Have you ever taken a punnet of mushrooms from your fridge and discovered that they have gone pink in places? A lot of people have a slight wariness of fungi, even purchased from a store, and that might lead you to question whether you can eat the mushroom or not.
Unfortunately, this depends heavily on the kind of mushroom that you are dealing with. Some mushrooms, such as button mushrooms, tend to turn pink when they are bruised. Other mushrooms turn pink when they are starting to decay. Be cautious about eating any mushrooms that have changed color during storage.
In this article, we’ll check out the different kinds of mushrooms, and look at other signs you can use to tell you if the mushrooms are safe. This should help you to avoid getting sick from eating spoiled food, and to avoid wasting good mushrooms if they are safe to eat.
Why Are My Mushrooms Pink?
Mushrooms can turn pink for a variety of reasons, and different kinds behave in different ways. If you have some button mushrooms, for example, they may have turned pink because they have been bruised at some stage, and this is the response this kind of fungus has. It is perfectly normal, and nothing to be worried about.
However, in other kinds of mushrooms, the pink hue can be a sign that something is wrong and the fungus is decaying. That might leave you wondering how to tell whether you can eat the mushroom or not. Fortunately, there are other ways to test if the fungus is still okay to consume. You should look out for:
- Squishiness or mushiness – fresh mushrooms should be firm to the touch and not compress too easily
- A strange smell – fresh mushrooms should have a lightly earthy, pleasant aroma
- Wetness – unless washed, fresh mushrooms should be dry and cool to the touch, not damp
- Sliminess – this is a sure sign of decay, as fresh mushrooms should not be remotely slimy
- Wrinkliness – your mushroom should be smooth all over, and wrinkling indicates that it has started to dry out and go bad
- Shrinking – like wrinkliness, this indicates that the mushrooms are drying out and starting to spoil
- Spots of a different color – mushrooms ought to have consistent colors, and if there are darker spots on your mushroom, it is starting to decay
- Flecks of mold – any hint of mold on the surface of a mushroom should lead you to discard the batch quickly
Overall, therefore, it is usually fairly easy to tell when mushrooms are starting to go off, and you should be able to tell if they are safe to eat or not. If you see any of the above signs, it’s best to compost the mushrooms and purchase some fresh ones, so you don’t make yourself sick.
Can I Eat Pink Mushrooms?
This depends on the kind of mushroom that you are working with. Some kinds do turn pink when they are bruised or exposed to air. Portobello mushrooms (and smaller versions of the adult, which include button mushrooms, cremini mushrooms, etc.), can be safely eaten even if they have turned pink.
The pinkness is simply how this kind of fungus responds to damage. That means if you have washed and cut them and then find that they are starting to take on a pink hue, they should still be fine to eat. However, it is still worth checking for the standard signs of decay, just to be safe.
If your mushrooms are not portobello, you should treat pinkness with more caution, and research the specific kind of mushroom you are planning to eat. If you cannot find anything about pinkness, it is best to throw the mushrooms away, rather than risk consuming them. In many kinds, pink could be a sign of decay.
You can also use the other signs mentioned above to help yourself determine whether the mushrooms are safe or not. Test their texture, smell them, and inspect them closely before you decide whether to eat them or not. If in doubt, compost mushrooms rather than using them, as cooking them will not destroy the toxins created by harmful bacteria.
Do All Mushrooms Turn Pink When Bruised?
No: this is something that portobello mushrooms do. You should not assume that pink discoloration is just a bruise if you aren’t working with these mushrooms, so be aware of such. In some cases, pink could be a sign that the mushroom has gone bad and is no longer safe to consume.
Conclusion
If your mushrooms are pink, you should treat them with caution and look for other warning signs that they have gone off. Check for sliminess, squishiness, wrinkling, a strange smell, and discoloration. If you find any of these things, discard the mushrooms rather than eating them.
