you eat slimy mushrooms?
What you see/feel: Your mushrooms are slimy. What it is: Your mushrooms are sporting a bacterial biofilm!Eat or toss: If the mushrooms are very slimy and/or
Can you eat a stringy avocado?
What you see: Strings in your avocado. What they are: Vascular bundles! Eat or toss: Eat! The avocado is fine, just not as creamy as you might like.
Dark spots or discoloration on mushrooms
What you see: Brown areas on your mushrooms that won’t wash off. What it is: Discoloration from bruising or aging. Eat or toss: A little discoloration isn't a
This is what happens when you press your avocados too hard
What you see: Black circles just below the avocado’s peel. You may also see small holes in the bruises. What it is: Finger bruising. Eat or toss: Eat! But you
Avocado flesh stuck to pit
What you see: A hunk of avocado flesh is stuck to the pit. The stuck-on flesh could be brown or green. What it is: An avocado that didn’t ripen properly.
Peach with black spots
What you see: Peaches with black spots. What it is: Peach scab, a disease that tends to stay on the surface. Eat or toss: Peel. If the flesh below
Moldy peach pit
What you see: A moldy pit in a peach.What it is: A moldy pit in a peach. Eat or toss: Toss. In a soft fruit like a peach, even areas without obvious mold could
Narrow bumps or warts on honeynut squash
What you see: Narrow, angular bumps on your honeynut squash. What it is: Healed wounds. Eat or toss: Eat! The squash's flesh, that is. The scabs will likely be
Black stuff on raw, peeled or chopped potatoes
What you see: Black stuff on your chopped or peeled potatoes. What is is: Oxidation after cells were damaged by chopping or peeling. Eat or toss: Eat! You can
What to know about dirt on your produce
Ever wondered about dirt on your produce? Maybe you’re not sure you scrubbed every last bit of grit off your potatoes. Or you’re just generally feeling a little
Brown areas and little holes inside your apple
What you see: Areas of brown, dry-looking apple flesh; likely also some seed-shaped holes. What it is: Carbon dioxide injury. Eat or toss? This is not an
Sunken black spots on an apple’s skin
What you see: Dark, possibly black, sunken spots on your apple’s skin. What it is: Bitter pit. Eat or toss: Peel and eat! This disorder usually doesn’t go very
Little round things in your spinach
What you see: Little, round brown things in your plastic clamshell of spinach. They have a dried out, rough, papery texture and may be loose or stuck to the
