What is this part of the mushroom? Is it safe to eat?
Is the part I indicated in the picture safe to eat? It looks like mold? Sometimes the mushrooms I buy have it, sometimes they don't. I wonder what it is!
And what about this one?
Best Answer
This part of the mushroom is perfectly edible. It's a structure called a partial veil which protects the spore-producing gills on the underside of the mushroom cap, usually while the mushroom is still immature. They open as the cap grows larger, exposing the gills and releasing the spores which produce new mushrooms.
It's pretty common to see these on white and brown common mushrooms (which have a huge number of other names) since they are actually an immature form of the "portobello". Since it's a delicate structure, it's a pretty good indicator for how well the mushrooms have been handled and transported; intact veils will usually indicate a recently-harvested mushroom that has been kept well hydrated. If the veil is a little ragged or partially open, that's fine too.
Note that this applies only to the common mushroom; other varieties may or may not have veils.
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Quick Answer about "What is this part of the mushroom? Is it safe to eat?"
What Parts of a Mushroom are Edible? All the parts of the fruiting body are edible, including the cap, gills, ring and stem. But, depending on the species of mushroom, some may be tougher than others. This is assuming the mushroom you have is an edible species of mushroom.What part of the mushroom should you not eat?
Avoid mushrooms with white gills, a skirt or ring on the stem and a bulbous or sack like base called a volva. You may be missing out on some good edible fungi but it means you will be avoiding the deadly members of the Amanita family. Avoid mushrooms with red on the cap or stem.Is the dark part of a mushroom edible?
This part of the mushroom is perfectly edible. It's a structure called a partial veil which protects the spore-producing gills on the underside of the mushroom cap, usually while the mushroom is still immature.Which part of the mushroom is the best to eat?
Both the stem and the crown of the plant are delectable, although many people prefer the branch. Buttons contain edible stems and are also referred to as cremini, brown mushroom, or portobello. However, the caps are usually tastier than the stems.When you eat a mushroom what part of the fungus are you eating?
A mushroom has two parts. The part underground is called the mycelium. It gets food for the mushroom.Which wild mushrooms are safe to eat?
More answers regarding what is this part of the mushroom? Is it safe to eat?
Answer 2
That is the "Ring" left by the "Veil" of the mushroom.
The veil is a thin piece of tissue that covers the gills of some species of mushrooms when they are young, before the mushroom has matured.
When the mushroom nears maturity, the veil separates from the cap to reveal the gills, allowing them to spread their spores & sometimes leaves a ring of tissue attached to the stem.
In short, yes it is safe to eat. If any part of the mushroom has become overly slimy or obviously moldy, you should think twice about eating it.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Brett Sayles, Erik Mclean, Nothing Ahead, Ketut Subiyanto