Science in my refrigerator

[pink_trike]

My little "science projects in the fridge...leftovers in sealed containers that slowly grow a new civilization of fuzz...

 

The process seems to follow a progression:

 

- Substance seems to, for lack of a better word, "ripen".

 

- juices begin to separate out

 

- a thin layer of slim forms over the the food substance,

 

- small patches of fuzzy growth,

 

- explosive growth of a fuzz colony that spreads rapidly and reaches spectacular heights,

 

- deflation, collapse, dehydration, dust.

 

1. Is there a scientific name for this developmental process?

 

2. Are there names for the various stages contained within this process?

 

3. Is there an associated law(s)?

 

Thanks...

[ecoli]

It's basically the breakdown of the food by microbial action. The fuzz is mold, which is a fungus. the juices are probably separating out based on density differences.

[gcol]

the juices are probably separating out based on density differences.

 

Dont want to divert the thread, so ignore if necessary, but:

 

When formulating recipes and cooking methods for fishing bait, I quickly became aware of the finicky way that the two types of starch in most foodstuffs can hold different amounts of water at different temperatures. This separation of solids and fluids, which may well precede microbial action, is an interesting subject for food chemists in its own right, and I believe that the many varieties of modified starch are produced just to minimise this effect

as regards freezer and shelf-life.

[pink_trike]

It's basically the breakdown of the food by microbial action. The fuzz is mold, which is a fungus. the juices are probably separating out based on density differences.

 

but the process (if you can call it that) does have names for the various stages.

 

My ommission...I should have added, "and if so, what are they?". What would be some related keywords pointing me toward more information about these stages and their names?

 

thanks

[bonnie]

My little "science projects in the fridge...leftovers in sealed containers that slowly grow a new civilization of fuzz...

 

The process seems to follow a progression:

 

- Substance seems to' date=' for lack of a better word, "ripen".

 

- juices begin to separate out

 

- a thin layer of slim forms over the the food substance,

 

- small patches of fuzzy growth,

 

- explosive growth of a fuzz colony that spreads rapidly and reaches spectacular heights,

 

- deflation, collapse, dehydration, dust.

 

1. Is there a scientific name for this developmental process?

 

2. Are there names for the various stages contained within this process?

 

3. Is there an associated law(s)?

 

Thanks...[/quote']

 

I don't think that there would be a scientific name for the development of fungi. Is there a scientific name for the development of animals?

 

bonnie