What To Do If You Find a Worm in Your Fruit?

 

What To Do If You Find a Worm in Your Fruit

It’s a stomach-turning moment: you bite into an apple, peach, or pear and discover a tiny worm inside. While unpleasant, finding a worm in your fruit doesn’t automatically mean the fruit is unsafe to eat—or that your kitchen is unclean. Here’s what you need to know and how to handle it.

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Why Worms End Up in Fruit

Worms in fruit are usually fruit fly larvae or caterpillars, and they make their way into fruit in a few ways:

• Eggs laid on the fruit: Some insects lay eggs on fruit while it’s growing.

• Organic or unwashed fruit: Worms are more common in organically grown produce because it’s less likely to have chemical pesticides.

• Bruised or damaged areas: Fruit with small cracks or soft spots is more vulnerable to insect activity.

It’s important to note that these worms are not harmful to humans if ingested accidentally—they’re just unappetizing.

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Steps to Take If You Find a Worm

1. Inspect the Fruit
   Check for additional holes, discoloration, or soft spots. If only a small part of the fruit is affected, the rest is often fine to eat.

2. Remove the Affected Area
   Cut away the portion of the fruit with the worm or damage. Make sure to remove a little extra around it to ensure no larvae remain.

3. Wash Thoroughly
   Rinse the fruit under cold running water. Using a brush for firm-skinned fruits like apples can help remove any remaining debris.

4. Decide Whether to Eat or Discard

   • Firm fruit with minimal damage: safe after removing the affected section.

   • Soft or extensively damaged fruit: better to discard.

5. Check Other Fruits
   If one fruit is affected, inspect others in the same batch. Worms or larvae can sometimes spread if the produce has been stored together.

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Prevention Tips

• Wash and inspect produce: Always wash fruits before eating. Check for tiny holes or soft spots.

• Store properly: Keep fruit in cool, dry areas or in the fridge to slow insect development.

• Consider organic trade-offs: Organic fruit may have a higher risk of small insects, but it’s pesticide-free.

• Buy fresh, in-season produce: Older or overripe fruit is more prone to insect activity.

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The Bottom Line

Finding a worm in your fruit is unsettling, but it’s usually a sign of natural growth rather than contamination. By inspecting, cutting away affected areas, and washing fruit thoroughly, you can safely enjoy most produce.

Remember, worms in fruit are more gross than dangerous—and they remind us that fresh, natural foods often come with tiny, unexpected surprises.