The Best Mushrooms for Beginner Foragers
Identifying wild edible mushrooms can be a rewarding experience, especially for beginners!
Let’s look at some accessible mushrooms commonly found in Northern Ontario. These species serve as perfect starting points for beginners or as reliable, tasty options for seasoned foragers. You will find these varieties can be easily distinguished by their unmistakable physical characteristics and minimal risk of dangerous look-alikes.
Disclaimer: While this guide aims to provide helpful information for identifying mushrooms, it should not be solely relied upon for accurate identification. Mushroom identification can be complex and potentially hazardous. Always cross-reference multiple reliable sources, consult with experienced foragers or mycologists, and exercise caution when foraging. Some mushrooms may have toxic look-alikes, and misidentification can lead to serious illness or even death. Use this guide as a supplement to your own research and knowledge, and when in doubt, err on the side of caution and avoid consuming any mushroom you are not 100% certain is safe
Read on for the 5 best beginner friendly mushrooms in Northern Ontario
5. Depressed Hedgehog mushroom (Hydnum umbilicatum)
Found during summer through fall
The "depressed hedgehog mushroom" is a small, edible fungus typically found in forests.
It has a distinctive depressed or sunken cap and where normally you might find gills on a mushroom, this one is covered in tiny spines or "teeth," resembling a hedgehog's back. When foraging, look for it on the forest floor near deciduous trees, especially birch and oak. This mushroom is edible and is known for its earthy flavor.
Widely regarded as important maintainers of forest ecosystems, the Hydnum genus is known to form a beneficial relationship with multiple plant families.
This mushroom has no poisonous look-alikes, making it a great beginner friendly mushroom.
4. Chicken of the woods Mushroom (Laetiporus sulphureus)
Found during summer through fall
chicken-of-the-woods is a bracket fungus that grows on hardwood trees, notably preferring oak trees. The common name "chicken-of-the-woods" is derived from its taste and texture when cooked, which is said to resemble chicken meat.
Its fruit bodies form striking golden-yellow shelf-like structures on tree trunks and branche. Unlike mushrooms with gills, the undersurface of chicken-of-the-woods consists of tubelike pores.
Emerging directly from the trunk of a tree, the fruiting body initially appears knob-shaped before expanding into the fan-shaped shelves, often growing in overlapping tiers. Each shelf can measure anywhere from 5 to 60 centimeters across and up to 4 centimeters thick. The fertile surface displays small pores or tubes, yielding a white spore print.
This one is hard to mistake for any other type of mushroom due to its vibrant orange and yellow markings! Making it a beginner friendly find.
3. Black Trumpet Mushroom (Craterellus cornucopioides)
Found during summer through fall
The black trumpet, also known as the horn of plenty, is an excellent choice for beginner mushroom foragers due to its easy identification and delightful taste. It's one of my personal favorites to discover. Look for black trumpets in deciduous forests throughout the summer and into fall.
The fruiting body resembles a funnel, with an expanded top and a seamless stalk merging with the cap, which can range from 0.5 to 7 centimeters in diameter and grow up to about 14 centimeters in length. The upper and inner surface is black or dark gray, while the lower and outer surface is a much lighter shade of gray. The outer surface may appear wrinkled or smooth, and the flesh is thin and brittle. Black trumpets are considered choice edibles.
There are few species that resemble the black trumpet. One example is the Devil's Urn, a cup fungus. Despite its ominous name, this mushroom is not harmful; it's simply inedible.
Closest look alike: Devils Urn (Urnula craterium)
2. Lobster Mushroom Identification (Hypomyces lactifluorum)
Found during summer through fall
The beginner friendly lobster mushroom, is actually not a mushroom at all, but rather a parasitic fungus that infects certain mushroom species, giving them a reddish-orange color reminiscent of a cooked lobster's shell. Lobster mushrooms are highly sought-after edibles when discovered in their prime and have a sweet smell with a distinctive taste!
There is ongoing debate regarding the edibility of lobster mushrooms. This uncertainty arises because it's challenging to identify the original host mushroom once the lobster mushroom matures. Despite this, people have been foraging, consuming, and commercially selling these mushrooms for centuries without reports of poisoning. Research suggests that mature lobster mushrooms contain only trace amounts of DNA from the original host species, potentially explaining the lack of toxicity concerns.
Identification: When fully developed, the reddish-orange H. lactifluorum completely covers its host, displaying a surface texture ranging from red to orange-red with fine bumps. The species produces a white spore print.
1. Golden Chanterelle Mushroom (Cantharellus cibarius)
Found during summer through fall
This is the most challenging of the beginner mushrooms in this list to identify but still this mushroom is easy to detect and recognize in nature.
The body is 3–10 centimeters (1–4 inches) wide and 5–10 cm (2–4 in) tall. The color varies from yellow to dark yellow. Chanterelles have a faint aroma and flavor of apricots.
Chanterelles can resemble the dangerously poisonous Omphalotus illudens (Jack o lantern).
But It can be easy to distinguish chanterelle from look-alikes if your mushroom has the following characteristics:
No Gills: Look for forked, thick edge ridges descending the stalk, which resemble gills but are not. You can tell these ridges are not gills because of the forks in which the ridges split and form cross veins.
Smell: Golden chanterelles have a distinct sweet odor which resembles apricots.
Growth: Chanterelles grow singly on the ground near trees but in the soil, they may grow near many other chanterelles. They DO NOT grow in clusters, they DO NOT grow on wood.
Flesh: split one specimen down the center of the stem and inspect the inner flesh, it should be solid and white - see photo below. There should be a clear difference in color between the outer yellow flesh and the inner white flesh.
Make sure your mushroom has ALL of the 4 characteristics and if you are still not sure consult a more experienced forager. Always err on the side of caution and avoid eating any mushroom you are not 100% sure of the identification of.
As you embark on your journey of foraging for mushrooms, remember that it's a journey of discovery, learning, and respect for nature and each step forward is a testament to your growing knowledge and connection with the natural world.
As you explore, always prioritize safety and responsibility. Take the time to learn about the mushrooms in your area, their habitats, and the potential risks involved. Remember that while foraging can be rewarding, it requires careful attention to detail and a willingness to continually educate yourself.
Embrace the joy of discovery as you encounter the diverse shapes, colors, and textures of mushrooms. Whether you're drawn to the thrill of finding a rare species or simply enjoy the peace of a woodland stroll, let your curiosity guide you and your senses awaken to the wonders around you.
Share your experiences! through our facebook page or email, or conversations with fellow foragers. By fostering a community of knowledge and support, we can all learn and grow together, deepening our understanding of mushrooms and the ecosystems they inhabit.
Above all, cherish the moments spent in nature, surrounded by the beauty and mystery of the forest. Each foraging expedition offers a chance to connect with the world around us in a profound and meaningful way. So, step lightly, observe closely, and let the magic of mushrooms enrich your life. Happy foraging!
