Calling all biologists, botanists, mycologists... Though, then again, I'm not quite sure what exactly this thing is. Back story: Had half a gallon of commercial apple juice (not cider) in the fridge, opened in the first week of January this year. Haven't touched it in three weeks. Tonight I pulled the half-empty container from the refrigerator, shook it up, opened it and sniffed to be sure it wasn't moldy, had no "off" smell, so poured out a glass, only to have this splash into the glass (the cotton swab gives scale):



I saved the foreign body with a little apple juice in a glass jar, and discarded the rest of the original bottle. Later, I decanted the body into a white plastic container (a little apple juice came along with it) and shot a couple photos. Here, I'm pressing on the body with a bamboo skewer, not piercing it:



Its form is flattened without the support of fluid, but in fluid it hovers near the bottom (not swimming!) and resembles a fat donut with a deeply dimpled middle.

I have NO idea what this is. Before I section it to look at it under the microscope, I thought I'd see if anyone here has a clue what it might be. Ideas?

[magkelly]

It's congealed pectin. That juice was getting ready to ferment. It happens at some point. You should leave it in there. Might end up with the apple juice equivalent of white lightning...:P

[Tamia]

It's congealed pectin. That juice was getting ready to ferment. It happens at some point. You should leave it in there. Might end up with the apple juice equivalent of white lightning...:P

What a thought, Mags! So who wants to come to the party?

[Bob Harris]

just a little protein with your drink Tamia. Do like I did to my brothers when we were young, "taste it and see if it's OK".

[Tamia]

just a little protein with your drink Tamia. Do like I did to my brothers when we were young, "taste it and see if it's OK".

We had been drinking the juice while this was "growing," I think. Still alive and kicking! (I've eaten weirder things. Like flipper pie.)