What you see: Darkened skin in a drip pattern around the stem of your mango. What it is: A chemical burn from the mango’s naturally occurring sap. Eat or toss:
Dirty, bumpy stuff stuck to squash?
What you see: Corky, bumpy, light brown stuff on the surface of the squash. It may look like dirt, but it won’t wash off. What it is: Healed over areas; they
A rough brown band around apples
What you see: Rough brown skin forming a thick band that partially or entirely encircles the fruit. The apple is probably shaped a bit oddly too. What it is:
Why does some broccoli look blue?
What you see: Broccoli with a blueish tingeWhat it is: Plant pigments and/or a waxy coating on the broccoli Eat or toss: Eat! This is normal for broccoli Why
Purple splotches on your cauliflower?
What you see: White cauliflower with some random purple patches in the branches and stemWhat it is: Bonus colors from anthocyanins, common plant pigments Eat or
Grayish smudges or spots on your eggshell?
What you see: Translucent, watercolor-like smudges and spots on your eggshellWhat it is: Mottling, or a place where moisture is trapped in the shellEat or toss:
Brown speckles on your apricot?
What you see: Brown speckles on your dried apricot What it is: Natural variation on the apricot’s skin Eat or toss: Eat! Is it safe to eat dried apricots
Brown area inside avocado
What you see: A brown area inside your avocado.What it is: The avocado could have been dropped or otherwise bumped; and/or it could be infected.Eat or toss: Cut
What’s that dirty spot on your egg?
What you see: Specks of grime stuck to an egg. What it is: Chicken feces (eww), possibly also dirt or bits of the carton. Eat or toss: Eat! But use some caution
White stuff on your dates?
What you see: White patches on dates you’ve had for a while What it is: Sugar! Eat or toss: It’s just sugar. The dates will probably be harder and drier than
Brown dots or streaks in your avocado?
What you see: Brown and black streaks or dots in avocado flesh What it is: Vascular browning! Mmmm! Eat or toss? The avocado is edible, but may not taste as
Why some apples are mushy & mealy (and how to save them!)
What you see/experience: An apple with an icky, sandy texture; it’s mealy. What it is: A mealy apple! It's been stored for a while and lost some of its moisture
Odd spots inside sweet potato?
What you see: Discolored, dry-looking patches in sweet potato flesh, more toward the outside than the inside. The exterior of the sweet potato probably looks
“Golden” raisins turned brown?
What you see: Your golden raisins are brown What it is: Raisins that either weren’t properly treated or were kept too warm; either could cause them to brown Eat
Cracked open plums
What you see: A plum whose skin has split open, exposing its soft, wet interior.What it is: A cracked plum!Eat or toss: Probably a toss. Something problematic
Is it safe to eat a dented, cracked egg?
What you see: A dented, cracked egg; its contents may or may not appear to have spilled out. What it is: The dent suggests that both the shell and the egg's
