How to determine if peanuts are damaged

Whether peanuts have gone bad can be comprehensively judged by observing their appearance, smelling their aroma, tasting their taste, checking their texture, and examining their storage conditions.

1. Observe appearance

Normal peanut shells should be uniformly light yellow or light pink in color, with a smooth surface and no spots. Rotten peanuts may have mold spots, black spots, or green mycelium, and the color of the shell may darken or change locally. The surface of peanut kernels that have become damp and moldy will attach visible fuzzy mold, and in severe cases, the whole peanut will clump together.

2. Smell

Fresh peanuts have a faint nutty aroma, and after spoilage, they will emit a crackling, moldy, or sour taste. Peanuts contaminated with aflatoxin may produce a pungent earthy odor. This toxin is heat-resistant and highly carcinogenic, and should be discarded immediately if any abnormal odor is detected.

3. Taste

Take a small amount of peanut kernels and chew them. Fresh peanuts have a crispy and sweet taste. Rotten peanuts may exhibit obvious bitterness, astringency, or spiciness, and may cause a burning sensation in the throat after chewing. If you taste any abnormal odor, immediately spit it out and rinse your mouth with water to avoid ingesting mycotoxins.

4. Check the texture

High quality peanut kernels have a hard and full texture that is not easily broken when pinched. Peanuts that have become damp and spoiled will become soft and sticky, with the kernel coat separating from the flesh, and may have hollow or sponge like structures inside. If fried peanuts regain moisture, they will produce a phloem like texture, which is a manifestation of oil oxidation.

5. Check storage conditions

Unopened packaged peanuts that have exceeded their shelf life or have bloating in the packaging bag, exposed to a humid environment for more than a week after opening, or stored in high temperature environments for more than half a month in summer, can all lead to peanut spoilage. When vacuum packaging leaks or canned peanuts are not tightly sealed, it is also easy to breed mold. When storing peanuts, it is recommended to choose a cool and dry place. After opening, it is recommended to put them in a sealed jar and refrigerate them in the refrigerator. It is best to consume them within one month. When purchasing bulk peanuts, it is important to pay attention to the storage environment of the merchant and avoid choosing products that are directly exposed to the air. For special populations such as infants, pregnant women, etc., it is recommended to choose small packaging products with quality certification and avoid consuming peanut products that have been stored for too long. If peanuts are found to have spoiled, the entire batch should be discarded and not consumed again, as mycotoxins may have spread to seemingly normal peanuts.