this post was submitted on 16 Apr 2025
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[–] [email protected] 93 points 2 months ago (1 children)

They’re water carrying vessels which oxidized when cut, like an apple turning brown.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The perspective doesnt make it look like there is a cut there, but the image is just not the best.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I mean, if it was still intact we wouldn't be able to see the inside. Or am I not getting something? (No offense, I'm often not sure if I'm stupid :D)

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The surface to the right has been cut, but the surface to the front (which has the dots), looks like it has been broken apart from the rest of the plant by force not cut with a knife. So why are these black dots only in that small area and not everywhere on the front facing surface? Something about the area i marked is different from the rest.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Aaah, I assumed it makes no difference whether it was broken or cut. A bit like apples that turn brown over time of you don't pour lemon juice on it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

If it "breaks" it might not actually sever the strands of the material, and behave more like wood splitting along its length. Also if it was oxidation then the whole cut surface on the right should be completely black.

[–] [email protected] 47 points 2 months ago (2 children)

That's just how eggplant looks. Source: ex-vegan chef

[–] [email protected] 26 points 2 months ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 27 points 2 months ago (3 children)

They could still be a chef but no longer a vegan.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Or still a vegan just not a chef that cooks vegan food.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 months ago

I'm not either anymore, still vegetarian tho

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

That's how I interpreted it, yeah.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

They could've never been νеɡаո in the first place if it was just a job

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago
[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Tell me the secret to buffalo flavoring for fried tofu! I've got the crisp coating down pretty well using either potato or corn starch but I'm missing some sort of almost smoky-peppery flavoring that is so textbook of, say, Tyson chicken strips or something. I feel I've stumbled across it once or twice but never actually isolated the spice.

Obviously I've dumped tons of garlic, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne powder, and no amount of frank's does the trick lol.

Second to that I'm trying to remake an Americanized Korean Hot sauce I had before that is definitely one part frank's and I think gochugang but again, missing something else.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Try some smoked paprika or liquid smoke.

Liquid smoke kicks ass and I use it all the time when prepping vegan dishes. I'm not sure the exact flavor you're trying to recreate, but liquid smoke is a staple in my kitchen for helping boost vegan dishes that imitate meat. You can also try frying curry leaves in the oil you use before frying the tofu. That flavor isn't quite right when you use it in the proportions one would normally use curry leaves, but a few infused into the fry oil will get ya something subtle and interesting.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Thanks, I'll definitely be trying liquid smoke next! I really should start messing around with curry seasoning more. I might also try to find aged cayenne pepper to see if that makes any difference, too.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I'm no chef but.. smoked paprika? Sounds like it could fit the bill, maybe.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

Good suggestion! I did try that but unfortunately it didn't seem to be it. Unless I just didn't put enough in.

I think I stumbled across it somehow with air frying pickled jalapeños alongside the tofu but couldn't replicate it. Not sure if it had to do with the vinegar or crisped/burnt jalapeño, etc.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

Liquid smoke? Start with ml amounts.

[–] [email protected] 44 points 2 months ago (2 children)

... those the seeds innit?

[–] [email protected] 27 points 2 months ago (2 children)

A Google Image search for eggplant seeds shows something much larger than what OP's talking about.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Probably didn’t develop fully yet. Eggplants are picked before they fully ripen. They could also be aborted seeds that will never grow too.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 months ago

This. Eggplant seeds are growing. Not fully developed yet.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

Huh, TIL. Thanks!

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Here are some places where people had the same question, and the answer was seeds every time:

https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/g5fb9v/when_i_cut_open_my_eggplants_that_have_been_in/

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskCulinary/comments/w2ccxb/what_are_these_tiny_black_seeds_in_my_eggplant/

https://www.reddit.com/r/vegetablegardening/comments/16m4til/eggplant_dots/

https://www.reddit.com/r/foodsafety/comments/1iv7qb4/eggplant_had_dark_spotsseeds_safe_to_eat/

Note that random reddits are not a source of reliable information. However, OP is certainly not the first to notice such spots, and it is not marked anywhere as dangerous. It is also notably absent on any sites about checking whether your eggplant has gone bad.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

Nice thank you for this.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

Nope, just had a look on Google and they don't look like eggplant seeds

This looks like black mold to me

[–] [email protected] 38 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 37 points 2 months ago

Well, yours is the only answer she agrees with, so I guess it's right.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 2 months ago (1 children)

eating eggplant for years, it is fine - a general rule of thumb - if if looks good, smells good, doesnt seem wierd to touch, and does not taste bad, it is probably good (does not apply to wild berries/leaves/mushrooms).

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

if it is fresh then most likely not, i have had very fresh eggplants (3-4 hrs after getting from field) and it had spots. I am not sure, but i think it is fine, but if it is old, then your hypothesis can not be ruled out easily

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

That eggplant doesn't look fresh to me either, it looks old

[–] [email protected] 26 points 2 months ago (2 children)

That’s toxic and you shouldn’t eat it! Specifically because it’s eggplant.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Pretty sure eggplants are from the nightshade family for anyone who doesn't know

Nightshade family flowers are poisonous

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

That’s correct, you’re taunting death when you eat it. It tries to warn you with its disgusting taste and texture.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

My wife hates eggplant with a passion. I don't get it.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago (2 children)

She’s correct, because it tastes and chews like carpet padding. And before you say “you’re cooking it wrong”, I’ve had it at restaurants, and cooked it myself several times. Awful stuff.

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 months ago (1 children)

This doesn't look like seeds to me, but it's also super hard to see what the eggplant tissue is like. If you didn't mention eggplant, I would never guess what you're holding is an eggplant. A classic cross section of the whole thing would be more useful to identify what's going on.

Next time if you can just cut the eggplant in half, either along its length or across, and take a photo

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago

Those are tarantula eggs 😜

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago

I really don’t know but after no results on other platforms a couple google results agreed that it’s the seeds.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I've grown a few eggplant varieties and I've never seen this. The seeds are much larger from my experience. Perhaps these are under developed seeds, I'm not sure. I'd say provide more images. Like has been mentioned get a single slice cross cut. I'd wager that it's possibly a reaction to the knife. So try and rip a few pieces and see if it's still there. I doubt it's mold or any sort of fungal infection. Unless the outside looks weird.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago

Those are definitely, 100% the seeds.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

This is a flavor blasted eggplant

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

If in doubt chuck it

I've never seen this on any eggplant I've cut in my life

Also that eggplant looks old and not fresh

That looks like the kind of mold that gives you headaches if ingested into your digestive system

I've also just had a look on google

No eggplant looks like your image and looks more like I expect to see based on all the eggplants I've cut

I doubt the other answers not saying its mold

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

I have a ton of theories. Do you happen to have a laser pointer you don't care about?

If so, take off the lense, put it in a hair pin, tape that to your phone's camera's lens, and take a macro image.

Post that image, and you'll get way better feedback.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

If I remember correctly, you can also use a water drop in the lens and it will amplify the image.

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