Onions are one of those ingredients that can never be missing from Italian cuisine. Obviously, it doesn’t appeal to everyone, but it makes every dish special. However, there is one characteristic that makes you wonder: what are the black spots on onions?
Stains on onions
When we go to the supermarket, our shopping list almost always cannot be complete without an ingredient we use often. We’re talking about onion . Widely used in Italian dishes, it’s an essential ingredient for many of us. But have you ever wondered what those black spots are ? Let’s find out together.
Onion, a fundamental ingredient
As we just mentioned, onion is one of the fundamental ingredients of our cuisine, and if you think about it, most dishes require a little or a lot of onion. We’re obviously talking about a very strong flavor that some prefer to forgo, but it’s part of who we are as Italians. In fact, every restaurant and every kitchen cannot do without at least one onion.
What are black spots on onion?
We’re also talking about a very economical food that can be used in a wide variety of ways. In fact, think about how many times we’ve sliced it very finely for a sauce, or cut it in half and grilled it on a barbecue or griddle, or boiled it. In short, the onion can be consumed in many different ways, but sometimes we look at it and wonder whether to throw it away or eat it. Let’s take a closer look.
Black spots on onions, what are they?
Onions are such a delicious and widely used food in our kitchens that they can be unpleasant to clean and cut. In fact, as we all know, most of them literally make us cry, and that’s perfectly normal. It’s actually a chemical reaction that affects the taste buds and tear ducts.
Black spots on onions
Once you’ve gotten over that “tragic moment,” you can use it by playing with whatever you prefer. In fact, it’s not only used to add an extra touch of flavor, but it’s also consumed on its own. Even though our breath won’t be exactly pleasant after consumption, for many of us, it represents something magical to savor. But very often, we notice strange stains on them and we don’t know exactly what to do.
A healthy and good-to-eat onion will have a certain appearance, while when there is something wrong with it, you need to be able to understand what it is and, above all, whether it should be thrown away or if there is a way to recover it. So, when is it worth throwing away the onion and when not?
How to recognize a healthy onion and when black spots are dangerous
Shopping is a very important time when we must be careful about what we buy, especially when it comes to fruits and vegetables. In fact, sometimes we see perfectly presented food in the supermarket, but when we get home, we are forced to eat it immediately or even throw it away.
Choosing a good and healthy onion isn’t that complicated compared to many others, but it still requires careful attention. In fact, onions that appear firm and have a compact layer are good, especially if the outer part of the stem is dry. However, we sometimes notice small or large black spots , and this doesn’t only happen at the supermarket, but also at home, in the pantry or refrigerator.
Faced with this characteristic , we wonder what to do, whether to throw them in the trash or if something can be salvaged. These black spots are none other than Aspergillus niger , which is a very widespread fungus present in the soil. However, this does not mean that the onion is doomed to a sad fate. Only the smell will tell us what to do.
If the food has black spots, but its smell is typical of onion, then it will be enough to remove the black part, wash the onion thoroughly and use it safely. In the case where the onion looks good, but has a rotten smell , this means we must throw it away.
This is also confirmed by medical experts, such as Dr. Hassan Gourama , who defined the onion as a food with recoverable mold. This means that if the affected part is removed and thoroughly washed, it can then be safely recovered and consumed.