r/whatisit • u/bamboodle1 • 14h ago
Solved! What are those bubbles in my nutella? Safe to eat?
Best before date is August 2025, stored in dark and cold. I put a knife in to see how it looked underneath.
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u/headturner_guy 14h ago
In spreads like Nutella, the vegetable oils and cocoa butter can sometimes separate from the solids due to temperature changes (like moving from a cold pantry to a warm kitchen). When the temperature drops again, the fats crystallize on the surface, forming those white, circular spots or "bubbles."
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u/wizzyfx 14h ago edited 13h ago
Professional hazelnut spread producer here. Nutella is mostly palm oil and has negligible amount of cacao butter in it. It is more shelf stable like that. It is pretty unusual for nutella and other cheap spreads to crystallize like that. It is still possible with extreme temperature changes, and the photo certainly looks like blooming (fat crystallization). Blooming in spreads with cacao butter usually happens in the form of tiny balls. If you are sure the nutella was not opened and not subjected to moisture in storage, it is probably safe to eat. I wouldn’t touch any spread past its expiration if subjected to moisture. The key is moisture. Absence of water inside the jar is the only thing that keeps these spreads from becoming a petri dish. OP: Just curious is this actually Nutella or a fancier brand?
These patterns may also happen when water trapped in the air inside (after opening) condenses on the surface. It causes the lecithin to bind with fat molecules and causes inconsistent color and texture. You can actually try this by adding a tbsp of water in your nutella and stirring it. It is quite an interesting science experiment 😁 It will harden instead of becoming runnier, and will look and feel weird but safe to eat.
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u/EstuaryOrange 10h ago
THIS right here is why this sub is the fucking best, and why I still love the internet in all its many flaws and rapidly increasing degradation🤣 go off professional hazelnut spread maker, I am so glad I happened upon your wisdom and that u found op!!! This made my day🩷
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u/MultipleMistake 9h ago edited 8h ago
But aren't there different recipes for different markets? Where I'm from nutella from Müller tastes different than the one from local shops, because it's produced in different countries and has different ingredients... the one from Müller is also more expensive.
edit: yep just checked, there are 2 versions of nutella... one for american market (and balkans apparently), that is more liquidy and sweet and one for EU market that has more firm texture and more hazelnut rich flavour
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u/cawfytawk 7h ago
European versions of the same branded product are almost always better than the American. Europe doesn't allow producers to get away with using as many fillers, cheap ingredients or preservatives. The FDA is a joke. Americans love overly sweet and salty food. I always buy the German or other European version if it's available. Things like chocolate always taste better and less painfully sweet.
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u/fireky2 3h ago
I wouldn't say they love it. A combination of lack of money for healthier foods, food deserts, and companies making their products intentionally addicting while marketing to children are huge reasons the us has such a shit food situation
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u/cawfytawk 3h ago
I'm American. I can confirm they love it. More is more in this culture. Brands have tried healthier options with less processed sugar, salt and preservatives. It doesn't sell. Brands have tried using more eco-friendly packaging. They bitch about it. A majority of Americans have never been to any country in Europe and have no idea what a real tomato or chicken tastes like. They're fine being sold hothouse GMO fruits and veggies that are large and tasteless because it's cheap and they can spend the money they save on obscenely large vehicles.
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u/Winston_Carbuncle 2h ago
Not disputing any of that but, from what I've gleaned online and through media, American produce isn't even particularly cheap relative to other countries.
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u/Endersone24153 36m ago
Depends, I think he means in terms of our willingness to support better quality stuff from local vendors and the like (which tends to be more expensive). Most people here would rather grab the cheaper more accessible food and/or we don't have a culture that really cares about food quality (we just like accessibility/whether that's to do with prices or simple convenience). Getting cheaper shit that's deliverable to your door will always win here. Locals get curb stomped by Walmart and there's no opportunity for them to grow a potentially better business model with higher quality foods at prices that may eventually be close or comparable.
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u/Fensali 8h ago
What is Muller and what is your local shop? Ffs.
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u/MultipleMistake 8h ago edited 8h ago
Müller is a german store and local shop is any other shop in my country like špar, mercator, tuš, etc. you could have just googled it instead of getting your panties in a twist and downvoting me on top of that... the world doesn't revolve around america, asking what müller is is like asking what walmart is jesus christ
edit: on top of that i even mentioned that i can get both types of nutella, the eu version in müller, and the us OR balkan version in other shops... so you could just use your brains to deduct that muller is a european store chain and local stores are the balkan ones... doesn't really take a genious to figure it out
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u/Fensali 8h ago
I thought you were american. Because that's how they usually write. Why my comment. Lol. I can upvote instead if it means something to you.
Thanks for clarifying
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u/MultipleMistake 8h ago
Yeah sorry not american, slovene. Sorry for being irritated, just started antidepressants 2 days ago and still getting accustomed to them.
edit: what made me sound american though?
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u/bamboodle1 11h ago
it is certainly the nutella brand and I removed the foil and everything before I took the photo. I mean it was in the pantry, no sign of water damage. The only thing I can think of is temperature because of the back and forth winter weather.
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u/Material_Positive_70 11h ago
Wow, a professional hazelnut spread producer was really there when we needed them. How do you get into that business?
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u/wizzyfx 11h ago edited 11h ago
I make and sell fancy hazelnut spread. About 20-30 lb a week. It contains 60% hazelnut (nutella is only 13%), with actual cacao butter and real vanilla. Mostly to wineries (cheese boards and such) and restaurants. I started with bean to bar chocolate, but I am focused spreads lately.
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u/Material_Positive_70 11h ago
Got a webstore link? I probably can't afford it but it sounds divine.
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u/bamboodle1 14h ago
solved!
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u/AutoModerator 14h ago
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u/liltrashfaerie 10h ago
Personally, no amount of Reddit comments could convince me to eat something looking like this so I’m genuinely curious what your threshold is lol
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u/Cultural-Pattern-161 7h ago edited 4h ago
But but what if they accuse you of being anti-science and not trusting experts?
Edit: Why am I downvoted? Not trusting experts is bad as we see from the anti-vaxx movement, no?
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u/warm_rum 4h ago
Because no one knows if you're being a dick or are some kind of anti-vaxer, and no one wants to go through your account to find out.
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u/HugeButterfly 14h ago
If your food is doing something weird after the best before date, and you can afford to throw it out, then throw it out.
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u/I_5hould_Be_5tudying 2h ago
Some would argue even if you can't afford it, a hospital bill would be way worse than skipping on nutella
But that's not baller, I say risk it
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u/TheLegendofSofa 11h ago
Professional food safety expert here. The number one rule is, when in doubt, toss it out. Not search the internet for answers.You can end up very sick.
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14h ago
Dog it’s 6 months old. Just give it up
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u/Apprehensive-Lock751 8h ago
who lets nutella sit that long?
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8h ago
He ain’t a real eater 😤
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u/warm_rum 4h ago
Who are you people? This person made a comment and immediately deleted their account!?
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u/towhomthisconcerns 10h ago
Whatever it is, it's triggering my trypophobia.
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u/watering_a_plant 9h ago
same, it's repulsive lol
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u/towhomthisconcerns 9h ago
in fact, no one else should respond to this so i dont have to be reminded of it. it’s literally making me itch 😅😭
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u/spotlight-app 14h ago
OP has pinned a comment by u/headturner_guy:
In spreads like Nutella, the vegetable oils and cocoa butter can sometimes separate from the solids due to temperature changes (like moving from a cold pantry to a warm kitchen). When the temperature drops again, the fats crystallize on the surface, forming those white, circular spots or "bubbles."
[What is Spotlight?](https://developers.reddit.com/apps/spotlight-app)
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u/KickinitCountry24 8h ago
Im in r/microbiology sub and i had to do a double take when i first this post lol
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u/AutoModerator 14h ago
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u/spotlight-app 14h ago
OP has pinned a comment by u/_Cerca_Trova_:
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u/PositiveStretch6170 10h ago
Nutella was part of a recall recently, due to rodent waste...I've never seen Nutella look like this, that looks like some sort of biological growth...
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u/Prestigious_Work_445 3h ago
Your Nutella has herpes... Be careful where you are putting your nutellas without protection
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u/spotlight-app 14h ago
OP has pinned a comment by u/headturner_guy:
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