Can You Eat Raw Mushrooms? The Answer May Surprise You!
When it comes to consuming mushrooms, many people ask, “Can you eat raw mushrooms?" Well, the answer might surprise you. There are various types of mushrooms that you can safely eat and enjoy raw.
In our blog post below, we’ll dive into the various types of mushrooms that an individual may eat raw and how to enjoy these delicious mushrooms in your everyday meals safely.
Can You Eat Raw Mushrooms?
Any mushrooms you can freshly purchase at a grocery store are safe to eat, whether raw or cooked. There are various types of raw mushrooms, including portobello mushrooms, white mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, and cremini mushrooms.
Eating raw mushrooms may seem more convenient, but it isn’t always the best choice. When eating raw mushrooms, you’ll notice that they have a spongy texture and more robust taste than cooked mushrooms, which some people may not enjoy as much as cooked mushrooms.
When consuming raw mushrooms, such as portobello and creminis, you should remove the stem of the mushroom because it's difficult to chew. Before consuming, you should thoroughly wash your mushrooms to remove any mushroom substrate or dirt.
When it comes to consuming raw mushrooms, the walls of a mushroom are made up of a touch substance called chitin. Chitin can also be found in lobsters and crabs. As humans, our stomachs contain a substance called chitinase, which is made to break down chitin and protect against parasites.
Additionally, it's more difficult to get nutrients from raw mushrooms. When you properly cook mushrooms, it breaks down the cell walls to make them more nutritional and release their medicinal compounds. While you can increase your fiber intake by consuming raw mushrooms, you'll miss out on their nutritional benefits.
Which Raw Mushrooms Are Safe to Eat?
If you eat raw mushrooms, which ones are safe to eat? It's essential to know which mushrooms are safe to eat and which ones are not. Here are some popular mushrooms that you can eat raw.
Shiitake
Shiitake mushrooms have a garlic and peppery taste and are safe to eat raw. However, when consumed raw, some people may not prefer the strong taste, as they’re more flavorful when they’re cooked.
Oyster Mushrooms
You can eat any type of oyster mushrooms raw, but they're a lot better when they're cooked. If you plan to eat an oyster mushroom raw, expect a metallic taste with a spongy texture. You can consume king oyster mushrooms raw; however, they're less enjoyable because of their chewy texture.
White Mushrooms
When it comes to consuming white mushrooms well, there are still some questions that are left unanswered. According to some experts, white mushrooms contain agaratine, a carcinogen substance. However, according to human trials, white mushrooms are safe for humans to eat raw with a low risk of effects.
Cooking, in addition to refrigerating and drying, helps break down agaratine, which makes it a safer option for consumption. If agaratine is a top concern, you should avoid consuming white mushrooms, whether they’re cooked or raw. Oyster mushrooms are an alternative mushroom species that doesn’t contain agaratine and is safe to consume raw.
Mushrooms You Should Avoid Eating Raw
Although you can consume many mushrooms raw, there are various types that you should still avoid. It’s essential to remember that there are some wild mushrooms that, even when cooked, are poisonous to humans. Therefore, if you can’t identify a mushroom, you should avoid eating it; even if you can identify it, you still may not be able to eat it raw.
Reishi
Reishi mushrooms, for example, have a challenging and woody texture, which may make them difficult to consume raw. Reishi mushrooms are typically crushed and dried to make tea. In comparison, the boletus mushroom is tough to eat because of its rough texture.
Morel Mushrooms
Morel mushrooms are one of the most flavorful types of gourmet mushrooms that you should never consume raw, as you can experience stomach pain from its mild toxins. When cooking morel mushrooms, it destroys the mild toxin, which makes it safe for humans to consume.
Additionally, honey mushrooms should never be eaten raw and could cause humans to experience nausea, stomach pain, or cramping.
When cooking these mushrooms, ensure you know how to store Morel mushrooms accurately. For more information, you can read our blog post here.
Can I Eat a Salad With Raw Mushrooms?
Eating some types of raw mushrooms in a salad is typically safe. However, it's essential to remember that some potential risks come with some varieties of mushrooms when consumed raw, such as agaratine. If you wish to put raw mushrooms in your salad, consider using shiitake mushrooms or oyster mushrooms.
In addition, you can use other ways to add mushrooms to your salad, such as marinated mushrooms or pickled mushrooms.
Are Raw Mushrooms Nutritional?
To maximize the amount of nutrition you receive, it's highly recommended to cook your mushrooms consistently. When cooked, the mushroom's antioxidants are increased; however, when boiling mushrooms, nutrients leach into the water, and the mushroom can become soggy. Additionally, you should avoid deep frying mushrooms because of the high amounts of saturated fats in oils.
Cooking is necessary to break down chitin in mushrooms to make those nutrients more accessible. While it is possible to consume some mushrooms raw, you must break down the mild toxins that are in some of its varieties, such as Morel mushrooms. When eating raw mushrooms, they contain potentially harmful bacteria, which can cause digestive problems and food poisoning.
This type of bacteria comes from contaminated water sources with improper sterilization and contamination during handling and preparation. When you cook mushrooms, this doesn’t only create a delicious flavor, but it also maximizes your nutritional benefits and reduces the risks of food poisoning.
Nutritional Benefits
If you've never eaten a mushroom, you are surely missing out! Mushrooms are highly nutritious and considered a superfood due to their health benefits. In every type of mushroom, antioxidants are present, providing us with excellent health benefits. According to research, eating mushrooms protects the brain preventing the development of amyloid proteins, which are linked to dementia.
You won’t need to worry about calories or fat when eating mushrooms, as they’re a low-calorie and low-fat food. Additionally, mushrooms contain vital nutrients, including Vitamin D, potassium, riboflavin, and niacin. Unless you’re not crazy about the flavors or you have a mushroom allergy, there are very few disadvantages to adding mushrooms to your daily diet.
Pregnancy and Raw Mushrooms
When pregnant, there are certain foods your doctor will tell you to avoid, these also include raw mushrooms. Similar to other raw foods, raw mushrooms have bacteria that can create a risk for pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.
Other foods that pregnant women should avoid are raw steak, sushi, undercooked eggs, and some other foods.
While consuming small amounts of these foods is typically not harmful to the average human, they become a higher risk to pregnant women and their unborn children. It is recommended to consult your doctor for advice on what foods are acceptable to consume during pregnancy.
The Bottom Line
So, can you eat raw mushrooms? The simple answer is yes, but you should always use caution, depending on your situation. While eating many mushroom types raw is safe, you’ll experience more flavors and nutritional benefits when cooking them.
Can You Eat Raw Mushrooms? FAQ
1. Is it safe to eat a raw mushroom?
While many mushrooms sold in grocery stores are safe for raw consumption, it's not recommended to consume some types of mushrooms raw. You should consider the absorption of nutrients before incorporating raw mushrooms into your diet.
2. Can I eat raw mushrooms in my salad?
Any fresh mushrooms that are sold in grocery stores are safe to eat, cooked in a salad or raw in a salad. It's safe to eat raw portobello mushrooms, white mushrooms, and cremini mushrooms, as these various types are commonly added to salads.
3. Are mushrooms healthier, cooked, or raw?
When cooked, mushrooms have more nutritional value than raw mushrooms. Cooking mushrooms releases the nutrients and breaks down their citrin walls, making it easier for humans to absorb them.
4. What wild mushrooms can you eat raw?
Some wild mushrooms you can eat raw are porcini, Matsutake, Caesar, Beefsteak, and Black Trumpet mushrooms. Before consuming, always ensure you do plenty of research before eating raw wild mushrooms.
5. Do raw mushrooms need to be cooked?
Cooked mushrooms are not only more flavorful, but they also provide more nutrients than raw mushrooms. Raw mushrooms contain a hard-to-digest substance you can only break down from cooking.
6. What is the healthiest way to eat mushrooms?
The healthiest way to eat mushrooms to preserve their nutrients is to grill them.