Mushrooms, can I eat these ?

[majordad]

Found these in my garden, they may have come in compost I moved last week from my compost heap to this bed.

What are they, posinous I suppose? While the first one is round the othere seem to be an irregular shape, they may even be a different mushroom !

[calibrax]

Yes, you can eat them.

Will you die a horrible death by poisoning as a result? Who knows...!

Mushrooms at the supermarket are only a couple of quid. Is it really worth the risk?

Anyway, even if someone on here does say they are ok, you really still need to do more research to be sure...

Good luck!

[-Pete-]

They're from the boletus family, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boletaceae

This is a fairly easy family to work with, if they're at all dangerous they will taste bitter. But if you don't have someone experienced to advise you (ie not an internet forum) I'd leave them alone.

The distinguishing factor of boletacae is the sponge-like underside. If you ever find mushrooms with gills (petals radiating from the centre outwards) don't assume you can taste test them, some are deadly poisonous even in small doses.

[otolith]

Does the flesh turn blue after cutting it?

[soad]

Similar to porcini or cep...definitely not magic mushrooms.

[cinque]

I am an avid mushroom gatherer from a long family line of gatherers. It's 100% a Boletus

Point is, there are many different types and if you can't identify it "yourself" or you don't have an expert with you, it's just not worth the risk.

I'd suggest it's probably a Cracked Boletus, which in fairness, is not worth eating anyway.


IF you find any Boletus Edulis or indeed Leccinum, let me know and i'll personally come round and identify them for a small mushroom fee.

[Mobile Chicane]

They're boletes alright. I suspect 'peppery bolete', which as the name suggests tastes peppery hot to the point of being inedible.

I really don't subscribe to the point of view that mushrooms are cheap enough to buy from supermarkets so why bother collecting wild ones. Wild mushrooms are an absolute treat. The best species are impossible to mistake unless you're a complete idiot, and it's great fun looking for them.

[soad]

Mobile Chicane said:

and it's great fun looking for them.

It is, until you come across a snake sunning itself in the woods!

[spikeyhead]

soad said:

Mobile Chicane said:

and it's great fun looking for them.

It is, until you come across a snake sunning itself in the woods!

Free meat as well as mushrooms, what's not to like?

[otolith]

The nice thing about boletes is that the consequences of getting it wrong are relatively minor. Inedible food to stomach ache rather than horrible painful death.

[majordad]

otolith said:

Does the flesh turn blue after cutting it?

No, stays the same colour. I'm afraid I won't chance eating them.

[majordad]

I live in Cork, Ireland so comming around would merit a bit more than a mushroom, some Beamish perhaps ?

I really would like to try them but do need an expert with me to advise, not possible here I'm afraid. Thanks to all for the advice.

[otolith]

majordad said:

No, stays the same colour. I'm afraid I won't chance eating them.

That rules out one of my suspects. No, don't eat any mushrooms unless you know exactly what they are.

[majordad]

While many bemoan the demise of PH I was very happy to see good advice offered by seasoned PH'rs. I had hoped Mobile Chicane would chime in and she did, thanks to you all. It hurts me to forgo these lovely mushrooms but better alive than dead.