Can beef jerky get moldy? (Risks of moldy jerk beef)
By
Dr Rafael Frascino Cassaro (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Rafael Frascino Cassaro PhD is a Chemist with expertise in Food Technology, extraction of essential oils from food sources, organocatalysis, extraction by supercritical CO2 and organic chemistry. He writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Rafael Frascino Cassaro’s Highlights:
- PIPE-FAPESP Project Coordinator for the company Bioativos Naturais Ltda involving the extraction of essential oils from food sources, with supercritical CO2.
- PhD in Chemistry with research in supercritical fluid reactivity.
- Bachelor of Environmental Chemistry at University of São Paulo State (UNESP)/Brazil
Professional Experience:
Dr Rafael Frascino Cassaro’s Experience:
Dr Rafael coordinated a PIPE-FAPESP Project (Company Research and Innovation Project) for the company Bioativos Naturais Ltda, involving the extraction of essential oils with supercritical CO2 from food sources such as turmeric, ginger, hops, orange bagasse, pepper rose, cupuaçu pie, among others.
Dr Rafael has worked on a project, involving studies of the influence of pre-treatment on the recovery of crude food extracts by extraction with supercritical CO2 (Supercritical Fluid Extraction or SFE) and with pressurized liquids (ethanol and water) for food sources, aimed at obtaining oleoresins; determination of global yield and chemical composition of crude extracts. As a postdoctoral fellow for the Food Engineering department at the University of Campinas/Brazil
Dr Rafael Frascino Cassaro has worked as a substitute Professor at the University of São Paulo State (UNESP) on General Chemistry and Thermodynamics II disciplines for the Food Engineering course.
Education:
- 2009 Bachelor in Environmental Chemistry at the State University of São Paulo, Brazil
- 2015 PhD in Chemistry with research in supercritical fluid reactivity University of São Paulo, Brazil
- 2017 Post Doctoral in Food Engineering Research: Influence of Biomass Pre-Treatment on Supercritical CO2 Extraction: Preservation of High Added Value Assets and Reduction of Process Costs at the State University of Campinas, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Rafael Frascino Cassaro are:
RC Bazito, RF CASSARO, LC OLIVEIRA, RA Gariani, CAO Nascimento. (2013). Proline derivatives as organocatalysts for the aldol reaction in conventional and non-conventional reaction media. Green Processing and Synthesis 2, 43-50
TS Bastos, SB Rodriguez Reartes, MS Zabaloy, RF Cassaro, RC Bazito. (2019).Phase Behavior for the System Carbon Dioxide plus p-Nitrobenzaldehyde: Experimental and Modeling JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING DATA 64 (5), 2116-2125
GH Sakae, LM Takata, AS Paulino, RC Bazito, RF Cassaro, C Princival, .(2013). A high enantioselective Proline-based helical polymer catalyst for aldol type reaction. Blucher Chemistry Proceedings 1 (2), 214-214
You can view some of Dr Rafael’s work below and links to his professional profile.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rafael-Cassaro-2
Fapesp: https://bv.fapesp.br/pt/pesquisador/680718/rafael-frascino-cassaro/
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ToO7HIcAAAAJ&hl=en
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafael-frascino-cassaro-4a156a37/?originalSubdomain=br
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3729-2858
In this brief guide, we will answer the question, “can beef jerky get moldy,’ and discuss what happens if you eat moldy beef jerky, and what should I do if I find mold in my beef jerky.
Can beef jerky get moldy?
Yes, beef jerky can get moldy.
If you store it in a place that’s humid, you may see mold growing on your jerky and need to throw it out.
If you store it in a place that’s dry, chances are good that the jerky will stay fresh and safe without mold growth.
What happens if you eat moldy beef jerky?
If you eat moldy beef jerky, you could get sick.
Mold is a type of fungus that can grow on food. When you eat moldy food, you can get sick with a type of poisoning called mycotoxicosis.
The most common symptoms of mycotoxicosis are:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Abdominal pain and cramping (stomachache)
Is it dangerous to consume moldy beef jerky?
Yes, it is dangerous to consume moldy beef jerky.
It can be harmful if consumed because when ingested it can cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems in individuals with weak immune systems.
In addition to this, moldy food often contains mycotoxins which are toxic substances produced by certain types of molds. The consumption of these mycotoxins can lead to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea as well as liver damage and kidney failure in severe cases.
What should I do if I find mold in my beef jerky?
If you find mold on your beef jerky, don’t eat it.
Mold is a fungus that needs moisture to grow, so if there’s any moisture left on the surface of your beef jerky, the mold will keep growing and spreading. If you see mold anywhere on your jerky, throw it away immediately!
If you find mold inside of your jerky bag or container, discard the entire contents of the package.
What happened to my beef jerky when it turned white?
If your beef jerky has turned white, it may be a sign of mold. It can be caused by a number of different factors, including improper storage conditions and exposure to moisture. If you notice mold on your dried food, do not cook the product.
Is it possible for mold to develop on beef jerky?
Yes, it’s possible for mold to develop on beef jerky.
The key thing to remember about mold is that it can grow anywhere there’s moisture and food. So if you’ve left your beef jerky open to the air, it could be exposed to moisture and become a breeding ground for mold spores. Luckily, this is easy to avoid! Just make sure your jerky is sealed in an airtight bag before you store it in the fridge or freezer.
How do you get mold out of beef jerky?
You can’t get mold out of beef jerky.
Many people think that if they can just get the mold off of their beef jerky, it will be fine. But this is not the case. Mold is actually a fungus that invades your food supply, and once it does, there’s no getting it out.
Mold spores are everywhere, and they can grow on almost any type of food item.
This means that even if you get rid of the visible signs of mold in your beef jerky, the black spots, or green lines, there could still be spores hiding in crevices and cracks where they won’t be visible to the naked eye. These spores will continue to grow and spread until your entire supply is completely contaminated with them!
How can you prevent mold on beef jerky?
If you’re wondering how to prevent mold from growing on your beef jerky, there are some things you can do:
- Keep it in an airtight container or bag at all times when it’s not being eaten. This will keep moisture from getting in and causing problems.
- Don’t leave it out for long periods of time after opening (like overnight or something) because this gives molds more time to grow on the surface before you notice them!
Is it possible to freeze beef jerky?
Yes, it is possible to freeze beef jerky. The main concern when freezing meat is preventing the growth of mold and other microorganisms that can cause food poisoning.
To prevent this from happening, you should keep your beef jerky in an airtight container and freeze it at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below for at least 48 hours. This will kill any harmful microbes that could be present in your food.
If you want to store your beef jerky for longer than two days, you should freeze it at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below for up to a week. You should also make sure that your freezer is set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit before placing your meat inside of it.
When you’re ready to eat your frozen beef jerky, place it in the refrigerator overnight so that it can defrost slowly and safely.
Other FAQs about Beef that you may be interested in.
Can you get Jamaican beef patties?
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we have addressed the question “can beef jerky get moldy,” and other questions about the subject, such as what happens if you eat moldy beef jerky, and what should I do if I find mold in my beef jerky.
Citations
https://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/56083/is-safe-to-eat-jerky-with-white-mold
https://cementanswers.com/what-happens-if-you-eat-moldy-beef-jerky/
References
1.-
TIAN, Yexin et al. Correlation analysis of normal and moldy beef jerky microbiota with Volatile compounds. LWT, v. 162, p. 113457, 2022.
2.-
U.S. Department of Agriculture.Food Safety Information. Washington, DC.Molds on Food: Are They Dangerous? 2013.
3.-
Fung, F., & Clark, R. F. Health Effects of Mycotoxins: A Toxicological Overview. Journal of Toxicology: Clinical Toxicology, 42(2), 217–234. 2004.
4.-
KIM, Se-Myung et al. Novel processing technologies for improving quality and storage stability of jerky: A review. LWT, v. 151, p. 112179, 2021.
5.-
Fung, F., & Clark, R. F. Health Effects of Mycotoxins: A Toxicological Overview. Journal of Toxicology: Clinical Toxicology, 42(2), 217–234. 2004.
6.-
SOLIMAN, M. M. H. et al. Prevalence of toxigenic Aspergillus flavus in meat and meat products. Bioscience Research, 16 (1): 822-829. 2019.
7.-
U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://nifa.usda.gov/ Cooperative extension service.Making Jerky. Published by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. 2016.
