Red (false morel) mushrooms

[Bibbyman]

 

I've eaten red mushrooms for as long as I can remember.  So has my family and local natives.  Now experts say they are poisonous causing liver damage and even death.

Are their others out there that ignore the warnings and eat the red mushroom?

[Magicman]

Bibby, these links say that you and your family are either lucky or are preparing them in such a way that the poison is released while cooking.  There are no "antidotes" for mushroom poisoning. Hospitals can only try to treat the damage from the toxins.

http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/outdoor-recreation/mushrooming/poisonous-mushrooms

http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/false-morels

[scottyblue]

Never had them.I only eat puffballs:)

[Jeff]

They can get very big up here and we call them beef steaks. People eat them, but I won't as I've always been told that certain individuals get sick from it.  I don't know if it is the individual mushroom or person that is the reason, but its not worth the risk. Mushroom poisoning is a very nasty way to go.

[Bibbyman]

http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/false-morels

"Human connections:  Because these mushrooms have definitely caused deaths, we cannot recommend that you eat them. If you nevertheless choose to do so, they should be thoroughly cooked in a well-ventilated room, since their toxin (a chemical nearly the same as rocket fuel) is driven off by heat and goes into the air."



 

They also say frying food in a cast iron skillet is bad for you. And there are three times the weekly allowance of eggs in the picture.

[SPIKER]

The BOOK that I have lists 2 distinct varieties of the Red Shrooms one is TOXIC and the other is NOT, they are nearly identical and even well know hunters can confuse the two.   Therefore they say not to eat either one.   They can be told apart by the interior of them (or under scientific tests) and I think one other method (book is at the farm and only typing from memory on it.)    As Jeff said around here and in the book they are often called Beef steaks or brain morels.   Then we have some "Colorful Nicknames" for all different types of them : :D.

Also the book mentioned preparation methods that would minimize the dangers if one got mixed in but if just one was there many bad things can happen.
Mark

[mesquite buckeye]

Bibby, seems like you got it figured out. Thin slicing and frying in an open pan should do the job, as monomethylhydrazine is volatile, and the proximity to the open cut of thin sliced pieces should enhance the toxin's exit.

There are many foods that will kill you, but if prepared properly are fine, including cassava and many types of lima beans, etc.

[Bibbyman]

We have a variation called elephant ear. Not as common as the one pictured.  Looks like a clump of red ears.

[mesquite buckeye]

Do you eat those too? smiley_eek_dropjaw

Hey Bibby, is eating all  those poison mushrooms why you are always smiling? smiley_biggrin01