Yes, apples with spots on the surface are generally safe to eat, depending on the cause of the spots.
While a visually perfect apple is desirable, superficial blemishes often don't affect the apple's edibility or nutritional value. The most common causes of spots include sooty blotch and flyspeck, which are cosmetic fungal diseases.
Here's a breakdown:
- Sooty Blotch: This appears as dark, smudged areas on the apple's skin.
- Flyspeck: This presents as clusters of tiny, black dots that resemble fly droppings.
Both sooty blotch and flyspeck are surface fungi. This means they don't penetrate the apple's flesh and are generally harmless. You can often wash or peel them off if desired. The reference explicitly states "Fruit with sooty mold or flyspeck are edible."
However, if the spots are associated with:
- Soft spots: The apple is rotting underneath the skin.
- Deep lesions: The spots penetrate deep into the apple's flesh.
- Unusual odors: An off-putting smell indicates internal decay.
Then the apple should not be eaten.
In summary: Apples with cosmetic spots like sooty blotch and flyspeck are safe to eat. Apples with spots indicating rot or decay should be discarded.
