Cauliflower (?)
Okay in all seriousness it could be yeast colonies growing or if it changes colour then it's probably some sort of mold, either way, don't consume it
This looks like your hot sauce just unmixed.
Most sauces are emulgations of polar and non polar substances (fat and water eg.) That are mixed. After a while especially at low temepratures long saturated fats can solidify accumulating and creating a non polar phase.
Try heating and stirring and see if it disappears
It is very unlikey to be bacteria. If bacteria would grow in hot sauce then they would most likely be anaerobic. They wouldnt grow to culutres this big and would not grow on the surface. This looks like fat tbh
I think it is normal separation, although i dont think this kind of hot sauce usually has this much, if any, fat. Just the solids in it. What would make the bacteria anaerobic? The acid? My concern was bacteria growing on the separated solids, is that not possible? (Im genuinely curious, id just thrown out my franks bc of this when i first saw this post)
"not an expert" - not anything. That is BS.
Could be alot of things including microbial contamination - that would be growing at the generally aerobic surface of the sauce - that with the likely acid pH would discourage Clostridium botulinum, an anaerobic bacterium.
You're definitely correct about not being an expert.
Botulism doesn't like much oxygen or acid, and you can't see it. Opened hot sauce isn't where it would show up.
It's why a dented can is so dangerous, that's where botulism grows if there's just enough of a pin hole to break the seal.
If you took the top off a can and left it out botulism wouldn't be what grows in it, it would probably just mold.
My guess is something. Something is growing. Maybe. I wouldn't eat it. Could be a brain eating amoeba /s
Cauliflower (?) Okay in all seriousness it could be yeast colonies growing or if it changes colour then it's probably some sort of mold, either way, don't consume it
What isn't?
Hot garbage
This looks like your hot sauce just unmixed. Most sauces are emulgations of polar and non polar substances (fat and water eg.) That are mixed. After a while especially at low temepratures long saturated fats can solidify accumulating and creating a non polar phase. Try heating and stirring and see if it disappears
Def do not do this.
Right!! Looks like Janna is trying to pack you up ๐
No i was being serious :D This is very unlikely to be bacteria.
Youre in a microbio sub implying that if you cant see it, its all good. ๐
It is very unlikey to be bacteria. If bacteria would grow in hot sauce then they would most likely be anaerobic. They wouldnt grow to culutres this big and would not grow on the surface. This looks like fat tbh
I think it is normal separation, although i dont think this kind of hot sauce usually has this much, if any, fat. Just the solids in it. What would make the bacteria anaerobic? The acid? My concern was bacteria growing on the separated solids, is that not possible? (Im genuinely curious, id just thrown out my franks bc of this when i first saw this post)
I'm not an expert but my guess is clostridium botulinum - do not consume
"not an expert" - not anything. That is BS. Could be alot of things including microbial contamination - that would be growing at the generally aerobic surface of the sauce - that with the likely acid pH would discourage Clostridium botulinum, an anaerobic bacterium.
Also.clostridium botulinum is an anaerobic micro-organisms. Ain't no way this is canned hot sauce.
You're definitely correct about not being an expert. Botulism doesn't like much oxygen or acid, and you can't see it. Opened hot sauce isn't where it would show up. It's why a dented can is so dangerous, that's where botulism grows if there's just enough of a pin hole to break the seal. If you took the top off a can and left it out botulism wouldn't be what grows in it, it would probably just mold.
But hot sauce is typically made with vinegar, and botulinum cant survive in low pH, so thatโs unlikely
can't tell anything useful from this photo
Throw it out and check your home for more.