There are so many different types of mushrooms, in fact, there are 50,000 species of mushrooms. Some mushrooms have been used for centuries both medicinally and for food. They are used to replace meat in vegan and vegetarian diets, they have even been used as a leather alternative. Most mushrooms are edible but around 2% are poisonous.
Types of Mushrooms
List of mushrooms
List of mushrooms in English:
- Shiitake
- Chaga
- White Button Mushroom
- Enoki
- Chanterelle
- Death Cap
- Destroying Angels
- Podostroma cornu-damae
- Psilocybin
- Blue Mushroom
Edible Mushrooms
Let’s look at 5 edible types of mushrooms:
Shiitake
This mushroom has a very strong “umami” flavor and is often used to flavor soups or stocks in Korean, Chinese, or Japanese cooking. They have been used medicinally for centuries.
Chaga
A very popular medicinal mushroom grown on birch trees in colder regions. Chaga boosts immunity, lowers blood sugar, reduces inflammation, and even slows cancer cell growth.
White Button Mushroom
The most commonly consumed mushroom worldwide due to its mild flavor. They contain vitamin D and B12 which makes them an important staple in a plant-based diet.
Enoki
Like the shiitake, this is a favorite in Japanese cooking to add to soups and ramens. Due to their delicate appearance and flavor, they also work well in salads.
Chanterelle
With a beautiful fan-like appearance you can find chanterelle in Italian and French pasta dishes. It is impossible to cultivate chanterelle mushrooms so they must have foraged, this can make them more expensive than more common mushrooms.
Inedible Mushrooms
Following are 5 inedible types of mushrooms.
Death Cap
As gruesome as it sounds, the death cap starts destroying cells within 12 hours of being consumed. Its powerful toxins can withstand high cooking temperatures. Unfortunately, more than 50% of death cap poisoning incidents result in death.
Destroying Angels
These mushrooms look similar to many edible varieties so are often foraged by mistake. Their poison is slow acting usually taking up to 24 hours before symptoms start to show meaning it is often too late by the time anyone realizes the error.
Podostroma cornu-damae
A bright red mushroom can cause the skin to peel and hair to fall out if consumed. If left untreated eating these mushrooms often results in death.
Psilocybin
Upon consumption, psilocybin causes a strong hallucinogenic reaction, for this reason, they have long been used in ancient rituals. Psilocybin mushrooms are now illegal in many countries due to their recreational uses. Although considered inedible they are not considered deadly, physical symptoms include vomiting and stomach cramps.
Blue Mushroom
As the name suggests these mushrooms are a beautiful bright blue colour. Native to New Zealand it can be found on stamps and $50 banknotes.
There are many new uses for mushrooms being discovered all the time. There is now an eco-friendly alternative to plastic packaging made from fungus. There are even mushroom based furniture, tiles and building materials available. The science of “bioprospecting” is all about finding new uses for mushrooms to create a more eco-friendly future. The interest in mushroom replacements is rapidly gaining popularity due to their zero carbon emissions, zero wastage, and super-rapid growth.
Soon mushrooms are going to have a lot more uses than stir-fries and stocks.
Types of Mushrooms | Image
Last Updated on June 27, 2021
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