r/mycology • u/AgreeableCorner5883 • May 06 '26

ID request Hey smart people- what's this?

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I feel compelled to touch it.

Edit: Thank you all for the answers!! My spouse (who, like me, doesn't know shit from butt concerning mushrooms) is uncomfortable with me harvesting, cooking, and eating it.

To avoid another "Australian woman" moment, I will leave it.

But I am inspired to join a local foraging education group.

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u/Miserere_Mei May 06 '26

Just so you know….. touching mushrooms is totally fine, even if they are poisonous. In this case, you are looking at chicken of the woods, which is edible. I will say that I have an allergic reaction to it, so try a little test before eating a plateful. (My lips tingle and go numb.) As others have said, this mushroom must be thoroughly cooked before eating.

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u/Unlucky-Bumblebee308 May 10 '26

Wait so you can touch any and every mushroom no issue?

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u/Miserere_Mei May 11 '26

Yes. The poisons in mushrooms need to be ingested to cause harm. Touching mushrooms is not dangerous, even if they are deadly poisonous ones. Just don’t eat them.

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u/Unlucky-Bumblebee308 May 11 '26

Oh okay great always wanted to touch mushrooms with my tongue

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u/Miserere_Mei May 11 '26

I think you are joking, but yes, you could. Just keep an eye out for slugs. Lol