While they are not poisonous, there are some reported cases where they’ve caused gastric discomfort in some people. While it’s very easy to avoid a Jack-O-Lantern mushroom, false chanterelles are a bit trickier .
You may be asking “Are chanterelle mushrooms poisonous?”
There’s only one poisonous chanterelle look alike, the Jack-O-Lantern mushroom (Omphalotus olearius). While the Jack-O-Lantern mushroom is, in fact, an orange mushroom, that’s about where the similarity ends.
The next look-alike is the aptly named false chanterelle ( Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca ). Although some say this mushroom is edible, it reportedly is far too bitter to taste good. The picture on the left shows a few false chanterelles. There are claims that this mushroom is outright poisonous , giving them upset stomachs and digestive problems.
Although the False Chanterelle is not known as a seriously toxic toadstool , there are reports that some people have suffered hallucinations after eating this species. The False Chanterelle should therefore be treated with caution, and we recommend that it should be considered as inedible.
Can chanterelles be used as medicine?
While research suggests the species could be a source of some medically useful substances, it is not currently regarded as medicinal , nor is it widely used in any way. False chanterelles grow across much of North America and Europe. My name is Austin Collins. I’ve dedicated my life to Mushrooms .
Can you eat false chanterelles?
The False Chanterelle has been known to be edible just like the True Chanterelle, but obviously not as superior in flavour etc. Some reference books have labelled it as harmless, but even though it isn’t deadly there have been reports from some people suffering unpleasant or alarming hallucinations.
Potatoes will overpower the chanterelle flavor, as will many other vegetables. Very few people eat chanterelles raw. They are peppery and upsetting, and they can make some people ill . In any case, their finest flavor can only be appreciated when they are thoroughly cooked.
False chanterelle is not currently used medicinally, so there is no dosage recommendation . Although some people eat false chanterelle without ill effects, others are mildly sickened. There are also unconfirmed reports of hallucinations in people who ate this mushroom [vi].
While I was researching we ran into the inquiry “Can you eat chanterelle mushrooms raw?”.
I friend of mine brought me some beautiful chanterelle mushrooms that she foraged for. I seem to remember that you can’t eat them raw, that they can make you sick raw. Does anyone know for sure?
What do chanterelles taste like?
It’s basically a cross between fruity and peppery, and this unique flavor is largely why chanterelles are so popular among mushroom enthusiasts. On the other hand, false chanterelles have no noticeable odor and an unmemorable taste that is generally described as earthy, mushroomy, and bitter .
This begs the question “What do chanterelles smell like?”
Our answer is that false chanterelles smell like any grocery store mushroom, while true chanterelles smell fruity . Depending on the weather or the state of the mushrooms, smell might not be a good indicator. While they are not poisonous, there are some reported cases where they’ve caused gastric discomfort in some people.
Do chanterelles need to be soaked before cooking?
A chef recently suggested that dried chanterelles reconstituted in water overnight retain more flavor if the soaking water is included when they are cooked . To can chanterelles, clean them thouroughly and cut them in big chunks and steam for 20 minutes.
Is the false chanterelle a different species?
Third, the false chanterelle is one of several closely-related and very similar species that may or may not be properly differentiated by writers on mushrooms [iv]. When learning to identify mushroom species, it’s important to make sure your information source is correct and up to date.
Chanterelles will reappear in the same places year after year if carefully harvested so as not to disturb the ground in which the mycelium (the vegetative part of the mushroom) grows. There are yearly variations–some years more mushrooms, some less.