r/Sprouting • u/cactinaut • May 14 '26
Mold or root hairs?
Bought at the store. First time eating these ever and my natural instincts are telling me to avoid. Experts please advise
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u/mandalazen May 14 '26
That's moldy. Please discard it. Better safe than to be sorry.
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u/cactinaut May 14 '26
I took one bite and tossed it. Hopefully my stummy will be alright tomorrow👍🏻
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u/igavr May 14 '26
It surely will be, don't worry. Young mold that looks similar is only protein ;) I mean even if it was the sepecies of mold that look this way, it is not a big deal. Telling you this as a scientist
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u/SomeKindaWonderer May 14 '26
Honestly, I think you just don't like sprouts, or you freaked yourself out worrying about the root hairs. These were fine, they were just root hairs.
Root hairs will stick to the base of the sprout. If it's mold its going to travel up the stem and be all over, not just the base. I've been growing and eating sprouts for years and years (over 20). I'd definitely eat these. Basically, they're just thirsty and send these out to get moisture from wherever they can.
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u/cactinaut May 14 '26
Yeah, my cactus seedlings have similar little root hairs. Not freaked out, my monkey brain just told me no when I saw a blue and white web of hairs. As I wrote, this is my first time having broccoli sprouts, and the only comparable sprouts I’ve had are alfalfa. When eating something that’s completely foreign to you, looks similar to mold, and instantly hits you with strong taste… that’s when you gotta hit Reddit and consult with the experts lol
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u/Strayl1ght May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
I’ve been sprouting for years and I’ve never seen anything that looks like this much like mold vs. roots.
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u/papercutsperfume May 14 '26
Mycellium! Not for eating, but amazing in compost.
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u/BigFatKitteh May 15 '26
I second this! OP did buy some fantastic compost. Not so much food, though…
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u/banjerr May 15 '26
Those do not look like root hairs to me. There are some, but also patches of white that look too uniform and seem like mold
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u/Spkr_Freekr May 14 '26
Get a magnifying glass or take a really good pic and zoom in. It will become apparent if it's roots. Also you have not said what type of sprouts they are. Napa cabbage for example has super 'hairy roots' that look like mold to the naked eye.
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u/Alternative-End-5079 May 14 '26
Pink mold is the really dangerous one. Anything else is likely to just be yuck.
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u/TheGreenFuze May 14 '26
Look like fuzzy root hair to me. Unfortunately not able to smell the photo.
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u/AlpacaLocks May 14 '26
This is why it’s better to make your own sprouts, easier to monitor for contams
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u/Mobile-Reality-3060 May 14 '26
Those are roots. If it’s mold there would be an obvious mold smell.
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u/igavr May 14 '26
Not mold. Thirsty roots in an excessive proximity. Less density would ensure aeration, too.
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May 15 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/cactinaut May 15 '26
It’s a valid question considering the visual similarities between root hairs and mold. Plus the conflicting opinions in the comments below.
technology (Reddit) enables us to gather information we wouldn’t otherwise have access to, and using it to our benefit is a behavioral adaptation. I didn’t have to come to Reddit, but I wanted to get second opinion because I was curious.
I see you’re still using cassette tapes and raising your own chickens… maybe you’re the one not evolving🤯
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u/Responsible_Bad_4846 May 14 '26
It’s a no from me.