The role of mushrooms in food and health has been documented throughout history. From a nutritional point of view, mushrooms are an excellent food with a low caloric value and a great wealth of vitamins and minerals. They can have different shapes, sizes, and colors.
They provide proteins, fiber, minerals, and vitamins that contribute to the body’s well-being. Therefore, they provide several health benefits, in nature, you can usually only find mushrooms in late summer and autumn when the mushrooms are in season.
However, since some mushrooms tend to have some microorganisms attached to them, most consumers are unsure if the plant could be eaten raw. Because of this, we’ve explored this article to provide an answer to this question and some other related questions.
Can You Eat Raw Mushrooms? The answer is yes. Mushrooms can be eaten raw, but attention must be paid to the quality and type of mushroom. It is advisable not to swallow any kind to your liking; you have to be very careful. Before understanding which ones can also be eaten raw, it should be emphasized that you must contact an expert and find out which ones are poisonous and which are not.
Is It Okay to Eat Raw Mushrooms in a Salad?
Both are delicious. It is not a problem to eat the mushrooms raw and put them in the salad in narrow strips. They get even more flavor when fried, but they also lose nutrients. Some varieties, such as mushrooms, hen-of-the-woods, and oyster mushrooms, are suitable for raw consumption. Still, they should only be eaten in small quantities, as they are difficult to digest and can cause intolerance in sensitive people.
Furthermore, if you want to add them raw to a salad, make sure to use fresh and undamaged specimens and cut them into thin slices. However, It is advisable to cook mushrooms before consumption. This makes them more digestible.
What Kind of Mushrooms Can You Eat?
Hunting mushrooms is a fascinating and rewarding hobby, but it must be done with utmost care. While many mushrooms are very nutritious, delicious, and safe to eat, others pose a harmful risk to your health and can cause death if consumed.
The kind of mushrooms you can eat safely includes oyster mushrooms, hen-of-the-woods, and sulfur shelf mushrooms.
The oyster mushroom is a delicious and edible mushroom most sought after by mushroom hunters. Oyster mushrooms have mild-tasting and thick flesh that contains many nutrients.
They’re majorly high in B vitamins and minerals like copper, iron, and zinc. Interestingly, oyster mushrooms contain potent anti-inflammatory plant compounds that offer some protection against chronic disease.
Also, Hen-of-the-woods is an edible mushroom and a favorite of many people. These particular mushrooms grow on the basis of trees in shelf-like clusters. These clusters look precisely like the tail feathers of a sitting hen; Hence the name Hen-of-the-woods. Hen-of-the-woods are majorly found in the fall, but they can be found less frequently in the summer months.
Hen-of-the-woods are nutritious and dense in b vitamins like riboflavin and niacin, which play a crucial role in cell growth and energy metabolism.
Sulfur shelf mushrooms, on the other hand, are very safe and edible. Sulfur shelf mushrooms grow on a tree in shelf-like clusters. They’re usually found on large oak trees and harvested during the summer and fall months.
Like other mushrooms, sulfur shelf mushrooms are very low in calories and offer many nutrients like vitamin C, fiber phosphorus, and zinc. In general, it’s recommended that you only hunt mushrooms after you’ve been adequately trained on how to identify the edible varieties.
Is It Better to Eat Mushrooms Raw or Cooked?
Mushrooms can be consumed in different ways. But nutritionists and doctors recommend that people eat mushrooms raw, cooked, grilled, or boiled and avoid eating them fried because many of the healing properties of the fungus are lost in this method of consumption. Also, due to the structural state of the fungus, a large amount of oil is absorbed and may lead to a variety of cardiovascular diseases.
In short, mushrooms can be eaten both raw and cooked, but it is better to eat cooked mushrooms because most mushrooms are contaminated with toxic substances that are destroyed only by cooking.
It should also be added that it is much easier to digest cooked mushrooms than raw ones, although this depends on each person.
In addition to this, it is always best to emphasize again that before swallowing a mushroom, whether raw or cooked, it is best to make sure that it is really edible. This is because there are many mushrooms, and some are deadly and very poisonous.
Some peoples may get confused with the edible qualities, so if you are not a true expert, it is also good not to touch them even with shoes let alone of eating them, and make sure not to swallow even a part of them unless you are sure that you can eat.
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Can I Eat Raw Mushrooms While Pregnant?
There are some things that you shouldn’t eat during pregnancy. Mushrooms are also a part of this. However, it depends on the type of mushroom. It would be best not to eat wild mushrooms under any circumstances. Cultivated mushrooms are usually not a problem if you do not want to completely do without mushrooms during pregnancy. You should only wash them thoroughly beforehand.
It is also best to not eat them raw but rather heat them sufficiently. Because heating ensures better digestibility and destroys any toxic ingredients and germs that may be present, eating raw mushrooms during pregnancy can cause infections. In principle, you can consume selected types of mushrooms during pregnancy.
However, it is generally better to completely avoid mushrooms during this time, as there is still a particular residual risk.
How Do You Serve Raw Mushrooms?
In general, it is advisable not to consume more than 100 grams of raw mushrooms per meal. However, raw wild mushrooms should never be eaten without being cooked. Always cook them before consumption because they can be contaminated with the eggs of the fox tapeworm and pollutants. Mushrooms are a very nutritious food that can meet various nutritional needs of the body but don’t eat too many mushrooms.
What Do Raw Mushrooms Taste Like?
Mushrooms commonly taste a bit delicious and earthy taste. And depending on the variety, mushrooms somewhat exhibit a chewy texture. The mushroom’s savory flavor makes it a common meat substitute among vegans or vegetarians. However, there are different mushrooms, all of which may not give the same earthy, savory flavor.
Moreover, edible mushrooms can replace foodstuffs such as chicken, turkey, or pork. Replacing meat with mushrooms can control the intake of excess calories that enter the body. Of course, this will be healthier and safer for the health of the body.
What Are the Effects of Raw Mushrooms?
Mushrooms are often used in dieting because they are nutritious and can be expected to have a dieting effect, but you should be careful not to overeat. Here, we will introduce the disadvantages of eating too many mushrooms.
① Indigestion Causes Diarrhea and Abdominal Pain
Mushrooms contain a large amount of water-soluble and insoluble dietary fiber. However, if you take too much dietary fiber, it will cause Indigestion, and gas will accumulate in the intestines, causing excessive sickness, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. On the other hand, the dietary fiber you ingest helps the peristaltic movement of the intestines, so if you take it moderately, it will effectively relieve constipation. Still, it will cause diarrhea and abdominal pain if you overdose, so be careful.
② Constipation
People who are usually constipated may eat mushrooms to get rid of constipation by ingesting fiber, but they should be careful about taking large amounts. This is because of the dietary fiber in mushrooms, insoluble dietary fiber, which is insoluble in water, absorbs a large amount of water in the intestines if taken too much.
People prone to constipation have less water in their intestines, and eating too many mushrooms will further reduce the water in their intestines. Then, the intestinal environment worsens, and the increase of harmful bacteria makes it difficult to get stools, and it may cause a vicious cycle such as stinking flatulence.
Be careful not to overeat, and try to get as much water as possible with the mushrooms to keep the water in your intestines.
③ Nausea and Discomfort
Depending on the type of mushroom, overeating may cause Nausea and discomfort. For example, Maitake mushrooms, which have attracted attention as a diet ingredient, contain a small amount of cyanide, which causes Nausea when overdoses.
In addition, shiitake mushrooms also contain a component called tyrosine, and overdose may cause Nausea, so be careful not to overeat.
Conclusion
All types of mushrooms – whether they are raw or cooked through – can be dangerous for your health if they are heavily contaminated with harmful substances. For example, if mushrooms grow in a radioactively contaminated location, they absorb the radioactive substances. Therefore, always reach for mushrooms that have been grown for consumption.