Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here. Mold: Toxic in All Cases? No, you only see part of the mold on the surface of food — gray fur on forgotten bologna, fuzzy green dots on bread, white dust on Cheddar, coin-size velvety circles on fruits, and furry growth on the surface of jellies. There’s even an entire career path devoted to mold removal. Soon, tan to gray spores appear on the fruit’s surface, spreading the disease further. The wet inoculation procedure significantly increased both the water activity of dried apricots and the pH values of DAS (P < 0.05).As shown in Table 1, the a w of DANS increased to 0.802 ± 0.003, and the a w of DAS increased to 0.853 ± 0.001 after inoculation. To condition the fruit, take the dried fruit that has cooled and pack it loosely in plastic or glass jars. Mold remediation vans can be seen driving around town during all seasons of the year. It reduces the risk of mold growth. Mold, a type of fungus, is a scary word in our society today. Long-Lasting Produce. Conditioning is the process used to equalize the moisture. Mold will not typically grow on dried fruit, unless outside moisture has been introduced. To vacuum pack, place in canning jars, attach lids loosely and place in a 325 degree oven for 15 minutes. I open each apricot and take a cursory glance to ensure there is no white powdery matter, then eat and enjoy. At the end of the 15 minutes, remove and tighten lids. Dry-cured country hams normally have surface mold that must be scrubbed off before cooking. Doesn't anyone here eat dried apricots? But these microscopic fungi are easily destroyed by heat processing To control mold growth either freeze or vacuum pack the dried apricots. 3.2.pH and a w of wet-inoculated dried apricots before and after drying. Ripe Fruit Rot. Also known simply as brown rot, ripe fruit rot is one of the more frustrating of the diseases of apricot trees. Today's Tips. The apricots were shipped with, what looked like, specs of white powder all over them, that in a few days times turned to white fuzzy mold. This can also occur if the raisins are kept in an incredibly humid environment, and is part of the reason it is important to store raisins in a tightly sealed container! I hope my replacements will be mold-free. As fruits ripen, they develop a small, brown, water-soaked lesion that quickly spreads, ruining the entire fruit. Amazon was great in offering an exchange. It is associated with severe allergies and other life altering illnesses. The excess moisture in … Yes, molds can thrive in high-acid foods like jams, jellies, pickles, fruit, and tomatoes. If there is any sign of mold growth anywhere on the fruit, it should be discarded. Seal the containers and let them stand for 7 to 10 days. 7 popular choices. Dates, prunes, apricots, figs and raisins are the major dried fruits produced in the Mediterranean area. Clearly these apricots were sitting in the back of a warehouse somewhere, for months (possibly longer). white mold coating which is safe to consume; however, they shouldn’t show any other mold. Back to top myself Mon, Nov 16 2015, 10:29 am. The best way is to smell and look at the dried apricots: discard any that have an off smell or appearance; if mold appears, discard the dried apricots. This was unheard of when I was a child. Dried fruit is fruit that has had almost all of the water content removed through drying methods.. When a food shows heavy mold growth, "root" threads have invaded it deeply.