Mold on kombu?

[Hassouni]

So I opened up a packet of kombu today, and I saw whitish blobs that look sort of like mold, but I'm not sure. They are separate from the white powder that I take is concentrated glutamates. Is this normal? I've never noticed it before.

[Jenni]

Can you post a pic? As you clearly know, kombu can get sort of a whiteish build up that is completely normal, but it's hard to say without seeing and it sounds like you are pretty sure it is something else. How old is the packet? I have had packets of kombu in the cupboard, open, for over 2 years and never had any mould grow on it. By the way, it sat in the cupboard because I forgot I had it and it got lost under clutter, it's not something I would intentionally do!

[Hassouni]

Here we are

The spot that looks circled

The lighter colored bumps

Edited January 17, 2012 by Hassouni (log)

[Jenni]

Don't you love how I confidently told you to post a pic and now that you've done so my response is....er...I don't know! I suppose it does look a little strange but then kombu already looks a bit weird so honestly I think if I had kombu like this I might perhaps just break off anything that looked really suspect and then use the rest anyway...

Edited January 17, 2012 by Jenni (log)

[Hassouni]

Well it turns out I'm not using it until tomorrow so I have a good 24 hours for the real konbu-heads to answer!

[budrichard]

Not normal in my book. What was the source of the Kombu? I try to purchase only Japanese product or in a pinch South Korean from retailers that have a fast turnover of product.

Small stores many times have product that has sat for ages.-Dick

[Hassouni]

It's Japanese, bought from Super H Mart, a store with pretty big turnover

[Hassouni]

After a 24 hour soak, those blobs have swollen and when punctured release mucilage. I'm guessing this is NOT mold now...

[Jenni]

After a 24 hour soak, those blobs have swollen and when punctured release mucilage. I'm guessing this is NOT mold now...

Whatever it is, it doesn't sound good!

Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510e using Tapatalk

[_john]

probably just some disease on the konbu when it was growing. nothing to worry about. High grade konbu will have no marks or blemishes on it and be a uniform width. I personally buy the type that has holes in it due to being bitten by sea urchins. I like thinking that the sea urchins know which konbu is best

[BarbaraY]

I think I wouldn't use it. Sounds looks really strange.

[Shel_B]

I'll try bumping this old thread and see if there's any action.

 

I bought some kombu yesterday and when the package was opened I saw this:

 

 

This looks like an unhealthy mold. I've never seen anything like it on past kombu purchases. What do the kombu mavens think?

[Duvel]

Likely Mannitol. Wipe it off with some sake and you’re probably good to go …

[Shel_B]

The highlighted, round blotchy area is my main concern.  That doesn't look like mannitol to me, but I've only bought and used kombu about half a dozen times and my experience is limited. Have you seen that sort of thing before? You don't think it's mold or something perhaps unhealthy?

[Duvel]

If you want certainty, leave it out for a day or two. If your “mold” grows, throw it out. If it stays the same or slowly dissolves from the humidity I might be right 😉

[Tropicalsenior]

10 hours ago, Shel_B said:

bought some kombu yesterday and when the package was opened I saw this:

I wouldn't even have questioned it. I would immediately take it back to the store for refund or replacement.