I make a fruit smoothie at the beginning of the week, pour it into individual mason jars, and freeze them. I’ll take one out per night, put it in the fridge to thaw to use for the next day.
Usually they include: Fresh and frozen fruits, including bananas.. kiwi etc, water, healthy powders and seeds (examples.. fenugreek seeds, turmeric powder, protein powder, chia seeds, flaxseeds)
Pictures included of the black substance and I’m wondering has it always done this and I’m just now noticing. The crazy part is I usually add creatine to the days current smoothie and shake it up 🫠 which would slam the liquid against the lid… I’m sick and sad about it.
Any similar experiences? Advice? Better way of doing this? I would hate to have to blend daily… Is it for sure mold? If so, why if it’s instantly frozen and the cap is untouched when frozen… ? meaning there’s no smoothie substance ever in the cap.. it’s poured, sealed with a clean dry cap, then placed in the freezer…
Thanks.
by Xsixela
2 Comments
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Given the time frame, preservation method, and ingredients, my guess is this isn’t mold but is perhaps oxidation of the smoothie or a reaction of the acidic ingredients with the metal of the lid. It looks like the coating has kind of worn off in some spots perhaps which would expose the metal.
Since you’re not actually canning these, reusing the lids is fine generally but if you’re using acidic ingredients they can eat the lid over time. If you see wear on the lid I would toss it and replace it.
You aren’t leaving it at room temp for more than 2 hours I’m assuming so in theory it’d be wild for mold to grow that fast with the process you described.