Laura Smith
Starch testing is an important way to determine whether a mushroom product is pure or contains fillers. Mushrooms are generally very low in starch, so a product claiming to be made from pure mushroom should contain less than 5% starch. Starch fillers are often added to medicinal mushroom products, which dilutes the amount of actual fungal material in the product and lowers the amount of active medicinal compounds. One way to test for starch is to add iodine to a water solution of the mushroom product. If the solution turns purple or black, the product contains a high amount of starch.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose of starch testing | To determine if a mushroom product is pure mushroom or contains fillers |
| Starch content in medicinal mushrooms | Generally <5% |
| Starch content in grain | High |
| Starch content in some "mushroom" products | Over 70% |
| Starch testing method | Iodine starch test |
| Iodine starch test procedure | Add 1 gram of mushroom powder to 3 tablespoons of warm water, then add 10 drops of iodine and stir |
| Result indicating presence of starch | Water solution turns purple or black |
| Alternative method | Smell and taste test (a mushroom product should not smell like starch) |
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What You'll Learn
- Iodine test: Add iodine to a water solution of mushroom powder. If it turns black, it contains starch
- Smell and taste: Medicinal mushrooms have a distinct, rich smell and taste. They should not smell like starch
- Colour: Mushroom powder should be dark and rich. Light-coloured powder is likely grain-based
- Supplements: Check the supplements panel to see how much powder equals one gram
- Independent testing: Some mushroom products have been found to be over 70% starch
Iodine test: Add iodine to a water solution of mushroom powder. If it turns black, it contains starch
Starch testing is an important way to determine whether a mushroom product is pure or contains fillers. Mushrooms are generally very low in starch, so the presence of starch may indicate that the product contains other fillers, such as grain.
To perform an iodine test for starch, you will need mushroom powder and iodine solution. First, make the mushroom powder by dehydrating and grinding mushrooms. You can use a dehydrator or thinly slice the mushrooms and dehydrate them in an oven at 117 °F / 47 °C for 8-12 hours. When the mushroom slices are crispy, grind them into a powder using a spice grinder or coffee grinder. You can also use a food processor or blender, but be careful to avoid making a mess when opening the lid. Transfer the powder to an airtight container for storage.
Next, prepare a water solution of mushroom powder by stirring one gram of the powder into three tablespoons of warm water. Try to dissolve as much of the powder as possible. Then, add 10 drops of iodine solution to the water mixture and stir. If the solution turns black, this indicates the presence of starch.
The colour change occurs because the starch molecules trap iodine ions close together, creating a dark, bluish-black colour. This test can help verify whether a mushroom product is pure or contains fillers, as claimed.
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Smell and taste: Medicinal mushrooms have a distinct, rich smell and taste. They should not smell like starch
Smell and taste are crucial factors in identifying mushrooms. While it is not advisable to taste mushrooms to identify them, as some deadly poisonous mushrooms can kill with just one bite, smelling a mushroom can help determine whether it is edible or toxic. For instance, the Agaric family of mushrooms, which have pink to brown/black gills, a white cap, and a stout stem with a skirt, can be identified through smell. The edible Agarics smell pleasantly of mushrooms, with hints of aniseed or almond, while the toxic mushrooms smell of Indian ink or iodine or have a chemical and unpleasant odour.
Similarly, the Boletus, Suillus, and Leccinum families are easily identified by their sponge-like pores and generally stout stems, but they do not have gills. Some mushrooms, like the northern tooth, have a distinct, slightly fruity or flowery smell, which differentiates them from the poisonous jack o'lantern mushrooms. Additionally, mushrooms with whitish, shelf-like fruiting bodies and white gills found growing on a dying maple tree have a fruity smell but a bitter taste, indicating that they belong to the Russula genus.
It is important to note that some mushrooms have a strongly unpleasant odour, such as stinkhorns and Lepiota cristata, and tasting them is not recommended. Assessing the odour is usually sufficient for identification. However, if one wishes to test the taste, it is crucial to exercise caution. Tear off a tiny piece of the cap, including the flesh, gills, or pores, and place it on your tongue for a few seconds before spitting it out and rinsing your mouth thoroughly.
Identifying mushrooms through smell and taste is a complex process that requires practice and consideration of multiple factors. It is always advisable to be conservative and remember that smell and taste are just two of the many features used in mushroom identification.
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Colour: Mushroom powder should be dark and rich. Light-coloured powder is likely grain-based
Colour is an important indicator of the presence of starch in mushroom powder. Mushroom powder should be dark and rich in colour. If the powder is light-coloured, it is likely to be grain-based. This is because the presence of starch in grain fillers dilutes the amount of actual fungal material in the product, reducing the active medicinal compounds.
Mushrooms are generally very low in starch, with medicinal mushrooms containing less than 5% starch. Therefore, a product claiming to be made from pure mushroom should conform to this rule. However, many retail mushroom supplement products are not made from mushrooms. For example, U.S.-grown mycelium on grain is commonly sold as "mushroom" when it may contain no mushrooms at all.
To test for starch in mushrooms, an iodine starch test can be performed. This involves adding a few drops of iodine to the mushroom powder. If the powder turns black, it is high in grain starch. Genuine mushroom supplements do not change colour when subjected to iodine. This test is simple and can be performed at home with an inexpensive test kit. Alternatively, the smell and taste of a mushroom supplement can be indicators of the presence of starch. True medicinal mushroom supplements will have a distinct, rich, earthy, musty, or bitter smell and taste, depending on the variety. They should not smell or taste like starch, such as cereal or crackers.
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Supplements: Check the supplements panel to see how much powder equals one gram
To test for starch in mushrooms, you can use a mushroom starch test kit, which is a colourimetric test, similar to titration tests done in high school chemistry. This test kit allows you to test for the presence of starch in a mushroom product by adding iodine to a water solution of your mushroom product. If the product contains a high amount of starch, the water solution will turn purple or black.
One such test kit is the Real Mushrooms Starch Test Kit, which includes a 25ml bottle of 2.5% iodine solution, a 5ml plastic pipette, and a set of instructions. To use this kit, or a similar product, follow these steps:
- Check the supplements panel to see how much powder equals one gram.
- Take one gram of your mushroom supplement and add it to three tablespoons of warm water.
- Stir the mushroom powder into the warm water to dissolve it as much as possible.
- Using the pipette, add 10 drops of iodine to the water mixture and then stir it in.
- Observe the colour of the solution. If it turns black or purple, it indicates the presence of starch, and possibly a high amount of it.
It is important to test for starch in mushroom products because starch is a common filler used in many mushroom supplements. Medicinal mushrooms generally have less than 5% starch, so a product claiming to be made from pure mushroom should conform to this rule. Independent testing has shown that some "mushroom" products are over 70% starch and contain no beta-glucans, which are the key active compounds found in mushrooms. Therefore, by performing this test, you can verify that you are getting a pure mushroom product and not paying for fillers.
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Independent testing: Some mushroom products have been found to be over 70% starch
Starch testing is an important way to determine whether a mushroom product is pure or contains fillers. Medicinal mushrooms generally contain less than 5% starch, so a product claiming to be made from pure mushrooms should adhere to this rule. Independent testing has shown some "mushroom" products to be over 70% starch and 0% beta-glucans.
One way to test for starch in mushrooms is to use an iodine starch test, which can be done with a mushroom starch test kit. This involves adding a gram of mushroom powder to warm water and then using a pipette to add iodine to the mixture. If the solution turns purple or black, the mushroom product contains a high amount of starch. This test works because iodine reacts with starch to create a distinctive colour change.
Another way to test for starch in mushrooms is to smell and taste the product. True medicinal mushroom supplements will have a distinct, rich smell and taste, which can be earthy, musty, or bitter. They should not smell or taste like starch, such as cereal or crackers.
It is important to note that the iodine starch test may not work for all types of mushrooms, such as lion's mane supplements. Additionally, the colour of the mushroom powder can also be indicative of the presence of starch. If the powder is light in colour, it is more likely to be grain-based and contain starch.
By performing these tests, consumers can ensure that they are getting a pure mushroom product and not wasting their money on starch fillers.
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Frequently asked questions
You can test for starch in mushrooms by using an iodine starch test.
An iodine starch test is a colorimetric test that involves adding iodine to a water solution of your mushroom product to test for the presence of starch.
If starch is present, the water solution will turn purple or black.
Starch is a filler used in many mushroom supplements. If your mushroom product contains a high amount of starch, it will have less active medicinal compounds.
To perform the iodine starch test, take one gram of your mushroom supplement and add it to three tablespoons of warm water. Then, add 10 drops of iodine and stir.
