Why Does Food Get Moldy?

8/18/2021 (Permalink)

What Causes Mold in Food?

Have you ever reached for a snack or started to prepare a meal only to find out that the food you intended to eat had grown mold? Here are a few reasons why bread mold or fridge mold develops, along with tips for limiting fungus growth in your kitchen.

1. Mold spores are everywhere and can reproduce on any organic surface with sufficient moisture. The best ways to inhibit mold growth are to reduce humidity or moisture levels and dispose of food that is past its prime.

2. Bread is rich in nutrients, moist, and typically kept in warm areas of a home, such a kitchen cabinet, bread box, or pantry. All of these factors combine to make bread an ideal food on which bread mold will multiply. Monitor temperature and moisture levels to prolong the period of time before bread begins to mold.

3. Many types of food other than bread can provide the combination of nutrients and moisture that fungus depends on in order to thrive. Mold can grow on any organic material. Make sure to seal and properly store food to delay the development of mold.

4. Mold thrives in warm environments, but if the conditions are right, with enough time, mold may also develop on food stored in a refrigerator. The major factors for mold growth include nutrient levels and moisture. Keep humidity levels low and be sure to inspect leftovers for signs of mold prior to consumption.

Keeping these four factors in mind should make you more aware of the temperature and moisture levels in your kitchen or pantry. Controlling these environmental elements can stop the growth of mold before it becomes a problem. Whether you have come across bread mold, fridge mold, or another type of fungus growth, mold damage specialists in Surfside, FL, can determine whether a mold problem calls for professional attention.