Eggplant is a food that contains many essential nutrients but is delicious and cheap, so many people trust it. You can make most dishes with unusual cooking styles from just one Eggplant.
It can also be combined with many other ingredients to create unique and attractive dishes.
However, Eggplant has a disadvantage in quickly spoiling when you do not store it properly. It is also what worries many people these days.
So, how to tell if Eggplant is bad?
Today’s article will cover how to tell if Eggplant is bad and some notes on long-term eggplant storage.
What Does A Ripe Eggplant Look Like?
Eggplant is a vegetable that comes from the eggplant family. In terms of shape, it looks similar to tomatoes, okra, and zucchini. The average size is approximately the same as that of potatoes. You can also come across variations that have a slightly elongated shape. You can easily find it in any supermarket or market across each country.
They usually have a purple-green or white bark and grow exceptionally well in hot, humid environments.
The taste of Eggplant combines a slight bitterness, soft and sweet when ripe. In addition, it has the property of absorbing the flavors and odors of the ingredients it cooks with.
With other vegetables, you will have to think about the right way to cook, but when processing Eggplant, users flexibly choose methods including frying, baking, sautéing, or boiling.
Nutrition
| Nutrients | AmountTrusted Source in 1 cup of eggplant cubes | Daily requirementsTrusted Source for adults |
| Energy (kilocalories) | 33.6 | 1,000–3,000 |
| Carbohydrate (g) | 8.29, of which 3.04 are sugar | 130 |
| Fiber (g) | 2.4 | 22.4–33.6 |
| Magnesium (mg) | 10.6 | 310–420 |
| Phosphorus (mg) | 14.4 | 700–1,250 |
| Potassium (mg) | 117 | 4,700 |
| Folate | 13.4 | 400 |
| Choline (mg) | 8.93 | 400–550 |
| Beta carotene (mcg) | 21.1 | No data |
Recipes
Maybe you feel that Eggplant’s slightly bitter flavor and spongy texture can make it an interesting and tasty addition to many dishes different that we can experience !
Try the following recipes:
- Crispy baked eggplant
- Japanese miso glazed eggplant burgers
- Roasted eggplant with tahini, pine nuts, and lentils
- Spiced shrimp and eggplant stir-fry
- Eggplant spirals with Greek yogurt, tomatoes, and cucumber
- Eggplant stew
How To Tell If Eggplant Is Bad?
Eggplant is easy to eat, easy to make, and easy to buy. However, they are often damaged or damaged.
Therefore, many homemakers are dissatisfied but equally worried about this. So how do you most effectively recognize Eggplant showing signs of deterioration? We will specifically talk about it below.
Color
The first factor that users should pay close attention to is food color. When looking at eggplant looks, check the freshness of the stem and cap. If they start to turn red, the Eggplant may be spoiled.
In the state where you have cut the fruit, you need to pay attention to the eggplant meat.
The original color of the flesh is white, so fruit with brown or black spots should be discarded. However, the moment the user cuts the Eggplant, the flesh turns brown, and it is due to the eggplant browning by enzymes or exposure to oxygen. In this case, you can still use it usually.
Texture
Besides pigment, the texture is also an indicator of the current state of the food. Eggplants with cracks and wrinkled skin are discarded. Users should give priority to smooth and shiny skin.
In addition, if the fruit, when pressed, gives you a soft feeling, this is a spoiled fruit that needs to be removed.
As for the fruit, when you press it hard, it still retains the firmness in the flesh, and the food is still fresh.
Smell
It is the ultimate way to tell if an eggplant is bad or good. Make sure you only use this step when applying the steps above but can still not determine the eggplant condition.
The user will bring the coffee close to the nose and smell its scent.
The food is spoiled or too old if you notice a strange smell. If there is no unusual smell, you can rest assured to use it.
How Long Do Eggplants Last?
- At room temperature
Eggplant can last 4-5 days if you keep it at room temperature 20-22°C. But to eat better, you should store it in a crystal or paper dry food bag.
Do not put Eggplant together with fruits that release ethylene, such as bananas, apples, pears, lemons, and peaches.
Ethylene gas spoils the Eggplant and affects the foods left with it during the short period.
- In the fridge
Users store eggplants for 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator. However, this timeline is only accurate if you have not prepared or cut any part of the Eggplant. For the type that has been designed or cut into slices, 3-4 days is a safe time to use.
- In the freezer
Freezing is the way to help tomatoes maintain the longest of the 3 options, and the shelf life can be up to 1 year.
Even if your Eggplant has a very long shelf life in the refrigerator or freezer, we recommend that you eat it earlier than the recommended date. Because the longer it is left, the taste, as well as the deliciousness of the coffee, will decrease. Also, when food is kept for a long time in the refrigerator, harmful bacteria will be born.
The Eggplant’s shelf life is only correct when you apply it with proper food preservation. If you neglect the preservation process, the tomatoes are easily damaged before the specified time.
How To Store Eggplant?
As we said above, Eggplant is easily damaged, so you must store it carefully. Users can keep it at room temperature or in a cool, dry place like a temperature-controlled pantry. It would help to choose paper bags or dry plates to store food instead of sealed plastic containers.
Plus, you can store your coffee at room temperature, in the fridge, or in the freezer, depending on how long you want to store it. But if you’re going to keep it for a long time, you should put it in the freezer, which is the smartest choice.
How To Freeze Eggplant?
The way to help you use Eggplant longer than you expect is to freeze it. Freezing is a popular method for foods such as chicken and fish.
But when applied to Eggplant, the effect is also extremely high. First of all, you need to blanch it in boiling water for about a few minutes depending on the amount of fruit available, and the specific way is as follows:
- Boil water on high heat
- Use salt or lemon juice in boiling water (¼ lemon juice) for 8 cups of water)
- Place ice in a bowl of regular cold water
- Peel and cut into pieces and place in boiling water for 10-15 minutes
- Then fold all the blanched tomatoes into a bowl of cold water
- . Seal them in freezer bags.
Eggplants stored in the freezer can last up to 12 months. Although they keep for a long time in the freezer, it is best to handle them 1-2 months in advance. Note that you should defrost Eggplant before using it like how to defrost bacon.
How To Pick A Good Eggplant?
Choosing fresh and clean vegetables is always a concern of top chefs and housewives.
To own a delicious, nutritious, and cheap eggplant, you should use your sense of smell, touch, and vision to scrutinize each fruit one by one.
The user needs to get the fruit with purple, green, or white skin, and its skin should be tight, shiny, and without any strange odors or spots.
Is It Okay To Eat Eggplant That Is Brown Inside?
The brown flesh inside Eggplant is something many people often encounter recently when cutting the fruit.
The cause comes from the enzymatic browning process, and the air is oxidizing some chemical compounds. Another reason is damaged coffee.
If the enzyme causes it, you can eat it without any problems. But when the Eggplant is brown, and the seed bags are tiny, you should throw them away.
Conclusion
How to tell if Eggplant is bad?
It is not easy for inexperienced people.
Therefore, you should apply the above suggestions flexibly to avoid eating damaged eggplants affecting your health.
With the information provided, we believe you have understood more about how to tell if Eggplant is terrible and have a more general view of Eggplant.
If you have any questions, leave a comment below. We will try to answer as soon as possible.
Thank you for reading!
