Frozen mushrooms may turn toxic

Autumn is almost over and winter is coming. It has been snowing in higher altitudes already but many people still go to forests for mushroom hunting. This year’s season was pretty long and indeed even now you can still find some. However, mushroom picking in November involves some unpleasant risks. Many people pick mushrooms that have been frozen before and do not think twice about it. Well, they may be poisonous and that includes the most famous mushrooms. Can you tell which mushroom species are unaffected by frost? Well, if you do not know that, we shall tell you in the following lines.

How can you recognize mushrooms that were frozen before?

There are some signs that tell you that mushrooms were previously frozen. Usually they have soft edges and are somewhat pale. You can often tell at first glance that something is wrong. Frozen and defrosted mushrooms tend to have rotten edges and look shabby and suspicious. The typical colour has faded and is often in shades of grey.

Photo: Pixabay

Why frozen mushrooms can be harmful?

Well, they may cause digestive problems. This is due to the fact that proteins in mushrooms begin to decompose. The same process works in meats and other foods. Tissues damaged by frost are easily attacked by bacteria and sugars begin fermenting easier.

Some mushrooms are unaffected by frost

Yes, that is true but unfortunately the most popular mushrooms such as spruce, cep or porcini mushrooms are mostly affected by frost and may become harmful. Here are types of mushrooms not affected by frost:

• oyster mushroom,
• knight types of mushroom,
• Armillaria knows as honey fungus
• and some other mushrooms.

Photo: Pixabay

Source: novinky.cz, nahoubach.cz, ireceptar.cz

Preview photo: Pixabay