Emily Johnson
Mushrooms are a versatile ingredient used in various dishes, from salads and stir-fries to sauces and soups. They are also consumed for their medicinal and hallucinogenic properties. Fresh mushrooms have a short shelf life and can quickly spoil if not stored properly. Signs of spoilage include discoloration, a bad smell, or a slippery texture. Proper storage methods, such as refrigeration and the use of airtight containers, can extend the shelf life of mushrooms and prevent spoilage. In addition to culinary mushrooms, wild mushrooms can also sprout in yards or lawns, especially after rainfall. While some wild mushrooms are edible, others can be poisonous, so accurate identification is crucial before consumption. Overall, mushrooms continue to be a popular ingredient in the culinary world and are expected to remain a food trend in the coming years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Freshness | Dry, firm, smooth, and pleasantly earthy smell |
| Shelf life | A few days in optimal conditions |
| Spoilage signs | Discoloration, bad smell, slippery texture, fuzzy growths, strange colors, rot, mushy areas, slimy |
| Storage | Airtight containers, vacuum-sealed bags, brown paper bags, plastic containers with holes, refrigerator |
| Health risks | Psychoactive compounds can degrade and develop harmful qualities |
| Culinary uses | Salads, stir-fries, sauces, soups, meatless meal substitutions |
| Trending | Specialty mushrooms, plant-based meat alternative, mushroom snacks, mushroom cocktails |
| Removal | Dig out with a shovel or spade, apply DIY fungicides |
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What You'll Learn
How to store mushrooms
Mushrooms are a versatile ingredient, but they are delicate and perishable. They are susceptible to contamination and spoilage, so proper storage is crucial to prevent health risks. Fresh mushrooms have a short shelf life, lasting only a few days in optimal conditions.
Firstly, when purchasing fresh mushrooms, choose those that are firm, dry, and smooth with a consistent colour and a pleasantly earthy smell. Avoid any that are soft, have dark spots, or smell sour or off.
When storing fresh mushrooms, it is best to avoid plastic containers or bags, as these can trap moisture and speed up spoilage. Instead, transfer the mushrooms to a brown paper bag, loosely folding over the top, or wrap them in a paper towel and place them in a bowl in the refrigerator. This will allow the mushrooms to breathe and help to absorb any moisture, preventing mould from growing. Alternatively, put the mushrooms in a small plastic container, cover the top with plastic wrap, and poke a few holes in the wrap so that they can breathe.
If you are storing sliced mushrooms, it is recommended to use an airtight container in the refrigerator, and they should be used within a week. Sliced mushrooms can spoil twice as quickly as whole mushrooms due to increased surface area.
To extend the shelf life of mushrooms, you can freeze or dry them. To freeze mushrooms, it is recommended to sauté or steam them first, then allow them to cool completely before placing them in freezer bags. Frozen mushrooms can be added directly to dishes to heat up. For long-term storage, drying mushrooms is a better option for preserving quality and flavour. Dried mushrooms can be stored in an airtight glass jar and will last for months or even years.
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How to identify bad mushrooms
It is important to be able to identify bad mushrooms as eating poisonous mushrooms can have severe consequences, including illness, organ failure, or even death. Here are some ways to identify bad mushrooms:
Check the colour
Mushrooms with white gills are often deadly. Edible mushrooms typically have brown or tan gills. If the mushrooms are darker in colour than usual, they are starting to go bad.
Check the texture
Fresh mushrooms are dry, firm, and smooth. If your mushrooms are slimy, mushy, or wrinkled, they are going bad.
Check the smell
Fresh mushrooms should smell slightly sweet and earthy. If they smell fishy, sour, or pungent, they are bad.
Check the shape
Avoid mushrooms with a ring around the stem. Check beneath the cap of the mushroom for a second veil-like ring of tissue that looks a bit like a mini-cap beneath the cap. If the mushroom has this feature, skip it.
Check the type
Amanita is a very common genus of mushroom, and some of the most toxic types of mushrooms belong to this group. Amanita mushrooms can be identified by their white gills and dry, umbrella-shaped caps.
Check the surroundings
If you are foraging for mushrooms, take note of their surroundings. What are they growing on? Are there any nearby trees? This information can be useful for identification.
Remember, if you are unsure about a mushroom, it is best to avoid it. Do not eat a mushroom unless you are 100% sure it is edible.
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Magic mushrooms and their effects
Magic mushrooms, also known as shrooms, mushies, blue meanies, golden tops, liberty caps, philosopher's stones, liberties, amani, and agaric, are hallucinogenic. They contain the psychedelic drug psilocybin, which is a Schedule I substance. This means that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) believes it has a high potential for abuse and serves no legitimate medical purpose. However, there is increasing interest in the potential therapeutic uses of magic mushrooms and psilocybin, with clinical trials showing promising results.
The effects of magic mushrooms vary widely and can be unpredictable. They can cause perceptual changes, such as visual and auditory hallucinations, and distort how people perceive their environment. They may also lead to heightened emotions and senses, with users feeling happy, creative, and giggly, and experiencing a sense of mental and emotional clarity. However, magic mushrooms can also cause unwanted side effects such as nausea, yawning, drowsiness, nervousness, paranoia, panic, and psychosis. The risk of a ""bad trip"" is always present, and this may include terrifying thoughts of losing control, paranoia, panic attacks, and fears of death. The biggest danger to health when taking magic mushrooms is consuming a poisonous mushroom by mistake, as many species look very similar.
The effects of magic mushrooms usually begin within 30 minutes when eaten, or within 5-10 minutes when taken as a soup or tea, and can last approximately four to six hours. The duration and intensity of the effects depend on the dosage, with larger doses leading to more unpredictable behaviour. The effects can also be influenced by the user's mood, previous encounters with psychedelic drugs, expectations, and surroundings. For example, being in a calm, quiet, and relaxed environment can contribute to a positive experience, while being in a noisy, crowded place may result in a negative experience.
While magic mushrooms have a low risk of addiction, tolerance develops rapidly with continued use. There are also no known withdrawal effects, apart from some potential mild psychological effects or feelings of tiredness. However, regular use may lead to flashbacks, where users relive a previous magic mushroom experience.
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Mushrooms as a food trend
Mushrooms have been steadily growing in popularity in the US over the last decade. According to Eric Davis, a representative of the Mushroom Council, mushrooms frequently top food trends lists and were even named "ingredient of the year" in 2022 by the New York Times. Sales of fresh mushrooms in grocery stores have increased by 20% over the past decade, while sales of specialty mushrooms have doubled.
There are several reasons why mushrooms have become so popular. Firstly, they are a versatile and hearty ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads and stir-fries to soups and sauces. They also have a meaty texture, making them a popular meatless meal substitution. Additionally, mushrooms are a good source of vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber, and they can grow on waste materials. The growing interest in foraging and wild foods, as well as pop culture phenomena such as the TV show *The Last of Us*, have also contributed to the popularity of mushrooms.
Mushrooms are also being touted as a nutritional powerhouse, with benefits like gut and heart health support, blood sugar regulation, and immune-boosting properties. Functional mushrooms, like chaga, tremella, and lion's mane, have seen a surge in popularity, and the global functional mushroom market is expected to be worth over $19 billion by 2030.
With their growing popularity, mushrooms have been appearing more and more on restaurant menus, with dishes such as creamy mushroom pasta, mushroom risotto, and oyster mushroom steaks. They have also been featured in drinks, such as mushroom tea and coffee.
However, it is important to note that not all mushrooms are edible, and even edible mushrooms can cause allergic reactions in some individuals. Care should be taken to correctly identify wild mushrooms before consumption to avoid potential health risks.
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Mushrooms growing in your yard
Mushrooms in your yard are a common occurrence, especially after rainy weather. Mushrooms are a type of fungus that feeds on and breaks down dead organic material, such as old bits of wood, dead grass, leftover roots of removed plants, and even animal waste. This process helps to add nutrients to the soil, benefiting the growth of other plants, like grass.
While mushrooms can be beneficial to the health of your yard, they may be undesirable for aesthetic reasons. If you wish to remove mushrooms from your yard, there are several methods you can try. Firstly, you can physically remove the mushrooms by kicking, stomping, mowing, or raking them. However, keep in mind that they will likely grow back as long as there is organic matter for the fungi to feed on and the conditions are warm and damp enough.
To reduce the recurrence of mushrooms, you can address the underlying causes by implementing good lawn care practices. Here are some suggestions:
- Mow your lawn regularly to prevent thatch buildup.
- Avoid leaving long clippings on the lawn, as they contribute to excess thatch.
- Aerate your lawn annually to improve drainage and airflow, reducing the damp conditions that mushrooms favour.
- Water your lawn deeply but infrequently (once a week) to allow it to dry out between waterings.
- If your yard is too shady, consider targeted pruning or thinning of surrounding trees to increase sunlight exposure.
- Reduce decaying organic material by raking grass clippings, dethatching your lawn, and replacing old mulch.
If you are concerned about the presence of mushrooms in your yard, you can also contact a local lawn care company or a county extension agent for specialised advice and treatment options.
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Frequently asked questions
Signs that mushrooms have gone bad include discoloration, a bad smell, a slippery texture, and fuzzy or strange-coloured patches.
Fresh mushrooms have a short shelf life, lasting only a few days in optimal conditions.
Fresh mushrooms should be stored in a brown paper bag or a plastic container with holes in it to allow them to breathe. They should be refrigerated and stored away from heat, light, and moisture to prevent spoilage.
Fresh mushrooms can be eaten, cooked, or brewed into a tea. They are also used as a plant-based meat alternative and in mushroom cocktails.
