There are so many cool things one can do with epoxy resin:
- Create DIY crafts.
- Use it to give a shiny and neat texture to furniture.
- Use it as an adhesive and much more.
Some people even put things and cover them up in epoxy. Imagine adding food to that! Will it rot?
Let’s find out!
Food Rotting in Resin
Many epoxy resin enthusiasts like trying to cover food in epoxy. What happens when someone does that? Well, the short answer to that is the rotting process gets delayed. The rotting process slows down because the air is usually not present inside, which is only possible if one sucks the air out of the food item. The chances of food rotting will be higher if air and water are inside the food item and, thus, will cause fungi formation and foul odour.
Food in the Epoxy Resin with preservatives in it
If preservatives are added to the food item, chances are that item will thrive inside and not rot that quickly. If the mold in which it is kept is cut open, that item might smell like how it would when one initially prepared the food. Let’s say hamburger, for that matter, might go on for approximately 8 to 9 months inside an epoxy resin mold.
Fruits inside an epoxy resin mold
The rotting process may slow down if the air is removed from the mold. Some microorganisms need oxygen for metabolic reactions, and if the air is not present, these organisms will not be able to function. When encased inside an epoxy resin mold, fruits may lose their colour.
Some microbes can function even without oxygen, which may lead to the fruit releasing pressure or shrinking inside the mold. Here are some examples of how some fruits react when encased in the mold:
- An apple will release its juices if covered inside an epoxy resin mold, and it might already start losing its colour when the procedure to encase it begins.
- A banana might release some air bubbles when it is put inside a resin.
- A strawberry loses its colour when kept inside and loses its pinkish-reddish colour. But the fruit remains intact.
If these fruits are kept for years and years together, then they will start rotting. It should not be consumed at all.
The meat inside the epoxy resin mold
Meats will start showing discolouration once kept inside the mold. You can see the texture change, and some meats might begin inflating inside the case. There are chances of the resin mold blasting because of this reason.
Should you eat the food that was encased?
The answer is – absolutely not! No matter how long you keep them inside, you should never eat them. Even if you keep it for one day, you should still refrain from consuming it. The resin dust might get into your oesophagus and cause severe damage. Also, when cutting the resin mold, the sharp parts might get inside your body and pierce your food pipe, stomach walls and intestines. So, it is best not to let the thought even cross your mind.
The ones stored for months or years should also be kept from being consumed, despite adding preservatives.
Conclusion
So, depending on the preservatives added and the water and air removed, there can be a delay in the rotting process. Some items may rot instantly, while some will take a longer time. Even if they rot or not, we recommend not consuming the encased food items.
Working with epoxy and encasing stuff inside it like food shows that human curiosity can make one achieve anything they set their mind to!
Also, read Can You Polish Resin With Oil?
