Content
Boletus is especially popular due to its rich, pleasant taste and aroma. It is widely used in cooking and medicine. Therefore, when going into the forest, every lover of quiet hunting tries to find it. But sometimes you can observe that the porcini mushroom turns pink, so you should know for sure whether you can consume it in this case or whether it is better to abstain.
The boletus fruit body does not turn pink when cut
Does a porcini mushroom turn pink when cut?
This species got its name because its flesh is light in color. Moreover, the color does not change upon contact with air. The cap of the porcini mushroom also does not turn pink when broken or cut. The light shade confirms the edibility of this representative.
Why does the white mushroom turn pink?
Boletus has false twins that change color when cut. There are certain signs that help to recognize such a representative. Therefore, if a porcini mushroom turns red or pink when cut, then this feature should raise suspicion. This shade is not the norm.
This sign indicates the content of toxic substances, so you should refrain from consuming such specimens. But this is not an absolute rule, since there are many edible species that also turn pink when cut, but they are completely different from the porcini mushroom.
Is it possible to eat a porcini mushroom if it has turned pink?
If the boletus turns pink during cooking, it is better to refrain from eating it. This effect can be produced by an inedible double, which changes its color at elevated temperatures.
Moreover, you need to throw out all the specimens that were in the pan. False boletus is characterized by increased bitterness, which permeates everything that was nearby.
When collecting and preparing, you need to be extremely careful, since any suspicious specimen can cause severe intoxication of the body. If in doubt, check whether the flesh changes color to pink when exposed to air.
Other types of mushrooms similar to porcini mushrooms that turn pink
There are several species that resemble porcini mushrooms in appearance and can turn pink after cooking. They are also capable of changing the shade of the pulp when cut or broken as a result of contact with air.
Gorchak (false porcini mushroom). Young specimens also have a convex cap, and when ripe it straightens out. The diameter of the upper part reaches 10 cm, and the height of the stem is 7 cm. The fruit body is distinguished by dense white flesh, but when cut it turns pink. A characteristic difference is the mesh pattern on the dark brown leg. Bittersweet can be recognized by the pink tint on the back of the cap in adult specimens. This double is poisonous, and due to its increased bitterness it should not be eaten.And heat treatment only enhances this effect.
The pulp of the false porcini mushroom contains a high concentration of toxic substances that penetrate into the blood even with tactile contact. The first signs of food poisoning after consumption are dizziness, general weakness and nausea. They go away in a day. After a few weeks, problems begin with the secretion of bile, which leads to disruption of the liver. With a large amount of toxins entering the body, cirrhosis may develop.
The spore layer of an adult bitterling becomes pink as it matures.
The pain is satanic. Even a small piece of it can cause serious poisoning. The degree of toxicity can be judged by its name. This double has a similar cap to the boletus and a thickened stem. You can suspect a poisonous specimen by the characteristic roughness of the upper part, which can be felt if you run your finger. The color of the cap varies from light gray to ocher.
The shade of the leg is yellow-red, and towards the middle it becomes carmine. When cut, the fruit body is light cream in color, but when exposed to air it turns pink and blue. Adult specimens emit an unpleasant odor.
The satanic bolet is distinguished by the bright color of the fruiting body
Knowing the distinctive features, you can recognize inedible doubles by their external signs, and if in doubt, it is recommended to slightly break the flesh and make sure that it turns pink when exposed to air.
Conclusion
If the porcini mushroom turns pink when cut, then you should not put it in the basket with the other specimens, since the main feature of this species is the snow-white flesh, which does not change its color both fresh and cooked.
Therefore, in order not to endanger your health, it is better to get rid of such a find. If, nevertheless, a false porcini mushroom ends up in a common pan and turns pink after cooking, then you should not hope that the high temperature will destroy the poisonous components. On the contrary, their toxicity will only increase.
