Which Mushrooms are Safe to Eat?

Only YOU can determine if a mushroom is edible. 
Hold yourself responsible for what you put in your mouth.  What someone else finds edible does not guarantee that the same mushroom is safe for YOU to eat.

Some edible mushrooms are very similar in appearance to poisonous kinds and may grow in the same habitat. Edible mushrooms are known to be safe to eat because they have been eaten frequently, by many people, with no ill effects. Poisonous mushrooms are known because someone ate them and became ill or died. There is no test or characteristic to distinguish edible from poisonous mushrooms. This indicates a need to identify with certainty one of several of the proven edible species and pick and eat only those positively identified. At the same time, you should also learn to identify some of the common poisonous mushrooms, especially those that are similar to edible kinds. It is especially important to learn the characteristics of the Amanita mushrooms, since several of the species common in in our area are poisonous, a few causing serious illness and sometimes death.

The season for collecting wild mushrooms for food begins when the first morel or sponge mushrooms are found. The false morels (members of the Gyromitra genus) are found at this same time of the year, but they must be regarded as poisonous and not collected for eating. It is true that many have eaten false morels with no apparent ill effects. However, recent research has shown toxins to be present in some of the false morels that can cause death or serious illness.

From mid summer to late autumn, a great variety of mushrooms may be found. A number of these are choice edibles.

Edible vs. Poisonous-True or False

• Poisonous mushrooms tarnish a silver spoon. False
• If it peels, you can eat it. False
• All mushrooms growing on wood are edible. False
• Mushrooms that squirrels or other animals east are safe for humans. False
• All mushrooms in meadows and pastures are safe to eat. False
• All white mushrooms are safe. False
• Poisonous mushrooms can be detoxified by parboiling, drying or pickling. False

Collecting Wild Mushrooms

• Be sure of your identification - try to eat only kinds known to be edible.
• Do not eat mushrooms raw.
• Eat only mushrooms in good condition.
• Eat only one kind at a time and do not eat large amounts.
• Eat only a small amount the first time; even morels, generally considered to be excellent, may cause illness in some persons.
• Don't experiment. There is an old saying, "There are old mushroom hunters, and bold mushroom hunters, but there are no old, bold mushroom hunters."
• Obtain a copy of one or more books or publications on mushrooms.  When identifying mushrooms by use of a guide, make sure to check to see if it is one of the "look alike".