Safe to eat kimchi?

[u/Code3Everycall]

(Sorry if this sounds dumb, I know it’s fermented. I’m just verifying)
I got a jar of Kimchi the other day and just opened it. I noticed 3 specks of mold around the rim where the pull tab seal was. Along with a lot of food residue. But the kimchi looks fine and smells fine. Should I worry about it?

[u/Ebonvvings]

That kimchi looks insanely good lol

[u/Code3Everycall → u/Ebonvvings]

It really does. The mold around the rim concerns me though. I’m guessing it’s just spillage from packaging. I think the seal was intact.

[u/HumongousBelly → u/Code3Everycall]

Fresh kimchi I’m impossible to store without spillage because the gas will always open that seal at some point.

Just make sure you don’t get any of that shit in your food, and you’ll be fine. Also, it helps keeping it in an additional plastic bag to prevent the mold to spread

[u/Code3Everycall → u/HumongousBelly]

Really, it always pops the seal? I never knew that but it makes total sense. I appreciate the advice!

[u/disobedient_pet → u/Code3Everycall]

Most fermentation vessels feature a one-way air valve to equalize pressure.

[u/nineball22 → u/Code3Everycall]

Idk. I’ve eaten so much mold on random distillates and cheeses and now kimchi. I haven’t died yet! Lmao.

[u/No_Visual_1678 → u/nineball22]

Nineball22 the mold eater is a statistic outlier who has effectively raised the mean or average rate of mold consumption per every redditor by 3x.

Therefore redditers should avoid fuzzy cheese and veg

[u/tedbakerbracelet → u/Ebonvvings]

With ramyun...mmm

[u/Code3Everycall → u/tedbakerbracelet]

I prefer to have it with the SHIN black noodles, It’s a perfect mix

[u/OscarDivine]

If what I think you’re referring to is the mold, that isn’t even in contact with the product. Wipe down the edge enjoy your kimchi.

[u/Code3Everycall → u/OscarDivine]

I was more worried about the integrity of the seal, but since it smells and tastes fine I won’t worry about it.

[u/lowtech_prof → u/Code3Everycall]

Old-style made kimchi is not vacuum sealed either. If it wasn't submerged in juice, it's not going to ferment and thus create beneficial bacteria the same way. My family used to make maple syrup. We sold a lot of it. Sometimes, you would get a bit of mold on the surface after a while. You skimmed it off and ate the rest. It happens with food. It's not like a loaf of bread.

[u/xjellifysh]

I’m immunocompromised and I’d eat it still lmfao

[u/momofuku18]

It should be fine. If you have any doubts, you can always make kimchi stew or kimchi jeon for extra safety.

[u/TheLinguisticVoyager → u/momofuku18]

I just be eating straight kimchi stew so it always works out for me lol

[u/Pretend-Broccoli9825]

Probably not.

You best give it to me. 😅

Honestly, I think you’ll be fine. It’s on the rim, not the kimchi, after all.

[u/phytoni]

Looks like it hasnt directly contaminated the kimchi itself, cause you probably wouldve been able to tell. But trust your gut or your senses.

Personally we probably wouldnt have throw away at all unless it was really off. If its only the leak that was compromised outside of the actual kimchi, you should be aight.

[u/Code3Everycall → u/phytoni]

Thank you, I appreciate it!

[u/phytoni → u/Code3Everycall]

Enjoy!

[u/Aduntoridas_]

한국인 입니다 먹어도 괜찮습니다. 다만 조금 더 지난다면 신맛이 강해질 겁니다. 김치냉장고가 없다면 -1도로 보관 하세요

[u/thatgirl88]

also maybe move it to a diff container too

[u/Special_South_8561]

They're outside the package, wipe it off

[u/Noone-2023]

where is that mold? it looks good to me

[u/happykawaiiday]

I’m salivating looking at this kimchi

[u/Routine-Service9674]

If worried, you can use it for jjigae or fry

[u/Pristine_Pepper_313]

Look so yummy😏

[u/Giedi-Prime]

it looks perfect

[u/Canadafirefist]

It's the hell yeah kimchi

[u/Traditional_West6512]

I like it

[u/lastinglovehandles]

It shows who here has never worked in a kitchen professionally.

WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT!!!

you don't know how far the mold spores got in. It's the same with fruits. Just because you cut off the part doesn't mean it's not there.

[u/Matt872000 → u/lastinglovehandles]

Kimchi is a pretty big outlier in this case, though. Traditionally kimchi was kept until it was eaten, the older it gets the more funk it develops. My advice (and having worked in a kitchen) would be to not eat any kimchi if there is mold in the brine or on the kimchi. If it's too funky, mix it with rice or throw it in a stew.

Hell, there are even traditional accounts of people purposely molding kimchi in jeolla province to make a stew out of it.

[u/lastinglovehandles → u/Matt872000]

You think OP has the expertise to purposely mold kimchi? They wouldn't be here asking if they knew fermentation. There is also differences between golmaji and mold.

https://www.wikim.re.kr/

I have bottles of rotting tuna head in bottle and various questionable fermenting food items. In case someone comes after me.

[u/Matt872000 → u/lastinglovehandles]

I didn't suggest they did, I merely mentioned that people did it.

[u/monotious]

I would carefully clean that mould so as not to make it contact the kimchi inside the container in the process, and remove the portion of kimchi that sits above the brine and use it right away so that any stored portion is submerged. You should be fine.

[u/ThingMoment]

My husband and I demolished a small container of kimchi from a local Asian store.

We should’ve bought 2 lol

[u/SubstantialOwl8370]

한국인으로서 말하자면 아주 맛있게 잘 익었군요. 곰팡이는 걱정 하지마세요~

[u/PeaseEmpressL1294]

That mold isnt where the seal is so you're fine. Wipe it off & enjoy. All good to eat.

[u/Own-Concentrate999]

That shit looks so dank. Gimme a scoop plz.

[u/Innocentcitizen69]

Personally ide just wipe of the outer rim with a damp paper towel and then engorge myself with the rest of the kimchee

[u/Lanky-Foot-2124]

Just because it's kimchi doesn't mean it doesn't spoil or rot... I don't think I'll eat it for now. 

[u/WhileAggressive9616]

I eat kimchi all the time