How to distinguish good mushrooms from bad ones

This should not be taken as a joke, because in our country every year there are between 200 and 400 cases of poisoning from ingesting poisonous mushrooms. Poisoning is generally due to confusion and ignorance.

Most of the ones that give rise to confusion are those with a stem and a hat, as well as some that attract attention for being showy. As for carpophores, that is, other types of species that do not have that shape, we will have to pay special attention to those that are brain-shaped or intestine-shaped. Not only are they very toxic but they can even be lethal.

You have to be especially careful with Manita Faloide, since it is deadly, grows in any type of forest and can easily be confused with a mushroom.

In order to distinguish whether mushrooms are edible or not you have to do a detailed examination of them. To do this, just follow these steps (although we advise you that the first time you go with a mycology expert).

Parts of the mushroom that you should look at:

1. HymeniumIt is the most protected part of the mushroom, just under the cap. Stay away from species that have it in the form of a sheet or tube. Those that are shaped like a sting or a fold are not toxic.

2. Trunk breaks. You have to pay attention to how it breaks the meat of the mushroom. If you see that it breaks in the shape of an elongated fiber, it is not edible; those that break in granular form you do not run any risk.

3. Shades of the sporade. It is somewhat complicated to detect, but if they are white, black, pink or brown, be very careful, especially with those whose spores are pink or brown.

4. Way in which the slats are located. Look if they are facing down the foot or up and if the foot is removable or not. In both cases there are mushrooms that can be eaten and mushrooms that cannot, so you will have to consult an expert.

5. Veil. The veil is produced during the development of the mushroom and is a membrane that protects it. Some fall off and others remain in the form of volvas, warts, rings or curtains. In this case it happens as in the previous one in terms of its toxicity.

Mushroom myths

There are many people who are confident at the time of collection because of things like these:

If a silver object becomes black when touched by a mushroom, it is poisonous. False, it does not have to always be true, since it may or may not be edible, depending on the species.

If the stew with mushrooms darkens, they are poisonous. It isn't true. It will also depend on the species.

If they are cut and change color they are toxic. It is not true, since there are some such as chanterelles, rovellones or other species that change their tone and are exquisite, totally harmless delicacies.