How to tell natural bloom from mold on a plum's skin, remove the pit safely, and wash and store plums properly from the first check to the last bite.
The pale, dusty coating on a plum's skin is usually just natural bloom, but anything that spreads like fuzz or smells off is worth treating as spoilage. This guide walks through the moments where appearance alone isn't enough to tell - from the first check, through pitting, to storage.
The steps build on each other, so it helps to follow them in order. If you're serving plums to a child, or unsure whether one has gone bad, jump straight to the last item first.
01
Rinse under running water right before eating
Wash your hands first, then rinse the plum under running water without soap, right before eating. Washing and storing plums ahead of time leaves them damp and prone to softening, so save the rinse for right before you eat.
02
Tell bloom from mold
An even, powdery coating is natural bloom, but clumped white patches that don't fully wipe away may be mold. If there's a fermented smell along with it, discard the fruit rather than eat it.
03
Clean the stem dimple carefully
The dimpled area around the stem tends to collect dust, so clean it gently with your fingers. Avoid digging in with a sharp tool, which can bruise the flesh underneath.
04
Wash your knife and cutting board first
Wash and dry your knife and cutting board before slicing - otherwise bacteria can transfer to the cut surface. Avoid reusing tools that just handled other ingredients.
05
Split along the pit's seam
Score along the pit's natural curve to split the plum in half without losing much fruit. Set it steadily on a cutting board and cut slowly to avoid injury.
