is it okay to use shredded zucchini that smells a little sour for baking
I've had some shredded zucchini in my refrigerator in a plastic container for about a week or two is it okay to use for baking bread or cake if it smells a little sour or maybe like vinegar
Best Answer
Fresh zucchini has a fairly neutral or sometimes "greenish" smell. An acidic or vinager-like smell is an indication of some kind of fermentation that has set in.
We can't say what exactly has started to grow (there is lacto-fermentation, which is typically induced on purpose, but also a good chance that your zucchini simply started to decay), but even if it were benign, the sour taste would remain present and likely prominent in your cake, so don't use the zucchini.
Always remember: "If in doubt, throw it out!"
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Quick Answer about "is it okay to use shredded zucchini that smells a little sour for baking"
It is perfectly fine to use them, but you may taste the acidity in your end product.How can you tell if shredded zucchini is bad?
A bad zucchini squash is easily identifiable as the skin appears dull and lifeless. Do not eat a zucchini if it is covered with rotten spots or decay. The vegetable may feel mushy, and the skin may be wrinkled or shriveled. If you cut into a bad zucchini, the inner flesh may be stringy and filled with large seeds.Is zucchini supposed to be sour?
In most cases with mild bitterness, it is not severe enough to prevent gardeners from eating the cucumbers or zucchini. Removing the outer skin is usually enough to moderate the flavor. However, occasionally a gardener finds a cucumber or zucchini growing in their garden that is extremely bitter.How long does zucchini last in the fridge?
Whole zucchini in the fridge can last up to a week and cut zucchini in the freezer can last up to three months.Why do my vegetables smell like vinegar?
Throw out vegetables that smell wrong.You can sometimes smell when a vegetable has spoiled. They may have a foul odor, or they may smell bitter, sweet, or sour when they normally do not. Though you cannot always smell when vegetables have spoiled, anything that has a bad smell should be thrown away.Good Food, Good Life, 365 - Grated Zucchini
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Answer 2
Many vegetables that are cut and stored (sold) in plastic always get this acidic smell after approx. 2 days.
Initially that is not a health issue, when sold in supermarkets you see that the 'sell by' date is not yet reached when this happens. It is perfectly fine to use them, but you may taste the acidity in your end product. When I buy e.g. cut mixed vegetables to put in tomato (pasta) sauce or vegetable soup, I only buy very fresh because I can taste the acidity in the sauce/soup.
If you leave them longer the acidity will get stronger and actually taste bad, but you will also see the vegetables beginning to wilt and brown - which of course is when you no longer use them.
So, based on this comparison (and the fact that stores will avoid taking risks with our health) I would say: use your zucchini as long as your taste agrees (and as Stephie suggest in another answer: that may not be the case in bread and cake).
A remedy is to not store your cut vegetables in plastic (something supermarkets cannot avoid), but try wrapping them in ordinary (news)paper to serve as a moisture buffer, then slice off any parts that may have dried out.
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