How do you tell if a mushroom is poisonous?

Answer by  jacqui (202)

The best method is to ask an expert before eating any mushrooms collected in the wild. Even some species that look like regular mushrooms can be dangerous, although a good field guide is useful and can help in identification, it is always better to err on the side of caution

Answer by  rubikscubefreak (17)

There isn't any one guarantee that a random mushroom will or won't be poisonous. However, of the thousands of species of mushroom, only 32 have been associated with fatalities. Also, many of the toxic fungi happen to look very similar to the type of mushroom you'd find on a pizza. Check Wikipedia for a complete list.

Answer by  Bobinski (1652)

All mushrooms should be treated as poisonous. Pick one, look it up in a book or on internet. Most common poisonous mushroom is the Amanita. Poison control center can help.

Answer by  plantman1979 (72)

Buy a good field guide and then spend some time studying with someone who knows their stuff. wild mushrooms are not something to mess around with.

Answer by  case (1261)

There are more poisonous mushrooms than you think. You can teach yourself which ones are poisonous by study a book about the subject. I recommend you never eat a mushroom in the wild unless you are 100% positive it is safe. Many mushrooms that are poisonous can make you very sick or cause death.

Answer by  seejayo (17)

There is no simple way to tell if a mushroom is poisonous or not. The best way is to ask an expert in the field. Many mushrooms are edible, but it's not easy to tell just by looking at a picture in a field guide.

Answer by  harwoodkp (376)

It is very hard to tell if a mushroom is poisonous. Similar looking mushrooms in a different area can actually be dangerous, while in one area they are safe to eat. he best way is to find an expert of the area and learrn from them.