Mold is not always undesirable in food. Keep in mind that mold can start to develop between 24 and 48 hours of a material getting wet. Dried figs are the dried forms of the fig fruit, which grows on the fig tree, scientifically known as Ficus carica.While fresh figs are quite popular for their juicy, luscious texture, they are rather delicate fruits and … so... i was eating a few medjool dates and when i bit into this one a dust seems to escape....but...i thought i was imagining it! The best way is to smell and look at the dried figs: discard any that have an off smell or appearance; if mold appears, discard the dried figs. Fresh figs are typically available from June through October. Growth occurs when there is moisture from water damage, water leaks, condensation, water infiltration, or flooding. However, pears are much less sugary than figs and therefore I am not sure whether this is the same phenomenon. Black mold exposure is no more harmful than exposure to other forms of mold, but it may lead to health issues for certain people. Advertisement. When shopping for dried figs, you will most often find the following three options: Black Mission, Calimyrna, and Turkish (often labeled Smyrna). It can grow on material with a high cellulose content, such as fiberboard, gypsum board, and paper. There are benefits to both fresh and dried figs. When choosing figs, however, always avoid ones with mold or discolorations. We washed them, vacpacked several per package, and stored in the fridge for about four days to ripen up a little. Black mold on walls grows fast. I suspect the black stuff in dates is mold, and it's probably best not to eat it, though I haven't had it analyzed . so i took another bite! You can enjoy dried figs all year round, and also enjoy their many health benefits, thanks to their uniquely dense nutritional composition.. What are Dried Figs? Often the rigors of shipping and handling can damage the fruit. I've met a few bad dates; though I open them first to take out the pit and have a look. Long-Lasting Produce. For cheeses where mold isn't part of the processing, mold generally can't get deep into the product. . 7 popular choices. And a frighteningly spiky (dead) worm-like thing sticking out of a dried fig [shudder]. I am making dried pears and I noticed that there are some white lumps on the surface of the fruit: This resource says that this phenomenon may occur in figs and that it is sugar crystallizing. Calimyrna figs originated near the city of Smyrna in Turkey. Classification of Black Mold Contaminated Figs by Hyperspectral Imaging. Learn more here. The latter two are actually the same variety of fig. Constant moisture is required for its growth. We bought some nice, but underripe fresh figs at the local supermarket. Stachybotrys chartarum is a greenish-black mold. It will continue growing until it is eliminated (the moisture problem remedied and the mold-contaminated materials removed). Lots of mold spots when we opened one package up, and we tossed the whole batch. For hard cheeses, such as Asiago, Pecorino, Parmesan and Cheddar, lop off at least 1 inch around and below the mold spot (to avoid cross-contamination, be careful not to touch the mold with the knife). Today's Tips. I once found bugs in a date. Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here. Penicillium is a genus of molds used in the production of many types of cheese, including blue cheese, Gorgonzola, brie and Camembert (2, 7).. .