11 Edible Mushrooms in the U.S. (And How to Tell They're Not Toxic
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11/29/2019 11 Edible Mushrooms in the US (And How to Tell They're Not Toxic) 11 Edible Mushrooms in the U.S. (And How to Tell They’re Not Toxic Lookalikes) December 4, 2018 | Kayla Fratt Mushroom hunting is a rewarding way to get outside and learn more about nature. There are many different edible mushrooms in the United States, including tasty chanterelles and morels. Mushroom hunting can also be quite dangerous – many mushrooms are very similar in appearance. It’s easy to accidentally gather the wrong mushrooms, with devastating (or even deadly) consequences. When in doubt, throw the mushrooms 2 out. It’s best to learn about mushroom hunting and identication from an expert (or at least a detailed mushroom guidebook). Don’t just skim through a few photos and go out to sample the ‘shrooms – be thorough about your research into lookalikes, dening characteristics, collection, and storage. https://www.plantsnap.com/blog/edible-mushrooms-united-states/ 1/25 11/29/2019 11 Edible Mushrooms in the US (And How to Tell They're Not Toxic) Using staining and examining spores might be necessary to properly identify edible mushrooms – that’s why it’s important to get help! Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the common (and tasty) edible mushrooms of the United States! #1: Morel Mushrooms (Morchella esculenta) Range: Found across much of the U.S., especially under hardwood trees in orchards, burn areas, and disturbed grounds. Harvest Season: A short time in springtime – exact window varies based on 2 location. Identifying Characteristics: Distinctive “honeycombed” cap, deeply wrinkled and yellow-grey. Hollow through the center. 2 to 9 centimeters tall by 2 to 5 centimeters thick. https://www.plantsnap.com/blog/edible-mushrooms-united-states/ 2/25 11/29/2019 11 Edible Mushrooms in the US (And How to Tell They're Not Toxic) Dangerous Lookalikes: Few mushrooms share the same honeycombed top. When in doubt, throw ’em out. Preparation: Strong taste, best cooked in butter and often paired with leeks. #2: Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarus and more than 15 other species) Range: Found across North America, Eurasia, Central America, and Africa, mostly in coniferous forests (but may be found in grasslands, mountainous birch forests, or beech forests depending on the location and specic species). They generally grow in clumps among the moss. 2 Harvest Season: Late summer through December, depending on the area and species. Identifying Characteristics: Yellow or golden mushrooms, funnel-shaped, and meaty. Under the cap run gill-like ridges that run down the stem. Chanterelles may smell fruity, woody, or earthy. https://www.plantsnap.com/blog/edible-mushrooms-united-states/ 3/25 11/29/2019 11 Edible Mushrooms in the US (And How to Tell They're Not Toxic) Dangerous Lookalikes: The false chanterelle is darker (almost orangeish) and has a darker center that grades out towards light edges. It’s not dangerous, but tastes bad and might upset your stomach. Jack-o-lantern mushrooms can be confused for chanterelles. The gills of a jack-o-lantern mushroom are much thinner, deeper, and delicate than the smooth, blunt, and shallow gill-like ridges of a chanterelle. Jack-o-lantern mushrooms are toxic. Preparation: Chanterelles often have a mildly peppery taste. They’re quite rich and often cooked with butter, wines, or creams. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons. #3: Fairy Ring Mushroom (Marasmius oreades) 2 Range: Widely distributed across North America. Prefers to grow in grassy areas such as lawns, elds, or even dunes. They often grow in the craters where stumps used to be. https://www.plantsnap.com/blog/edible-mushrooms-united-states/ 4/25 11/29/2019 11 Edible Mushrooms in the US (And How to Tell They're Not Toxic) Harvest Season: Summer and fall, may grow year-round in warm climates. Identifying Characteristics: These small mushrooms grow in a ring or arc. The cap is generally 1 to 5 centimeters across. When young, the cap might be slightly inrolled but it becomes upturned as the mushroom matures. The cap is sometimes described as nipple-like, with a prominent center. The fairy ring mushroom is dry and bald, generally a pale tan or buff (but may be white). The stem is very tough (this is one of the most reliable identication characteristics for this edible mushroom) and may or may not be attached to the gills. The spore print will be white. Read more about identifying fairy ring mushrooms here. Dangerous Lookalikes: Clitocybe dealbata is similar but does not have a tough stem. The gills are much more crowded than the fairy ring (which has well-spaced gills). Preparation: Remove the stem, leaving the cap intact. Rinse with cold water if needed, then let dry. They don’t have a strong taste, so use more basic recipes to let their avor shine. 2 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons. https://www.plantsnap.com/blog/edible-mushrooms-united-states/ 5/25 11/29/2019 11 Edible Mushrooms in the US (And How to Tell They're Not Toxic) #4: Sweet Tooth, Wood Hedgehog, or Hedgehog Mushroom (Hydnum repandum) Range: Widely recorded in North America, Europe, Australia, and northern Asia. Harvest Season: Summer and fall. Identifying Characteristics: The wood hedgehog has spines or teeth on the underside of the cap rather than ridged gills – these are the dening characteristic of the species! Viewed from above, it is similar in shape to a chanterelle (but is pale orange-ish tan rather than golden in color). This mushroom bruises dark orange or yellowish brown. The cap is varied in shape, generally broadly convex and 2 to 17 centimeters across. Dangerous Lookalikes: No poisonous lookalikes, though this species may be confused with related North American species Hydnum albidum and Hydnum albomagnum. Preparation: The wood hedgehog has a sweet and nutty taste. It’s crunchy and can be frozen. 2 https://www.plantsnap.com/blog/edible-mushrooms-united-states/ 6/25 11/29/2019 11 Edible Mushrooms in the US (And How to Tell They're Not Toxic) Photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons. #5 Meadow Mushroom or Field Mushroom (Agaricus campestris) Range: This species is found across North America, Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and New Zealand. It’s generally found in grassland and may grow alone or in a “fairy ring.” Harvest Season: Spring, summer, or fall after rain. Identifying Characteristics: The meadow mushroom has a white cap that’s 5 to 10 centimeters across. The cap is at when the mushroom is mature. Underneath the cap, you’ll nd pink gills in young mushrooms, reddish-brown in juvenile mushrooms, and dark brown gills in mature mushrooms. The stipe (stalk) is 3 to 10 centimeters tall. The esh of the mushroom bruises to a reddish brown color and the spore print is dark brown. Discard any specimens that do not have the distinct pink gills. Take extra caution with white mushroom species – there are fatal lookalikes. Dangerous Lookalikes: This species is closely related to several species – some are deadly, others are edible. Amanita virosa is deadly and resembles the meadow mushroom when it’s young. Just one cap is enough to kill a person. The gills of the deadly Amanita virosa are white, as is the spore print. Amanita bisporigera and Amanita ocreata are also toxic lookalikes found in North America. A. ocreata can be identied by whitish gills and white to pinkish fruiting bodies. A. bisporigera also has white gills. These mushrooms are some of the most poisonous known mushrooms and cause liver failure. They’re collectively known as “destroying angel mushrooms.” Other lookalikes include Agaricus xanthodermus, which causes gastronomical upset and can be identied by a yellow stain that appears in the stipe (stem) when cut, and Agaricus arvensis, which is also edible. Agaricus arvensis has white gills (like the deadly Amanita virosa) when young, but they become a dull chocolatey color in adulthood. Agaricus arvensis often smells similar to anise. These lookalikes highlight the reason that it’s so important to get help from an expert when learning to identify mushrooms! 2 Preparation: This mushroom tastes much like the button mushroom, but has a shorter shelf life. It’s tasty when sauteed, fried, or even raw on salads. https://www.plantsnap.com/blog/edible-mushrooms-united-states/ 7/25 11/29/2019 11 Edible Mushrooms in the US (And How to Tell They're Not Toxic) #6 Shaggy Mane Mushroom, Lawyer’s Wig, Shaggy Inkcap, or Maned Agaric (Coprinus comatus) 2 Range: Grasslands and meadows across North America and Europe. Harvest Season: June through November, depending on temperature. Identifying Characteristics: This species is only edible when immature – before the gills turn black. It’s got a shaggy cap that droops over much of the stem when https://www.plantsnap.com/blog/edible-mushrooms-united-states/ 8/25 11/29/2019 11 Edible Mushrooms in the US (And How to Tell They're Not Toxic) young and is covered in loose scales. The gills rapidly turn from white to pink to black. This species must be harvested before the gills turn black. Dangerous Lookalikes: The maned agaric can be confused with the common ink cap, which can induce vomiting, diarrhea, and other unpleasant symptoms if eaten within a few hours of consuming alcohol. The symptoms can be frightening but will subside without further consumption of alcohol. The severity of these symptoms is generally proportional to the amount of alcohol consumed. Preparation: This mushroom carries lots of water, making it a good addition to soups and stocks, including risotto. Photo taken by Don Loarie and shared courtesy of Flickr. 2 #7 Hen of the Wood, Ram’s Head, Sheep’s Head, Signorina, or Maitake (Grifola frondosa) https://www.plantsnap.com/blog/edible-mushrooms-united-states/ 9/25 11/29/2019 11 Edible Mushrooms in the US (And How to Tell They're Not Toxic) Range: This mushroom is found at the base of trees, especially oak trees in China, Japan, and northeastern North America.