Do you want to know if Marasmius Oreades (Fairy Ring fungus) are edible?
Would you like to know where to find them, how to identify them and how to make good recipes with these mushrooms?
Let’s go!
Is The Marasmius Oreades Edible Or Toxic?
The Fairy Ring mushroom or also known as Maramius Oreades is far from being a toxic mushroom, on the contrary, it is a very good edible!
Some recommend consuming only the cap, as the stem is fibrous and less flavorful.
Where Are Fairy Rings Found?
Soil
These mushrooms tend to grow on very acidic to slightly acidic soil.
Best Places To Find Them
They are found in grassy areas such as meadows, clearings or embankments.
These mushrooms can also be found in deciduous forests and have a habit of growing in a circle
What Time Of Year Do Marasmius Appear?
You will have the opportunity to collect them between July and November. But their most abundant output will be between mid-September and mid-October. It is not uncommon to pick these up while looking for chanterelles! The latter, like many other mushrooms, are referenced on our Mushroom Maps.
Marasmius Oreades Identification And Look Alikes
The Marasmius oreades is fairly easy to identify. All you have to do is clearly identify the following criteria:
- Cap: it is quite small and measures between 0.5 and 2 inch in diameter. Of a light beige color with pink reflections. The cap has a small central nipple. The margin of the cap is sometimes wavy and streaked.
- Gills: the gills are of a color close to the cap: beige, cream.
- Stem: it is proportionally quite long compared to the cap and measures between 2 and 4 inch in length and about 0.5 inch in width. it is of the same color but lighter than the cap.
- Flesh: its flesh is off-white.
The marasmius oreades can be confused with the mushrooms of the Clitocybes family. They have the same size and sometimes an identical appearance. In order not to confuse them, we will take care to observe the notable differences between these mushrooms, and in particular the decurrent gills on the latter.
The Best Recipe With Fairy Ring Mushrooms
As these mushrooms are small, a few minutes of cooking will be enough to blanch them before incorporating them into your recipe. Here are the steps to prepare and cook your Fairy Ring mushrooms:
- Heat a frying pan with a drizzle of neutral oil (sunflower, for example) and a knob of butter.
- Fry, for 3 minutes, 3 good handfuls of Marasmius in your pan so that they release their water.
- Let cook for about 10 minutes over low heat to evaporate most of the water.
- Set aside your mushrooms for a direct tasting or an omelette.
You can then serve your mushrooms with a little cream, with potatoes, in an omelet, or with other recipes!
Check Out Our Mushroom Maps!
Marasmius Oreades are a real pleasure to find and cook, just like Morels, Porcini mushrooms, Chanterelles and many other mushrooms. Discover them with our Mushroom Maps here!
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