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Among the gifts of nature that people use, mushrooms occupy a special place. They contain many vitamins and are distinguished by excellent taste. In addition, their cultivation does not require a lot of money and time. Therefore, for a long time, many do not miss the opportunity to use mushrooms in the preparation of various dishes for everyday cuisine and delicacies for the holidays. Of the more than four hundred varieties used for food, oyster mushrooms are the most common. Unfortunately, like other mushrooms, they are susceptible to disease. Very often you can find white bloom on oyster mushrooms. It is important to understand whether they can be used and whether such specimens will harm the body.
What is white bloom on oyster mushrooms
Many mushroom lovers, buying oyster mushrooms in the store or taking them out of the refrigerator, get upset when they find white mold on them. It can be located on the base, on the cap and even in the depths of the mushroom. The lot of many of these products is the same - the trash can. But don't rush to throw away your favorite product. If it really is mold, then it can simply be trimmed off.
There is a high probability that this white fluff on oyster mushrooms is not mold, but the mycelium or mycelium from which they emerged. You can calm down - it is not harmful to the human body. Perhaps the mushrooms were allowed to "warm up" and, as is customary in nature, they began to grow again. Mycelium and fruiting body are similar in taste.
The fluffy bloom spoils only the appearance of the product, but this does not affect the taste in any way, and during heat treatment it will completely disappear.
Mycelium often resembles white mold on the fruiting body.
Why does oyster mushroom form a white bloom?
If oyster mushrooms are covered with white mold, this indicates that storage conditions have been violated - either in the store where the purchase was made, or at home. Most likely, this product was stored in a plastic bag or under a film, where access to fresh air was limited. And if at home this issue can be taken under control, then you need to think about the reputation of the store. It is better to buy gifts of the forest from a farm or mushroom farm that has a good reputation. Oyster mushrooms are stored longer than those obtained by production. Do not forget that they do not like moisture - this will shorten the shelf life and may lead to an unpleasant odor.
Is it possible to eat oyster mushrooms if they have a white coating
Everyone decides for himself whether to eat the product on which the plaque has appeared. If white mold appears on the oyster mushrooms, it is imperative to smell the fruiting bodies. If the smell does not differ from the usual mushroom smell and there is no obvious unpleasant smell, then it is mycelium.
It will be enough to thoroughly rinse or clean the white formations from the legs and caps and you can start cooking your favorite dish. But do not forget that heat treatment in such cases is extremely necessary. It is quite dangerous to consume such a product fresh.
White bloom can be located on the plates themselves.
How to avoid white bloom on oyster mushrooms
After purchasing mushrooms, it would be good to eat them or process them within the first 24 hours, as they are perishable.If it is not possible to cook them as early as possible, then you need to remember important points:
- after opening the polyethylene, store in a dry place for no more than 5 days;
- transfer a delicacy made of polyethylene into a vacuum package or into a food container where there is air access, you can use an ordinary saucepan, covering it with a lid or a thick dry towel;
- in the refrigerator, you can place mushrooms only on the lowest shelf;
- store in the refrigerator for no more than 10 days at a temperature of 0 to +2 degrees;
- after storage, prepare your favorite dish with thorough heat treatment.
Conclusion
If oyster mushrooms have white bloom, this is not a reason to throw the product away. It is almost impossible to get poisoned with these fruiting bodies. If there is no unpleasant smell, a good mushroom aroma is felt, then the white bloom is nothing more than mycelium. It is not hazardous to health, does not spoil the taste. The product must be used on the first day after purchase. If the oyster mushrooms in the refrigerator are covered with a white coating, it means that the storage conditions have been violated. It is necessary to remove light formations and start cooking. It is important to adhere to the rules for storing the product and not contain it in plastic bags.
