Can You Eat a Moldy Strawberry?

Download Article

Plus, find out if it's safe to eat the berries next to the moldy one

Co-authored by Erin Hostetler and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: September 30, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

Are moldy strawberries safe?

|

What to Do with Them

|

Can you cut the mold off?

|

Can you wash the mold off?

|

What if you eat one?

|

Video

Everyone knows the pain of buying a container of fresh, juicy strawberries, only to discover that one or more of them is sporting a jacket of fuzzy gray or white mold. If this happens to you, don't panic—you might still be able to save most of your berries. Let's find out if moldy strawberries are safe to eat, what to do when you find moldy berries in a bunch, and whether you can cut or wash the mold off. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

What to Do with Moldy Strawberries

Always throw away moldy strawberries. Don't cut or wash off the mold and eat the berry, since the mold has penetrated the inside. If you find a moldy strawberry in a bunch, discard any berries next to it, then check the other berries for mold, soft spots, or bruises. If they look plump and healthy, they're safe to eat.

Section 1 of 5:

Are moldy strawberries safe to eat?

Download Article

No, moldy strawberries aren't safe to eat. The most common type of mold to grow on strawberries is called Botrytis cinerea, or gray mold (named for its color).^{[1]
X
Research source} Eating a small amount of it might not make you sick, but large amounts can give you digestive problems, like nausea, stomachache, and vomiting. Always throw out a moldy strawberry as soon as you notice the growth on it.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- The mold on strawberries can also appear white, blue, or light green.

Section 2 of 5:

What to Do With Moldy Strawberries

Download Article

1
If less than a quarter of the berries are moldy, throw out only the moldy berries. If only a few berries have a gray or white fuzz growing on them, throw away those berries, as well as the ones that were next to them in the container. Then check the rest of the berries for signs of mold growth, soft spots, or bruises. If they look plump and healthy, you can still eat them!^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Wash the strawberries that weren’t moldy well in cold water before eating.^{[4]
  X
  Research source}
- You can then use your strawberries to make a simple strawberry smoothie, decorate a cake, or dip them in chocolate for a decadent treat!
EXPERT TIP

Erin Hostetler
Edible Gardening Expert
Erin Hostetler is an Edible Gardening Expert and the Owner & Farmer of The Patio Farmer, a small business based in Charlotte, North Carolina. With over 10 years of experience working on farms and growing food, Erin specializes in providing consultations, installations, and custom maintenance plans for people wanting to grow food in small (or large) spaces at their homes and businesses. Erin loves teaching other people the magic of growing your own food. She's a firm believer that there is a green thumb in everyone! Erin has degrees from Appalachian State University and King's College London, both of which guided her to start her business.

Erin Hostetler
Edible Gardening Expert

Store strawberries in a non-porous container. A good example is a plastic bag with a zip top or a glass jar. Then wait until right before you plan on eating them before washing them.
Unfortunately, if more than a ¼ of the strawberries in the container are moldy, it’s safest to toss out the whole container, rather than trying to eat the non-moldy ones.^{[5]
X
Research source}

Section 3 of 5:

Can you cut mold off strawberries and eat them?

Download Article

Strawberries are a soft fruit, with thin skin and a high level of moisture inside. According to the USDA, whenever a soft fruit has mold growing on the outside of it, you should discard it. The mold spores might have penetrated the skin and taken root in the berry's moist flesh.^{[6]
X
Trustworthy Source

Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDA
Food safety information provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Go to source}

Section 4 of 5:

Can you wash mold off strawberries and eat them?

Download Article

Even if you wash the mold off, tiny spores will still be growing inside the berry. If you eat it, you could get sick from the toxins the mold leaves behind.

Section 5 of 5:

What if you accidentally eat a moldy strawberry?

Download Article

You probably won't get sick if you eat a moldy strawberry. Consuming a small amount of gray mold isn't usually dangerous. That means if you eat some of a moldy strawberry before you realize it's bad, you'll probably be okay. If you eat a lot of moldy strawberries, though, you might experience some digestive issues, like an upset stomach and diarrhea.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Check in with your doctor if you accidentally ate moldy berries and are having any stomach or digestive symptoms.