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The red flywheel is a small mushroom with a bright noticeable color. Belongs to the Boletov family, it is considered one of the smallest among the moss. It is most often found next to moss, and therefore received the appropriate name. Below is detailed information about the red flywheel: main characteristics, distribution, edibility, differences from twins.
What do red mushrooms look like?
This specimen is a cap-and-stem fruiting body with the following characteristics:
- At the initial stage of maturation, the cap is convex, cushion-shaped, with age it becomes almost flat. The surface is velvety to the touch, cracks appear in overripe mushrooms. The size of the cap in the largest specimens is no more than 9 cm in diameter. At a young age, it is painted in pink or wine-red tones, and in mature it becomes dull with greenish or brown hues.
- On the underside of the cap there is a tubular layer of golden-yellow color in young forest gifts, in old ones - greenish-yellow. It turns blue when pressed.
- The pulp is fleshy, dense, golden-yellow in color, turns blue when damaged. Has no pronounced taste and smell.
- The leg reaches up to 10 cm in height, and the thickness is up to 1 cm in diameter. It has a cylindrical shape, sometimes curved in the middle. Its surface is slightly rough to the touch, solid, of dense consistency. In the upper part it is painted yellow, below it - in pink or brown with red scales.
- Spore powder of olive brown color.
Where do red mushrooms grow?
The best time for fruiting is from August to September. The species in question prefers places with a warm climate; even with a slight cold snap, it stops developing. Most often it grows in deciduous forests, in clearings and forest edges, on the slopes of ravines and in oak forests. In most cases, it grows one at a time. The red flywheel is a rare guest in Russian forests, so this mushroom is usually collected along the way along with other specimens. Known in the Far East, Europe and North Africa.
Red flywheel grows among moss and low grass
Is it possible to eat red mushrooms
This species belongs to the category of edible mushrooms, like other varieties of flyworms. However, the fourth nutritional category is assigned to red. This product tends to deteriorate quickly, which is why it is not of particular interest among mushroom pickers.
Taste qualities of red flywheel mushroom
Red flywheel does not have a pronounced taste, however, many experts note that this specimen is pleasant in consistency and structure. Most of them recommend using this product as a secondary ingredient to the main dish.
False doubles
The red flyworm is similar in appearance to the conditionally edible Chestnut mushroom.It is worth noting that this variety is not poisonous, but it is not recommended to eat it because of its unpleasant bitter taste. You can distinguish a double by the following criteria:
- the pulp of the chestnut mushroom is white, and remains unchanged on the cut;
- has a spore powder of a pale yellow tone;
- grows in coniferous and deciduous forests on sandy soil;
- the leg is dry, naked, does not have small scales, which are characteristic of a red flywheel.
Chestnut mushroom is suitable only for drying, because in this form its bitterness disappears
Collection rules
In the forest, you should pay attention to young specimens, since old and overripe mushrooms have no nutritional value. When removing the red flywheel from the soil, the appearance and useful properties begin to quickly evaporate, therefore one of the main missions of the mushroom picker is to bring the gifts of the forest to the house in their original form. Important! So that the collected mushrooms do not turn into a mushy mass, it is necessary to carry out the primary processing as soon as possible and start cooking.
Use
Red flywheel can be used in food fried, stewed, boiled, salted and pickled. Also, this species is suitable for freezing and drying, but when dried, the pulp of the fruit body changes its usual color to black. Before cooking, the red mushrooms should be pre-washed, cleaned of forest debris and the layer of spores located under the cap should be removed. It is not necessary to soak this species in water. Due to the fact that red flywheel is practically tasteless, it is not prepared separately, but it is great as an accompanying ingredient for fried potatoes, vegetables and other dishes, including mushroom dishes with a more pronounced taste.
If the red flywheel is assembled for drying, in this case it is not worth washing it, you can only wipe it
Conclusion
Due to its bright color, the red flywheel is beautiful and noticeable despite its small size. So, the diameter of the cap of the smallest specimens is about 1 cm, and the largest ones are no more than 9 cm. Despite the fact that this species is edible, it is important to remember the precautions. If the mushroom picker has doubts about a particular mushroom, then such specimens should be thrown out in order to avoid health problems.
