We all know you can use high temperatures to kill mold spores but at what temperature will these mold spores die?
Most molds get killed in the pasteurization process at 54.4℃ (130.1 ℉) lasting around 30 minutes. More resistant mold spores completely die off at 60℃ (140℉), also over the course of 30 minutes.
Does Heat Kill Mold on Bread?
Since most experiments focused on the pasteurization process, researchers set out to determine the effects of heat on mold while baking bread.
The experiment showed that no molds survived while the elapsed time was 35 minutes and the temperature was slowly raised from 20℃ (68℉) to 100℃ (212℉), to simulate the process of baking bread in the oven.
Note that these temperatures apply to the baking process.
When we take a loaf of bread and expose it to mold, we get a whole different story.
If you want to kill off mold that’s present on the exposed bread loaf, you will need higher temperatures – 120℃ (248℉) for 10 minutes. This temperature destroyed the mold cells but the interesting thing is some mold species will survive even these temperatures.
Does Pressure Cooking Kill Mold?
As the name suggests, a pressure cooker increases the pressure, while cooking, by an additional 15psi. This makes the water boil at a higher temperature (121℃ or 250℉) which is usually sufficient to kill off mold.
And if we are talking about boiling, where the water temperature reaches 100℃ (212℉), it will generally kill off mold, just make sure you boil it for more than 35 minutes.
Does Heat Kill Mold On Cheese?
The most common molds used in cheese making are different variations of Penicillium mold. As discussed before, penicillium mold spores present on cheese will die when exposed to temperature of 120℃ (248℉) for 10 minutes.
Will Sunlight Kill Mold?
It is a well known fact that mold grows in humid, dark and poorly ventilated areas (in your house most commonly). So, does direct exposure to sunlight kill off mold or is it just a happy coincidence?
No, it is not a coincidence as sunlight will kill 99% of mold over the course of 1 to 2 hours. The critical factor here is UV-C (an active part of the light spectrum), which is responsible for killing mold.
Does Freezing Kill Mold?
Unfortunately, freezing mold will not kill it, it actually ensures its longevity by keeping it dormant.
But what is mold’s freezing tolerance? Well, according to CDC’s “Procedure for Preserving Yeast and Mold Isolates”, the mold is preserved at a temperature of -70℃ (158℉) to ensure its long-term viability.
What Kills Mold Instantly?
If you are looking for the best way to kill mold instantly, you should use a non-ammonia detergent and hot water to rinse the area, and disinfect the cleaned surface using a 10% bleach solution.
After you are done bleaching the surface, let it dry for 10-15 minutes before rinsing it with hot water. And if there is any mold left, repeat the process.
The important thing to keep in mind here is to use a non-ammonia detergent because if you mix ammonia with bleach, you will produce a highly toxic gas called chloramine.