That Green Spot on Your Cheddar… Cut It Off or Toss the Whole Thing?

appearance alone cannot tell you whether a particular mold is safe.

Mold can also spread microscopic filaments into food.

This is why food safety recommendations distinguish between hard foods and softer, more moisture-rich foods.

Does Cooking or Melting the Cheese Make It Safe?

Not necessarily.

Heating or melting moldy cheese does not guarantee that it becomes safe to eat.

Some contaminants may not be reliably eliminated through ordinary cooking temperatures.

If a food should be discarded because of mold contamination, turning it into a grilled cheese sandwich or melting it over pasta is not a dependable way to make it