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If You See This On Your Food, This is What it Means...

Your food hasn't gone bad yet. Sometimes there is unpleasant white stuff on salmon, oranges, and tangerines and even on the baby carrots. And what is that horrid dust on the chocolate? What did they put on my baby carrots? And is that little slimy string on the egg yolk a vein?
Tasty food almost can't be tasty if it doesn't look good and has the right texture. Would you be willing to try any of these desserts without the smell of sweetness enticing you? As you know we at Baba Mail believe that knowledge is power, so read closely to learn a thing or two before you throw out a perfectly good egg or candy bar. 
 

What is the White Stuff on Salmon?

Albumin in Salmon
The white residue on salmon is a harmless protein called albumin. When the fish is raw you can't see it, but when it cooks it thickens and turns white much like when an egg cooks it turns white, in a process called denaturing of protein. You can either remove it or keep it. Here are two tips to minimize the albumin goo: Cook slowly and avoid overcooking.
A salmon fillet is usually a quick meal, but if you have the time and patience, you can brine the fish. This is a process in which you submerge the fish in a water and salt solution to break down muscle fiber and minimize albumin discharge.
Here's how: you mix half a gallon of cold water and half a cup of salt, and submerge your fish for 2 hours or overnight. Keep it in the fridge for that period. Rinse and cook as usual. 

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What is the White Stuff in Oranges?

Half an orange, peeled
The stringy spongy matter on your orange slices is called orange pith. It is a tissue that binds the orange together with a slightly bitter taste. It is as rich in vitamin C as the rest of the orange is, and it also contains fibers. You know how hard it is to come by fiber, so we would suggest eating the pith. If the texture is too unpleasant or the taste is too bitter you can juice it all together in a blender. 
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What is the White Stuff on Chocolate?

Chocolate bloom
This is a rather uncommon thing, but sometimes you'll find your chocolate looks white or dusty, especially if you store it in the fridge. Even this thing has a name and it is chocolate bloom. It occurs when the fat in chocolate (cocoa butter) separates from the rest of the candy. When it hardens, the fat shows. While it may sometimes affect texture or taste, it is 100% safe to eat. If you or the kids don't want to eat it, don't throw a perfectly good candy away! Use it for baking.
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What is the White Stuff on Baby Carrots?

Dehydrated baby carrots on wooden cutting board
Let's take a quick look at what even are baby carrots. They do not, in fact, grow like that. They are carved and cut to about 2 inches from a full-size carrot! This idea was born in the early 1980s when the carrot industry was stagnant and many carrots went to waste because of how crooked they looked. A farmer by the name of Mike Yurosek came up with the idea of just sculpting a few bite-size carrots out of a big wonky one that wasn't pretty enough for the supermarket racks.
Now, regarding the white stuff. With a cute dainty name as "carrot blush", rest assured this is 100% harmless. Carrot blush is a sign of dehydration of the carrot. As we said before, baby carrots are skinless, so nothing shields them from losing water. The loss of moisture causes the newly exposed surface to roughen up, much like a human dehydrated skin that turns white and flaky. You can take care of this problem by soaking your baby carrots in water for 5 minutes. 
Source, Source

What is the White Stuff on Egg Yolk?

raw egg
There's a little wonky string around the egg yolk of your fresh egg. Some myth-busting before we get to the truth: it isn't a vein or a baby chick’s umbilical cord. What is it then? It's called a chalaza. There are two of them in an egg, one suspends from the top of the shell and one from the bottom. It is made of protein, and it holds the yolk in place to prevent it from bumping on the shell from inside. It's what keeps the yolk intact. As with the rest of the white matter on the list, it is 100% safe to eat. Not only that, but you should look for it as it is a sign of freshness. 
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You may also have noticed that there are white stripes inside of chicken breasts. Unlike the rest of the foods on the list, this isn't the best thing to have on chicken breasts. In a nutshell, this means that the texture will be tougher and that the meat is fattier. It is still safe to eat, but for the best nutritional values, opt for a clear piece of meat. Click here for the full article. 
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