Content
Mushroom poisoning is a rather unpleasant phenomenon, in some cases deadly. That is why many even experienced mushroom pickers are suspicious of any non-standard phenomena associated with their collection. One of these phenomena is the blue discoloration of the place of damage or fracture of the fruit bodies. Quite often, mushrooms, similar to boletus, turn blue on the cut. Next, it will be considered whether this is the norm and whether it poses a danger to the mushroom picker.
Do the boletus turn blue on the cut
The question of whether Oily cans can turn blue in places of damage worries many mushroom pickers. But, in general, a change in the color of the fruiting body with damage is characteristic of almost all representatives of the mushroom kingdom, without exception. It's just that in some species it is almost imperceptible, in others the color may be slightly different, and in others (in particular, representatives of the Boletov family) it can be especially pronounced.
Below is a photo illustrating this phenomenon:
Why do the boletus turn blue on the cut
The reason for the discoloration of the stem or cap in case of damage (it does not matter if it is a cut or the result of cleaning) is the oxidative chemical reaction of the juices of the fruit body and oxygen contained in the air.
The cut breaks the tightness of the leg, and the juices react with atmospheric oxygen. This property is inherent in all mushrooms, without exception.
What types of oil turn blue when cut
There are several types of Oiler, the place of damage of which becomes blue:
- Larch gray or blue. Its distinctive feature is its almost flat cap. Its surface is light brown. After the cut, the leg should turn blue, which is reflected in its name. Nevertheless, it belongs to the edible (albeit the 3rd category), it is often eaten in salty form.
- Yellow-brown. His hat has a matching color. It belongs to inedible, although not poisonous.
- Pepper. It differs from the usual representatives of the Boletovs in the absence of a ring and a reddish hymenophore. Also conditionally edible, but non-toxic. Due to its excessively spicy taste, it is rarely used as an additive similar in effect to spices.
What other mushroom that looks like an oil can turns blue on the cut
It is not only mushrooms such as boletus that turn blue when cut. There are several types that also have a similar property:
- Common bruise. Belongs to the genus Gyroporus of the Boletov family. It has a large cap with a diameter of more than 15 cm. The leg is white, the cap is beige.
- The flywheel is yellow-brown. Conditionally edible, outwardly similar to the Maslenkovs. If the color change occurred almost immediately after the break, it is most likely a flywheel. A distinctive feature is that the hat is thick enough. In addition, this species, when cooking, paints all "neighbors" red.
- Dubovik. Large olive-brown representative of the boletus genus. It is found mainly in oak groves.
- Polish mushroom. Also a representative of boletus. Rather large, has a large and fleshy hemispherical cap. It is considered a very tasty, almost gourmet dish. It is found in both coniferous and deciduous forests.
- Ginger. Also refers to "blue", but there is no doubt about its edibility.
- Satanic mushroom. It has a squat and thick body with a red leg and a white cap. Changes color at the site of damage, but it is difficult to confuse it with any edible representative due to its characteristic appearance.
As can be seen from the description, a change in color at the site of damage is characteristic of a fairly large number of the most diverse species, and there is nothing dangerous in this phenomenon.
Is it worth worrying if the oiler mushroom turns blue when cut?
If the borax boletus turns blue, there is no danger. This property is typical not only for representatives of this genus, but also for many others, which have the most diverse origins and growth conditions.
Conclusion
The phenomenon when mushrooms, similar to boletus, turn blue on the cut, is quite normal and natural. This is a common reaction between mushroom juice and oxygen. This phenomenon cannot be attributed to a sign of toxicity, since it is characteristic of representatives of the most different genera of the mushroom kingdom. If, when collecting or cleaning the oilers, it has changed color, you do not need to throw it away and rinse the instrument. If a given specimen has been unequivocally identified as edible, it can be safely eaten.
