Clear Answers for Common Questions

Mushrooms are fleshy growths of fungus that are used in foods throughout the world. There are many thousands of types of mushrooms. Only a small percentage of them are poisonous, and dozens of different types of mushrooms are not only edible but are considered desirable for eating. Among the most ...

There are a number of different ways to grow mushrooms, depending on the types you want to grow and the volume in which you want to produce them. You should also be aware that not all mushroom varieties can be cultivated, as scientists are still learning about how to replicate ...

Mushroom hunting, also known as mushroom picking or mushrooming, is the act of picking up mushrooms from the wild. While mushroom hunting is done mostly as a hobby, pickers usually cook or store the mushrooms for later consumption. Mushroom picking is a family tradition in Slavic countries, especially Poland and ...

Many people have incorrect ideas about the differences between toadstools and mushrooms, and this can get them into a great deal of trouble if they’re amateur mushroom hunters. Some think that the main difference is that toadstools are all poisonous versions of mushrooms, while mushrooms are not poisonous. This ...

Mushrooms come in a wide range of flavors, shapes, and colors. While many mushrooms can be purchased at a market, it is fun to grow them at home, and it can also be relatively easy, depending on which growing technique you can use. Mushroom cultivation systems can range from large ...

Mushrooms are the fruit formed from underground fungi, many of which are edible. Chefs prize mushrooms for their unique flavors, rich textures, and versatility. If you don’t store mushrooms correctly, however, they can rot and become unappetizing. How you want to store mushrooms depends largely on how you received ...

A mushroom brush is a soft-bristled brush which is designed to be used for cleaning mushrooms and other delicate vegetables. Since some vegetables suffer from vigorous washing, a mushroom brush can be used to remove encrusted dirt and other material, ensuring that the vegetable is safe to eat. Many ...

Cauliflower mushroom, also sometimes called brain fungus, is a type of edible mushroom with a distinctive physical appearance found in northern forests in many parts of the world in the fall. The mushroom is most commonly found in Western North America, although cauliflower mushroom has been identified in other locations ...

The hedgehog mushroom is a fungus delicacy which can be found growing in the forests of North America. Many mushroom hunters prize the hedgehog mushroom for its flavor, which is described as sweet and nutty, paired with a slightly crunchy texture that is quite pleasing to the palate. Hedgehogs are ...

A lobster mushroom isn't actually a true mushroom; it is a type of fungus which colonizes other mushrooms. When the fungus is left undisturbed, it will completely cover its host with a bright reddish to orange sheath which looks like a cooked lobster. As a result, people refer collectively ...

The giant puffball mushroom or Calvatia gigantea is an edible mushroom which is found abundantly in meadows, deciduous forests, and fields all over the world. While the flavor of a giant puffball mushroom is rather bland, the mushrooms have a dense, meaty texture and they absorb flavors very readily, making ...

The button mushroom, better known as a white mushroom or sometimes Agaricus bisporus is the most widely cultivated, harvested, and distributed mushroom in the world. The mildly flavored, hardy fungus can be found fresh, dried, and canned in grocery stores all over the world. The button mushroom has a classic ...

The scarlet hood mushroom is a mushroom in the waxcap genus Hygrocybe, a genus of incredibly varied and often extremely colorful mushrooms found all over the world. Somewhat unusually for fungi, the scarlet hood mushroom is edible, despite the fact that it is bright red, a color which usually indicates ...

The Paddy Straw Mushroom, known simply as a straw mushroom, and more formally as Volvariella volvacea, is a type of mushroom found widely distributed throughout Asia. The thumb sized mushrooms are heavily cultivated for food and export in Asia, and can be found in canned and dried forms in other ...

The shaggy mane, also known as a lawyer's wig, is a type of edible mushroom found in many parts of the world. The mushroom has a very distinctive appearance along with a series of clear identifying features that make it popular with mushroom hunters. The shaggy mane can be ...

A nameko or butterscotch mushroom is a variety of mushroom with a bright orange cap and a mild flavor. Nameko mushrooms are cultivated in Japan, where they are very popular, and they are exported to various regions of the world to meet consumer demand. Some Japanese restaurants have dishes with ...

Hygrocybe aurantipes is an Australian mushroom in the waxcap family. It is considered to be “vulnerable” by conservationists, meaning that unless action is taken, the mushroom may be in danger of extinction. This rare mushroom has a very distinctive appearance which makes it easy to identify, when it can be ...

The Hen of the Woods is a delicious edible fungus found in many parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. The scientific name of the mushroom is Grifola frondosa, although it is also known as Sheepshead, Ramshead, or Maitake. This fungus has a unique and festive appearance and lends itself ...

Agaricus bisporus is usually called the common or commercial mushroom. These fungi are available at many grocery stores, and have a white cap. The species may be sold under many different names, some of which refer to its size. Small white versions of A. bisporus are generally referred to as ...

Mushrooms in the Amanita genus can be found on every continent, including Antarctica. One of the most famous mushrooms on earth is in this genus — the fly agaric or Amanita muscaria, which is well-known for its psychoactive properties. Other members of the genus are also extremely toxic, although ...

Enokitake, also known as Flammulina velutipes, is a type of edible mushroom found in many parts of the world including North America and Asia. Enokitake actually comes in two forms: a wild form and a cultivated variety, which look radically different. The cultivated variety is far more flavorful and interesting ...

A fairy ring is a mushroom growth habit which tends to occur in areas with evenly distributed nutrients. One particular type of mushroom, the edible Marasmius oreades, is heavily associated with fairy rings, leading many people to call it the fairy ring mushroom. However, wild mushroom collectors should exercise caution ...

Mushroom hunters refer to fungi in the genus Boletus as boletes. Because boletes all belong to the same genus, they share many characteristics. However, the individual species also vary quite widely: some boletes are tasty edibles, while others will cause severe gastrointestinal distress. Boletes are harvested all over the world ...

A chicken of the woods is a type of parasitic edible mushroom found growing on the trunks of trees east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States. Scientifically, it is known as Laetiporus sulphureus, and although other species in the genus superficially resemble it, true chicken of the woods ...

Chanterelles are delicious, delicately flavored mushrooms which are highly prized in the regions of the world where they grow. Found in many areas with damp winters, the mushrooms are harvested for commercial sale and shipment in Germany and Italy, as well as being collected in the Pacific Northwest and northern ...

The matsutake, or pine mushroom, is a Japanese delicacy. The “true” matsutake, tricholoma matsutake, grows only in the pine forests of Japan, although other members of the genus can be found in North America and parts of Europe. The mushroom has a distinctive spicy odor and flavor which is often ...

A mauve splitting wax cap is a mushroom native to the forests of Australia and New Zealand. As might be imagined from the name, this fungus is famous for its purple hue and for the distinctively split cap, which also has a waxy texture. Because of its brilliant color, the ...

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is a mushroom which grows on plum trees in Japan. This mushroom is also called ling-zhi, ling chih, and the "phantom mushroom." This last name is because there are very few of these mushrooms — less than 10 mushrooms can be found on every 100,000 ...

The Saffron Milk Cap, formally known as Lactarius deliciosus , is a type of edible mushroom found widely distributed in Europe and parts of the United States. The mushroom is considered a delicacy in many European nations including Spain, where it is also known as Robellons, and Great Britain. The mushroom ...

Ganoderma is the common name of a species of fungus, Ganoderma lucidum, also known as lingzhi or red mushroom. The fungus is used in many forms of traditional Asian medicine and is believed to have considerable healing powers. Medical studies conducted with the mushroom suggest that it does have some ...

Oyster mushrooms, known scientifically as pleurotus ostreatus, are popularly consumed all over the world. In addition to being wild harvested, they are also heavily cultivated, which results in their ready availability at most grocery stores in both fresh and dried form. These fungi complement a wide range of foods with ...

Beefsteak fungus, also called Fistulina hepatica is a distinctive edible fungus which can be found in the forests of Europe and the United States. In some parts of Europe, beefsteak fungus is available for sale in markets and restaurants. This highly unusual mushroom resembles meat in texture and color, and ...

The Wood Ear fungus is a type of jelly mushroom found widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, although it is more commonly cultivated and used for food in parts of Asia. Wood Ear often appears in Chinese and Japanese food, where it lends an interesting texture which can sometimes be ...

Honey fungus, or Armillaria mellea, is a type of mushroom which can usually be found on the stumps and branches of dead trees. In some cases, the mushroom is also parasitic on living plants, which will ultimately kill them. For this reason, many gardeners profoundly dislike the fungus, despite its ...

Morels are a type of mushrooms which can be found growing all over the world in a wide variety of habitats every spring. They are among the most prized of the edible mushrooms because they have a rich and complex flavor that goes well with almost any food. They also ...

Often called the diamond of the culinary world, a truffle is a rare, edible mushroom that is considered to be a delicacy due to its intense aroma and characteristic flavor. They have a firm texture and are most often shaven on top of food before serving, although they can also ...

Enoki mushrooms are edible mushrooms that are very popular in Asian cuisine, especially in Japan. The delicately flavored, interesting looking fungi are also cultivated and sold in other parts of the world, although they are most widely used in Asian and fusion foods. Asian grocers and specialty stores often sell ...

Out of about 14,000 described species of mushrooms, there are at least 65 species of glowing mushrooms. To produce light, also called bioluminescence, a pigment, known generically as luciferin, is oxidized in the presence of an enzyme, luciferase, to produce oxyluciferin and light. Glowing mushrooms can be found in ...

Bocconcini are Italian cheese balls about the size of cherry tomatoes. They taste similar to mozzarella cheese, since they are actually a fresh variety of it. Consumers can usually find them in delicatessens and some supermarkets in plastic tubs filled with liquid containing whey and/or water. When these cheese ...

Portobello mushrooms, also known as portobella mushrooms and crimini mushrooms, or by their scientific name, Agaricus bisporus, are one of the most widely distributed mushrooms, found in every continent and almost every climate. These mushrooms are easy to identify because of their large size, which is at least four inches ...

Snow fungus, known formally as Tremella fuciformis and informally by a number of names including silver tree ear, cloud ear, and shirokikurage, is a type of jelly fungus that is widely distributed in Asia and parts of North America. Though it is not overwhelmingly popular in Western cuisine, but it ...