Steps on How to Identify Edible Mushrooms
There are edible mushrooms that look like poisonous ones and you should take extra care to identify mushrooms correctly.
24/05/2020
Edible mushrooms are a treat to cook and eat if you know which ones to pick. There are places around the world were foraging for mushrooms is a seasonal activity by locals who know how to identify edible mushrooms in their area. However, there is the danger of picking mushrooms that may look like edible mushrooms but are in fact poisonous mushrooms. The fact that there are edible mushrooms that look like poisonous ones means we should take extra care to identify mushrooms correctly.
Be Aware of the Identifying Features of Mushrooms
People who are foraging for edible mushrooms out in the forest face the risk of finding poisonous mushrooms instead. If you do not recognize the mushroom then it is best to leave it because there is a chance it is poisonous. There are also mushrooms that taste great but will in fact make you sick after eating them.
There are certain types of mushrooms that are well known to be poisonous such as the death cap mushroom and the angel destroyer from the amanita family which can be distinguished by their white gills. The fly agaric mushroom is distinctive for its bright red cap and is known to bring hallucinations.
Know What Type of Mushroom You are Looking For
Forest guides who bring foragers on educational excursions would emphasize that there are only a few edible mushrooms to hunt for which have been proven to be safe. Other mushrooms may look edible but are yet unidentified and may cause sickness. If you are not sure about the mushroom you are looking at then don't pick it up.
When foraging for mushrooms in the forest, it is best to stick with the common edible mushrooms that have been tried and tested. These mushrooms have distinctive features that can help you make sure that they are the safe mushrooms to eat. Some common edible mushrooms are morels, chanterelles, oysters, while the turkey tail mushroom is medicinal.
Oyster mushrooms fan out in clusters that are shaped like oyster shells. They have decurrent gills which means that they run all the way down into the stem. They often form into shelflike clusters.
Another mushroom that fans out into clusters is an edible mushroom that is known for its immune system boosting properties. The turkey tail mushroom can be identified by the different colors that it has which can be likened to those found on a turkey's tail.
Morel mushrooms are distinctive for their honeycomb appearance. Be sure to check that they are hollow from the bottom of the stem to the tip of the cap. There are black and yellow morels.
Chanterelle mushrooms require special care in identification because there are other mushrooms that have similar features but can give you stomach cramps and diarrhea instead. One feature to identify a chanterelle mushroom is by checking for false gills meaning it should look like the gills have melted into the cap.
When you are on a hunt for edible mushrooms, be very clear about the identifying features of a specific edible mushroom that you are hunting. If you find one that you are not sure about then do not pick it up. Edible mushrooms have similar looking relatives that can make people sick. It is better to miss out on one edible mushroom than accidentally pick up and eat one that is not.