I saw on Discovery Channel yesterday that Grocery ...

2008-06-26T23:00:00.000-04:00

I saw on Discovery Channel yesterday that Grocery Store mushrooms are grown on horse crap and wet straw.

The black stuff which comes on your mushrooms is apparently not entirely plain old dirt.

Not so: One only has to be very conservative when ...

2008-06-21T22:55:00.000-04:00

Not so: One only has to be very conservative when hunting for wild mushrooms.

These were the things I lerned as a little kid from my grandparents and parents: Pick only those mushrooms of which you are absolutely certain you know. Dont be greedy - forgo even delicius kinds that are easy to mistake with the poisonous kinds. Be extra viginalnt with white leafy mushrooms and light-green leafy ones - those can be mistaken with deadcap amanitas ("angel of death"). If you are a novice you must stick only with boletes spongy mushroom and bright orange chanterrrels, etc - there are actually unpleasant bolete kinds too (with striking red sponge under the cap so you may recognise them easily) but those will not kill you should you make the error of eating them.

Avoid moldy mushrooms, cut out the parts with maggot holes, throw away those that are heavily infested (common sense!). Clean and cut the mushroom as soon as you bring them home. Dont put fresh mushroom in air-proof cotainers like a plastic bag, they sweat, heat up and spoil promptly and spoiled mushrooms can make you sick. Never eat mushrooms raw. If you have an excess, you may freeze your mushrooms cooked (with butter and salt), or pickle them, or dry them - but raw one will spoil within days even in the freezer.

Also older people should not eat massive quantities of mushrooms (like several pounds that you get when lucky in the hight of the picking seasons) because mushrooms digest realtively slowly. Also mushrooms are best in the medley - different kinds of mushroom combined will deliciously with meat and vegies, enhancing the savory taste of other foods but on their own they are not very mutritious or awesome as when you combine them with other foodstuff.

Now see, that's just underhanded.

If I eat...

2008-06-20T09:17:00.000-04:00

Now see, that's just underhanded.

If I eat something and promptly fall ill and die, my fellows will know not to eat that thing. But if I eat something and don't fall ill and die for weeks, heck, my entire social group could be chowing down in the meantime, thinking everything was fine!

Underhanded, but so very clever. More evidence that mushrooms, while delectable, cannot be trusted.

Comments on Drugs and Poisons: Orellanine - How normal-looking mushrooms can be w...

I saw on Discovery Channel yesterday that Grocery ...

Not so: One only has to be very conservative when ...

Now see, that's just underhanded. If I eat...

Now see, that's just underhanded.

If I eat...