The onion is one of those ingredients that can never be missing in the kitchen of Italians. Obviously, not everyone likes it but it makes every dish cooked special. However, there is one characteristic that makes many think a lot, what are the black spots on onions?
When we go to the supermarket, almost always an ingredient that we often use cannot be missing from our shopping list. We are talking about the onion. Used a lot in Italian preparations, it is an indispensable ingredient for many of us. But have you ever wondered what those black spots are? Let’s find out together.
The onion, a fundamental ingredient
As we have just specified, the onion is one of those fundamental ingredients for our cuisine and if we think about it, most preparations require little or a lot of onion. Clearly we are talking about a very strong taste that some prefer to give up, but it is part of us Italians. In fact, in every restaurant and in every kitchen at least one onion cannot be missing.
We are also talking about a very cheap food that can be used in the most varied ways possible. In fact, think of how many times we have cut it very finely for a sauce, or even cut it in half and toasted on the barbecue or on a griddle or even boiled. In short, the onion can be eaten in many different ways, but sometimes we look at it and wonder if we should throw it away or eat it. Let’s see the details.
Black spots on onions, what they are
The onion is a food as good and used in our kitchen, as it is unpleasant during cleaning and cutting it. In fact, as we all know, most of them literally make us cry and this is completely normal. In fact, it is a chemical reaction that affects the taste buds and tear ducts.
Once this “tragic moment” has been overcome, you can use it by indulging yourself with what you like best. In fact, it is not only used to give that extra touch of taste, but also to eat on its own. Although our breath will not be exactly pleasant after consumption, for many of us it represents something magical to savor. Very often, however, we happen to notice strange spots on them and we don’t know exactly how to behave.
A healthy onion that is good to eat will look a certain way, while when there is something wrong we must be able to understand what it is and above all if it is appropriate to throw it in the trash or there is a way to recover it. So, when is the onion to be thrown away and when not?
How to recognize a healthy onion and when black spots are dangerous
Shopping time is a very important time when we need to pay attention to what we buy, especially when it comes to fruit and vegetables. In fact, sometimes it happens that in the supermarket we see perfectly exposed food, while when we get home we are forced to consume it immediately or even throw it away.
Choosing a good and healthy onion is not that complicated compared to much else, but it still requires the right attention. In fact, onions that appear firm and with a compact layer are good especially if the outer part of the stem is dry. However, sometimes we notice small or large black spots and this does not only happen in the supermarket, but also at home in the pantry or in the refrigerator.
Faced with this characteristic, we wonder what we should do, whether it is appropriate to throw them in the trash or something can be recovered. These black spots are none other than Aspergillus niger, which is a very common fungus found in the soil. However, this does not mean that the onion is destined for a sad fate. Only the smell will tell us what we should do.
If the food has black spots, but its smell is typical of the onion, then it will be sufficient to remove the black part, wash the onion thoroughly and use it safely. In case the onion looks good, but smells rotten, then it means that we have to throw it away.
This is also confirmed by expert doctors, such as Dr. Hassan Gourama who defined the onion as a food with recoverable mold. This means that if you remove the affected part and undergo a thorough wash, then it can be recovered and safely consumed.
