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Many people enjoy “silent hunting” in the summer-autumn period. The wide variety of mushrooms surprises you with the red umbrella mushroom (Chicken coop). It’s all because of the umbrella-shaped shape and the reddish color that appears to warn of danger, which appears when you press hard or cut the cap or leg.
Chicken coop flesh turns red when damaged
Where does the blushing umbrella grow?
The favorite places of the chicken coop mushroom are open forest clearings. They can be called quite light-loving. They are often found in open spaces of meadows, clearings and plantings. The habitat is very vast.The blushing umbrella can be found on almost all continents of the globe, with the exception, perhaps, of the harsh, icy Antarctica. The composition of the soil is important for him. There should be enough humus in the soil.
A blushing umbrella is easy money for an experienced mushroom picker. According to the photo and descriptions of the chicken coop mushroom, it grows in groups, and quite numerous ones at that, which makes the task of collecting much easier.
Umbrella blushing grows in open areas
What does a mushroom coop look like?
Among the people, the blushing umbrella has gained its popularity as a “chicken coop” mushroom. This is due to the unusual shape of the young fruiting body. According to the descriptions and photos, the red umbrella mushroom, just rising slightly from the ground, is very similar to an egg with a cracked shell. In addition, according to many gourmets, the taste of this mushroom is very reminiscent of chicken meat.
The name “reddened umbrella mushroom” says a lot. With its appearance, it follows the outline of an umbrella, which opens in rainy weather, gently and carefully enveloping its leg, protecting it from bad weather.
The difference between a blushing umbrella:
- The diameter of the cap is on average from 10 to 20 cm, the surface is scaly, the color is gray, smoothly turning into beige, the color darkens towards the center and becomes brownish-brown.
- The structure of the pulp is loose. The cap is delicate, the leg is fibrous. The pulp is initially white, turns red when damaged, and has no distinct odor.
- The inner side has white or slightly cream colored plates.
- Another distinctive feature of chicken coop mushrooms are the so-called rings on the stalk, somewhat reminiscent of snake skin.
- The spores are white, oval-shaped, smooth.
- The length of the leg is from 10 to 30 cm, the thickness, in some specimens, reaches 5 cm. The color is beige or slightly brownish. There is a thickening at the base.
The diameter of the cap can reach twenty centimeters
Chicken coop mushroom - edible or not
The shaggy umbrella mushroom (blushing) attracts with its exotic appearance and is considered one of the most delicious mushrooms; it belongs to the conditionally edible group. The appearance is also not inferior to the taste characteristics. Despite its slight popularity among mushroom pickers (due to its resemblance to dangerous relatives), the chicken coop takes pride of place in the kitchens of many housewives. Basically, only the caps of the blushing umbrella are prepared. The legs are a bit harsh and I rarely use them in cooking.
But still, along with the positive qualities and reviews, the umbrella mushroom also poses a certain threat to people with a sensitive digestive tract. Microelements that are part of the pulp can cause digestive system upset if consumed raw or undercooked.
A blushing umbrella is considered edible
False doubles of the blushing umbrella
The main reason for such a low popularity of the blushing umbrella is considered to be its similarity to very dangerous and poisonous mushrooms. The main ones are: comb umbrella, chestnut lepiota, Morgan's umbrella.
Lepiota chestnut
Most often, the red umbrella mushroom (Macrolepiotarhacodes) is confused with poisonous fly agarics and toadstools.Even experienced mushroom pickers make mistakes.
First of all, you need to pay attention to:
- shape and thickness of the leg;
- shade and pattern on the cap;
- painting the inner surface of the cap;
- texture and relief on the leg.
Also not least on the list of dangerous doubles are the so-called false umbrellas. The species belong to the same family and it is often difficult to distinguish a poisonous specimen from an edible relative.
One of the most dangerous on this list is the comb umbrella. In young specimens, the cap is shaped like a small bell; as it grows, it becomes like a dome with a diameter of 12 to 15 cm. Its surface is reddish-brown or dark brown, covered with orange or pale yellow pointed scales. The leg is cylindrical, low, thin. In young mushrooms, the wide membranous ring is clearly visible; it is white or pink in color, but as it ripens, it quickly disappears. Unlike its edible counterpart, it has an unpleasant odor.
Comb umbrella
Morgan's umbrella
Against the backdrop of all this wealth of species and classes, the main thing is not to get confused and confused at the most necessary moment, to identify “friends among strangers.”
Rules for collecting a chicken coop
The season for collecting blushing umbrellas is no different from others, as it coincides with the fruiting of most species and classes of mushroom families. This mushroom appears in forests at the end of summer and is most often found in September. This is considered to be the first wave of collection.
The second wave of fruiting is the month of October. The edible chicken coop has a typical light aroma even directly during collection.Experienced mushroom pickers know that you can find mushroom clearings not only in the forest, but also in clearings, plantings, and open spaces of pastures.
Redness at the cut site is a characteristic feature of the blushing umbrella, which helps the mushroom picker directly during harvesting not to confuse it with other relatives of this species.
How to cook chicken coop mushrooms
Mother nature gives a huge amount of benefits, demanding in return only careful treatment. Each region is rich in different types of dishes, which in the skillful hands of housewives turn into exquisite dishes, individual culinary masterpieces. Mushrooms have always occupied an important place at the festive table. And not in vain, because with all their availability and popularity, they contain a lot of vitamins A and B, microelements and beneficial properties that have a beneficial effect on the body.
You can prepare chicken coop mushrooms in various ways.
There are several general preparation rules that also apply to blushing umbrellas:
- clean from forest dirt;
- rinse under running water;
- dry, salt, boil.
Well, then a flight of fancy - fried, boiled, stewed, marinated, in batter, with or without sauce. There are many recipes for preparing chicken coop mushrooms. At the same time, every housewife strives to add her own flavor to the dish.
There are many recipes for cooking mushrooms
Conclusion
The red umbrella mushroom is a fairly easy prey. After all, it grows in large groups. And although many people know about its edibility, the similarity with poisonous species worries even experienced mushroom pickers.
