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How To Tell When Black Trumpet Mushrooms Have Gone Bad?

No one wants to eat a spoiled mushroom. In this article, we’ll talk about how to tell when black trumpet mushrooms have gone bad. We’ll also discuss how long you can expect your mushrooms to last in storage and why it’s important to discard any black trumpets that show signs of decay.

How to Know if a Black Trumpet is too Old to Eat?

If you’re new to foraging, you may come across black trumpets in a variety of shapes and sizes. Is there any way of knowing which ones are too old or no longer good to pick and eat?

First off, check out this video before harvesting and eating wild mushrooms for the first time.

Like most mushrooms, black trumpets will eventually begin to show signs of their age. Look at all the mushrooms in a group and compare their appearance.

Are there any that look more tattered, damaged, or broken? These will probably be too old to eat.

When you pick a black trumpet, carefully cut the stem away from the base, then inspect the cup. If it feels harder, tougher, or more leathery than the other black trumpets, it is probably past its prime and won’t be good for eating.

Inspect each mushroom for soft or slimy spots, mold, or other things that don’t look quite right. Black trumpets will range in color from brown to light gray to velvety black, but if you find any with mottled or discolored patches, they may be too old for eating.

When Has a Black Trumpet Mushroom Gone Bad?

when has black trumpet mushroom gone bad

After harvesting your mushrooms, you’ll need to keep a close eye on them to make sure they don’t start going bad. What are some signs to watch for?

If you’re keeping black trumpets in the fridge, check on them every day and throw them away if they show signs of mold or mildew. If only one is beginning to go bad, remove it immediately so it doesn’t spoil the rest of the batch. 

Watch for the black trumpets to take on a more shiny or jet black appearance, especially if they feel slimy or soggy. This means they are rotting and should be discarded.

It also helps to pay attention to how they smell. If their fruity aroma starts to fade or smell more putrid, throw them out.

If you’ve frozen your mushrooms, watch for signs of freezer burn. The mushrooms may appear wrinkly, discolored, or covered in ice crystals, and they may smell bad especially as you thaw them out.

If they turn a darker shade of black during dehydrating, this can be a sign that they are already putrefying. These mushrooms should not be eaten as they will not keep well in storage and may cause food poisoning.

Can You Get Sick From Eating Old Mushrooms?

Most people know that there are many toxic varieties of mushrooms, but you may not know that even edible mushrooms can become toxic if they start to go bad. The truth is, you can get very sick from eating old mushrooms. 

Mushrooms of any kind are prone to contamination the longer they sit. Various types of bacteria can multiply on mushrooms, some of which can cause food poisoning.

If you experience symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps after eating old mushrooms, you may need to seek medical attention. 

The tricky thing about mushrooms is that, according to Michigan State University, even those considered edible can make some people sick. Various types of edible mushrooms can become toxic under certain growing conditions, if they interact with alcohol, or if they cause an allergic reaction. 

Black trumpets pose generally few risks as they are generally well tolerated by most people. What’s more, they are easy to identify and have no toxic look-alikes.

That said, it’s important to make sure you identify them correctly, and keep a close eye on them after harvest so you can discard any that begin to go bad. If they become contaminated while in storage, they will probably make you sick.

How Long Do Black Trumpet Mushrooms Last?

how long do trumpet mushrooms last

That depends on how you’re storing them. You can keep your mushrooms in the fridge, the freezer, or even on the pantry shelf if you dehydrate them first.

If you keep them in the fridge, they will last for up to a week, but they may begin going bad in as little as 2 to 3 days. Check on them every day and immediately throw out any that begin showing signs of decay.

In the freezer, black trumpets will usually last a month or two. Some may last longer if they are properly prepared and kept in a very cold freezer, but watch out for freezer burn.

Dried black trumpets can be kept for up to a year at room temperature, as long as they were fresh and unspoiled when they were dehydrated. They should appear gray or light black when dehydrated; if they turn dark black, they should be thrown away.

Regardless of how you keep them, always inspect stored black trumpets before eating them to make sure they aren’t beginning to go bad.

Conclusion

Black trumpet mushrooms should be thrown away if they mold or spoil. Eating mushrooms that are past their prime can cause you to get food poisoning.

Always check your mushroom for mold, slime, and soft spots before eating them. If the mushrooms are dehydrated, throw away any that turn dark black, become discolored, or fill with moisture while in storage.

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