Is It Okay to Pick Your Own Mushrooms?
Foraging for mushrooms may not be the best way to reap mushrooms’ nutritional benefits.
Mushrooms are some of the most interesting native foods on our planet. Although often thought of as a vegetable, mushrooms technically are not plants. Rather they are fungi. But these fungi have some amazing health benefits. They’re low in calories and are packed with essential vitamins and minerals.
Not only are mushrooms a healthy addition to your diet, but they’re loaded with rich umami flavor. There are many interesting types of mushrooms, from button and cremini to portobello, oyster and chanterelles. Some are commonly stocked in grocery stores while others are more obscure, found only in specialty markets, high-end restaurants and online retailers.
Some people even make an adventure out of foraging for their own mushrooms in the wild or even in more urban locales. However, it’s important to know what you’re doing if you forage for mushrooms because some varieties of these fungi can be poisonous and may lead to serious illness or even death if consumed.