Despite the abundance of recipes, many do not cease to worry about the question of whether it is possible to eat raw mushrooms. At the same time, people are guided by the fact that in fresh mushrooms more beneficial substances are stored. This is true, mushrooms contain organic acids, proteins, minerals and vitamins such as D, PP, E, a number of group B, from trace elements in them you can find phosphorus, iron, potassium and zinc. Of course, without heat treatment, more useful substances are preserved in mushrooms, but everyone should correlate the possible risk and benefit independently.
So, if we talk about whether it is possible to eat mushrooms raw, you need to know that for such consumption it is necessary to use exclusively fresh mushrooms. Even with proper storage, their shelf life usually does not exceed 5 days. Of course, if you purchase them directly from the manufacturer on the farm, then you know exactly how much they are stored. But if you buy mushrooms in the market, then finding out how many days ago they were harvested is almost unrealistic, because for some time they lay with the farmer before they were bought by wholesalers, waited for the retailer, and only then got on the counter in the market or in the supermarket.
With prolonged storage, choline is formed in them - a toxic substance that is quite harmful to humans. Therefore, the question of whether it is possible to eat mushrooms raw, if you do not know how many days they have, the answer will be unequivocal. Eating such mushrooms without heat treatment is quite dangerous. Even if the seller honestly tells you that he received fresh champignons only today, he will not be able to say how many days ago they were harvested.
In addition, these mushrooms, like a sponge, absorb everything from the environment. If you decide to engage in gathering and go to the forest, where champignons grow, so that you have fresh and environmentally friendly mushrooms on your table, you must be extremely careful. Many say that mushrooms perfectly absorb the exhausts of cars, all emissions from nearby plants and other toxic substances. When self-collecting, it is important not to confuse them with a pale grebe, which they are very similar to. Carefully inspect each mushroom, there should be a film under the hat below - it indicates that the champignon is young.
If you are still worried about your health, then it’s better not to risk it or even find out if you can eat raw champignons. The better the heat treatment will be carried out, the less likely you will be poisoned even by stale mushrooms.
Doctors say that before eating any mushrooms, it is advisable to boil. Even if you are not a supporter of raw food diet and you are not interested in whether mushrooms can be eaten raw, you are used to simply frying them or throwing them in soup without preliminary processing, you still have a chance to harm your health. Before any cooking, boil them first: this will help neutralize most of the toxic substances, clean up almost imperceptible particles of the earth, fungi or even rot.
Of course, if you have your own champignon farm and you are sure of their quality, then you can safely use them fresh. But at the slightest doubt it is better not to risk it and subject the product to heat treatment.