Laura Smith
Mushrooms are kosher, but there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to their preparation and consumption in accordance with Jewish law. Firstly, while mushrooms grow on the ground, they do not derive their nutrition from the soil like plants, so they are not given the same blessing as vegetables. Instead, they are given the blessing by whose word all things came to be. Additionally, when preparing fresh mushrooms, it is important to check for bugs and parasites, as the presence of these can render the mushrooms non-kosher. Canned or pre-cooked mushrooms require kosher certification to ensure they have not been contaminated by non-kosher products during processing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Are frozen mushrooms kosher? | Frozen mushrooms are not explicitly mentioned, but mushrooms are kosher as long as they are checked for bugs. |
| Blessing for mushrooms | "By whose word all things came to be" or "shehakol nih'ye bidvaro" ("who created all things with His word") |
| Mushroom varieties | Porcini, Morels, Chanterelles, and Cordyceps |
| Mushroom status in Jewish communities | Some Eastern European Jewish communities considered mushrooms treif due to Maimonides' warning about their poisonous nature. |
| Commercial manufacturing impact | Canned or precooked mushrooms require certification to ensure no contamination from non-kosher products processed in the same facility. |
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What You'll Learn
- Frozen mushrooms require certification to ensure they haven't been contaminated by non-kosher products
- Mushrooms are kosher, but they must be checked for bugs
- The blessing for mushrooms is by whose word all things came to be
- Porcini mushrooms must be firm to the touch and cut in half to check for parasites
- Cordyceps mushrooms may not be kosher if they are parasitic and take over insects
Frozen mushrooms require certification to ensure they haven't been contaminated by non-kosher products
While mushrooms are kosher, they must be checked for bugs. The medieval Jewish philosopher Maimonides, in his Mishneh Torah, warned against eating mushrooms because some varieties are poisonous. Certain types of mushrooms, such as porcini, may be partially consumed by slugs or infested with larvae. Therefore, it is essential to inspect them for parasites and cut away any parts showing tracks made by larvae.
Commercial manufacturing has further complicated the kosher status of mushrooms. Frozen mushrooms, like canned or pre-cooked mushrooms, require certification to ensure they have not come into contact with non-kosher products during processing. This certification is crucial in ensuring that frozen mushrooms have not been contaminated by non-kosher products, which could render them unsuitable for those adhering to kosher dietary laws.
The unique biology of mushrooms, which are neither vegetable nor fruit, has been the subject of halachic discussions in Jewish law. Mushrooms derive their nutrients from decaying organic matter rather than photosynthesis. As a result, Talmudic sages determined that mushrooms should receive the blessing "shehakol nih’ye bidvaro" ("by whose word all things came to be"), rather than the blessing for vegetables, "ha'adamah" ("who creates the fruit of the earth").
Additionally, supplements with reliable kosher certification should be used to ensure that all fillers, additives, and equipment used in processing have not come into contact with non-kosher products. This attention to detail in certification and inspection ensures that frozen mushrooms meet kosher requirements and can be confidently consumed by those following kosher dietary practices.
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Mushrooms are kosher, but they must be checked for bugs
According to Jewish law, mushrooms are neither a vegetable nor a fruit. They gather nutrients from decaying organic matter rather than through photosynthesis. As a result, Talmudic sages decided that mushrooms do not require the blessing for vegetables, "who creates the fruit of the earth", but rather the blessing "who created all things with His word" used for food that does not fit into any other category.
Mushrooms are also exempt from tithes because they are not planted. A leading 19th-century posek (Jewish legal arbiter), Avrohom Bornsztain, even considered mushrooms blessed. He argued that when God expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and cursed the earth's land, obliging them to toil for food, mushrooms, which require no human labour, were exempt from the curse.
However, it is important to carefully inspect mushrooms for bugs before consuming them. Reliable sellers of porcini mushrooms often sell them cut in half to facilitate inspection for parasites. When buying or foraging for whole porcini, it is recommended to cut them in half to check for larvae. Look for tiny holes on both sides of the cap and all over the stem, especially at the bottom. Any parts of the mushroom showing tracks or paths made by larvae should be cut away and discarded.
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The blessing for mushrooms is by whose word all things came to be
Although mushrooms grow on the ground, they do not receive their nutrition from the soil as plants do. Therefore, the blessing for mushrooms is not "Blessed are You... who creates the fruit of the earth", the blessing said on vegetables. Instead, it is "by whose word all things came to be". This is because, unlike plants, fungi derive their carbon from other organisms, usually decomposing plants.
The Talmud recognises that although mushrooms often grow on the ground, they do not receive nourishment from the ground (Brachot 40b). This means that although mushrooms are always kosher in essence, there may be kashrut concerns that arise during their processing. Fresh, dried, or frozen mushrooms without any questionable ingredients are considered kosher.
Before ingesting the mushroom, one can recite the following blessings (brakhot). The first one thanks the universe for creating the fruit of the earth, and the second thanks the divine for bringing you to this moment:
> "You are blessed, O God, Spirit of the World, who creates the fruit of the ground. You are blessed, O God, Spirit of the World, who has kept us in life and sustained us, enabling us to reach this season."
After ingesting the mushroom, one can light a hadvallah candle, or a candle with two wicks. The wicks represent the journey and the path of returning to daily life. Hold the candle up and recite the following blessing:
> "Blessed are You, THE MANY-NAMED, our God, the sovereign of all worlds, who separates between holy and ordinary, light and dark. Blessed are you, THE INVISIBLE, who separates the holy from the ordinary."
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Porcini mushrooms must be firm to the touch and cut in half to check for parasites
Porcini mushrooms are a delicious treat, but they are highly perishable and can be expensive, so it is important to know what to look for when buying them. Firstly, check that the mushrooms are firm to the touch. Soft porcini mushrooms are likely to be home to parasites or worms. Reliable sellers often sell them cut in half, allowing buyers to check for parasites. If you have purchased whole porcini, cut them in half to inspect them for parasites and small holes, which indicate worms. The caps should be thick, firm, and white underneath. If they are yellowish or brown, they are too ripe. If you see a deep green colour or black spots, they are also too ripe.
When preparing porcini mushrooms, clean them gently with a damp paper towel and cut away the lowest part of the stem. Then, cut the mushrooms in half and slice them into thin pieces of the same thickness. You can then fry them in hot oil, or dress them with olive oil, salt, and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese for a delicious mushroom salad.
Porcini mushrooms are a type of fungus and are therefore kosher. Although they grow on the ground, they do not receive their nutrition from the soil, and so are not considered plants. The Torah specifies which foods are forbidden, and mushrooms are not included on this list.
It is important to note that porcini mushrooms can be confused with other similar-looking mushrooms, such as the bay bolete and the bitter bolete. Bay boletes are reddish in colour, and when cut, the flesh turns slightly blue and can stain your hand. Bitter boletes are orange or tan in colour, but their caps can turn brown and develop a white edge, similar to porcinis.
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Cordyceps mushrooms may not be kosher if they are parasitic and take over insects
According to the Torah, most insects are not kosher. Cordyceps mushrooms are a type of parasitic fungus that infects and takes control of insects, including ants, caterpillars, and spiders. The fungus grows inside the insect, feeding off its resources, and eventually erupts from the insect's head to spread its spores and infect other hosts. This process turns the insect into a zombie-like state, manipulating its behaviour to optimize spore dispersal.
Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, commonly known as the zombie-ant fungus, is a well-studied species of Cordyceps. It infects ants by attaching its spores to their exoskeletons and then infiltrating their bodies. As the infection advances, the fungus takes over the ant's central nervous system, compelling it to descend from its nest to a more humid environment that favours fungal growth. Eventually, the ant is manipulated to bite into a leaf vein, where it remains until its death. After several days, the fungus sends a fruiting body out through the ant's head, using its corpse as a launchpad for further spore dispersal.
While mushrooms themselves are not explicitly mentioned in the Torah, they are considered kosher by some because they are not forbidden. However, the kosher status of Cordyceps mushrooms is questionable due to their parasitic nature and association with insects. Some sources suggest that Cordyceps mushrooms are not kosher because they take over the bodies of insects, which are mostly non-kosher. On the other hand, lab-grown Cordyceps that use grains instead of insects as their host may be considered kosher.
The kosher certification of supplements and additives is essential to ensure that they are suitable for those adhering to kosher dietary laws. The Torah specifies which foods are forbidden, and anything not explicitly prohibited is permitted. Therefore, the ambiguity surrounding the kosher status of Cordyceps mushrooms may be clarified by examining their method of cultivation and whether they are derived from insect hosts or alternative sources.
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Frequently asked questions
Frozen mushrooms are kosher as long as they are checked for bugs.
The blessing for mushrooms is "by whose word all things came to be" or shehakol nih’ye bidvaro (“who created all things with His word”) in Hebrew.
All types of mushrooms are kosher, including porcini, morels, chanterelles, and cordyceps mushrooms. However, it is important to ensure that they are free from parasites and larvae.
