button mushrooms turned red while frying in butter

button mushrooms turned red while frying in butter - Red stop button on yellow handrail in modern empty public bus during daytime

I fried fresh sliced button mushrooms in butter over low heat with no other ingredients. After a short while dark red areas started to appear on the sides of several slices.

I never noticed anything like it before and would be happy if someone had an explanation. Also I would like to know whether or not it is a sign of some sort of danger.

I tried to find information online but the results are mostly recipes and the only instance where someone describes the same, people's responses are not at all helpful (»maybe you cut your finger without noticing«, »maybe you used fly agaric«).



Best Answer

According to this article, button mushrooms may turn a pink color if bruised while being stored or handled. This sounds very much like what has happened to you, as you've stated that the mushrooms were old and not stored properly. This is not poisonous or bad to eat by any means, but I understand that one would not want to take the risk, especially when it comes to a fungi such as mushrooms.

For more information on storage, see the article provided above. A short excerpt on storage taken from that source:

Storage - Agaricus bisporus will last longer in your refrigerator than many other mushrooms, usually around a week. It's better to store them in a paper bag rather than plastic. They'll last even longer if you take the time to put them in paper!




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button mushrooms turned red while frying in butter - Person Carrying English Breakfast on White Tray



Quick Answer about "button mushrooms turned red while frying in butter"

According to this article, button mushrooms may turn a pink color if bruised while being stored or handled. This sounds very much like what has happened to you, as you've stated that the mushrooms were old and not stored properly.

Why did my mushroom turn red?

- Blushing Wood Mushroom. Agaricus sylvaticus is sometimes referred to as the Red Staining Mushroom, because the cap and stipe turn bright red if they are scratched or broken. It is an edible species, although far from common and hence distrusted by many fungi foragers.

How can you tell if mushrooms are bad?

Here are seven telltale signs that mushrooms are bad:
  • They Feel Slimy or Sticky. ...
  • They're Wrinkled or Shrivelled. ...
  • They Have Developed Dark Spots. ...
  • They're Darker in Color. ...
  • They Feel Soft And Spongy. ...
  • They Have a Strong Smell. ...
  • They're Moldy.


  • When should you not eat button mushrooms?

    How to Tell If Your Mushrooms Have Gone Bad
    • They're slimy. The number one rule-of-thumb when it comes to detecting freshness is that when mushrooms are slimy, they're no longer fit for eating. ...
    • They have wrinkles. ...
    • They're becoming darker or have dark spots. ...
    • They've been around for two weeks or more. ...
    • They emit an odor.


    What colour should cooked mushrooms be?

    They should be golden in colour and not have any dark or slimy parts, and their gills should be intact and well attached to the underside of the cap.



    The Biggest Mistakes Everyone Makes When Cooking Mushrooms




    Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

    Images: Will Mu, Katerina Holmes, RODNAE Productions, Sadman Chowdhury