Dealing with worms: How to enjoy mushroom foraging safely

When cleaning the collected mushrooms, it often happens that uninvited guests are found inside. Many people are familiar with this scenario. For some, this means the mushroom must be discarded. Others attempt to find a way to remove unwanted occupants from the mushrooms. There is a method that allows for the quick removal of worms from mushrooms.

First, it's worth considering whether consuming mushrooms with worms is safe at all. Experts, including mycologists, do not recommend collecting visibly worm-infested mushrooms. Old, soft mushrooms, gnawed by worms or with holes in the caps, shouldn't end up in our baskets, as they've likely already become a meal for insects. However, it is not always visible if the mushroom is "inhabited." What can be done then?

If the mushroom is only partially worm-infested, you can cut away the affected part and, to be sure, use a method to help remove any possible unwanted occupants. Simply cut the collected specimens and place them in a bowl of cold salted water (three tablespoons of salt per liter of water). Then, leave them in this bath for 2-3 minutes. During this time, the worms should come out of the mushrooms independently, and sand and other debris will also settle at the bottom of the container.

It's important to remember that eliminating the worms doesn't completely solve the problem because remnants from the creatures might remain in the mushrooms, which can contain substances harmful to humans. Moreover, mushrooms absorb water like sponges, so after such a bath, they won't be suitable for frying, freezing, or drying. This method is useful before preparing mushroom preserves in jars.