Oyster mushrooms or oyster mushrooms are very tasty edible mushrooms that are nicknamed "veal mushroom" for a reason. The mushrooms can mainly be found on beech and oak trees between December and March, but they can also be grown at home without any problems. But whether you collect it yourself, breed it or buy it in the supermarket: you can often find a white fuzz on oyster mushrooms. However, mold is not a health hazard.
The white coating on the oyster mushrooms is not mold
Is white mold on oyster mushrooms dangerous?
A white fuzz on the oyster mushrooms, which runs through the fruiting body with numerous fine threads, is not mold. Instead, it is the actual fungus, the mycelium, which grows from the spores of the ripe oyster mushrooms under the right conditions and develops a new fungal network. This mycelium can be eaten without any problems - in contrast to real mold, it is not poisonous and not harmful in any other way. You can simply wipe off the white threads with a dry cloth or simply prepare them - they can no longer be seen in the later dish as they dissolve.
When is it better to throw away oyster mushrooms
However, if the oyster mushrooms are not only covered in mycelium, but also look rather bad in general, you should dispose of them immediately. Fresh mushrooms are crunchy, look healthy, and give off a pleasant, mushroomy smell. But if they instead
- smell strong or unpleasant
- no longer look fresh
- but have many dark spots
- are soggy and have rotten spots
- maybe even covered with a colored or dark down,
you should dispose of them immediately with household waste or compost. In that case they are indeed spoiled and you would risk food poisoning if you prepared and eat them. By the way, typical mold on mushrooms is not white, but mostly black, brown or green - depending on the type of mold.
Store oyster mushrooms correctly
So that fresh oyster mushrooms do not go moldy or go bad so quickly, you should either prepare them immediately or store them properly. Oyster mushrooms can be kept in a cool, dry and dark place for up to three days, although they are best kept in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. Because mushrooms need to breathe, don't wrap them in plastic wrap, tupperware, or foil. Instead, they should be wrapped in a clean and dry cotton or linen cloth.
tips
Since mushrooms also take on odors very quickly, fresh oyster mushrooms have no place in the vicinity of intensely smelling types of cheese and sausage. Otherwise, your mushrooms would quickly taste like Roquefort or salami.