If you have opened your tempeh and found black spots or even large patches of black discoloration, you might be wondering whether it is safe to eat. Discoloration is often a sign of decay in food, so you need to pay attention to it.
Tempeh that has turned black should still be safe to eat in most cases. Tempeh is produced through fermentation, so it is perfectly normal for it to have black or brown spots of mold in it. These have often been killed by pasteurization and should be perfectly safe to eat. However, you do need to be on the lookout for living mold, as this could be dangerous.
In this article, we’re going to talk about why tempeh can be black and still good to eat, and how to tell the difference between moldy tempeh and fresh tempeh. This will ensure you can enjoy this food without worrying that it will make you sick!
Is Tempeh Moldy If It Has Black Spots?
If your tempeh has black spots in it when you open the packet, you might be very alarmed. This happens frequently, however, because tempeh is made by fermenting plant proteins. Once the proteins have fermented, they are usually pasteurized, and this kills the mold and makes the product safe to eat. You can also buy unpasteurized tempeh.
However, the appearance of the mold is likely to remain. Tempeh often has brown or dark spots flecked throughout it, and this does not mean that it is moldy – just that it was moldy once. It’s perfectly safe to eat, even with these spots in place. The pasteurization process should have killed anything potentially harmful in the food.
Of course, almost all foods do go off, which means that you need to be somewhat careful with tempeh. It can go moldy again after pasteurization if it is stored for too long or kept in improper conditions. Fortunately, it’s usually pretty easy to tell the difference between fresh tempeh and moldy tempeh. If it has gone moldy, you might notice:
- A smell like alcohol, ammonia, or even acetone: tempeh can smell of cheese or mushrooms and be perfectly safe to eat, but discard tempeh with any other scents
- Crumbliness or mushiness: tempeh that has started to decay will often turn slimy and sticky
- Hints of pinkness, or blue or green fuzzy patches of mold: this is not the normal tempeh discoloration and indicates that it has gone off
Inspect your tempeh for these problems, and discard tempeh that looks, smells, or feels unsafe. Do not eat it.
How Do You Know If Unpasteurized Tempeh Is Okay To Eat?
If your tempeh hasn’t been pasteurized, there’s a chance that the mold on it will continue to grow. This might seem alarming, but it should be perfectly safe. The “good” mold on tempeh can appear as white or gray fuzz, or as black patches.
The white fuzz is what helps the tempeh to stick together, and it forms a fuzz of fibers that bind with the soybeans. It is nothing to worry about. Gray fuzz may look more alarming, but it’s also nothing to worry about if your tempeh hasn’t been pasteurized. It is simply a continuation of the fermentation process.
The outside of the tempeh can develop gray mold and you don’t need to do anything about it. Similarly, black dots or patches are not a cause for concern. They are the result of the fungus getting ready to reproduce. The black dots will grow new spores and spread, so you may see the surface of the tempeh turn black.
However, if there is black inside the tempeh, this is a sign that you should eat it soon because it is old.
How Long Should Tempeh Last?
This depends; fresh tempeh needs to be kept in the fridge and used up within just a few days, while pasteurized tempeh should last for around 10 days or even longer if it is kept cool. Tempeh should be kept in an airtight container to prevent harmful mold and bacteria from getting into it and contaminating it.
Don’t keep tempeh at room temperature; it will quickly go off. If you aren’t going to use the tempeh up in time, consider putting it in your freezer in an airtight container. It should remain safe to eat for months, or almost indefinitely when frozen. When you are ready to eat it, defrost it in the fridge overnight.
Do not freeze tempeh that has a strange smell or a slimy texture.
Conclusion
Black tempeh will generally be okay to eat, but you should always check for the other signs of mold and decay before you eat any. If your tempeh smells alcoholic or if it is developing blue or green mold, or traces of pink, it needs to be thrown away.
