Many novice mushroom pickers are very distrustful of mushrooms that turn blue at the cut site. Taking them for poisonous, they simply throw out completely edible fruiting bodies. I must say that the effect of “blue” is inherent in even the most delicious edible mushrooms. This reaction also applies to some types of oil. So, lovers of “quiet hunting” may find that the leg of the oiler turns blue on the cut.
Butterfish and other similar mushrooms that turn blue when cut
If you are faced with such an interesting phenomenon, then it is quite natural to ask the question: Do butterflies turn blue on the cut or is this a sign of poisonous mushrooms? In fact, many representatives of the “mushroom kingdom” acquire a bluish tint at the cut site due to oxidation associated with the reaction of the pulp of the fungus to air. This is completely normal and you shouldn’t worry about it. If you are absolutely sure about the torn butter dish, but you saw blue at the cut point, you can safely send it to the basket.
I must say that a similar reaction to air occurs in all fungi without exception. It’s just that in some species it is barely noticeable, while in others it appears in a “fabulous” shade. This is what happens with oiler gray or turning blue (A pig with a golden glow) is an edible representative of the mushroom world. Many mushroom pickers are in no hurry to cut them and eat them because of the characteristic blue color that appears at the cut site. However, in this case, the blue does not affect the taste of this mushroom in any way, it just does not look quite aesthetically pleasing. yellow-brown (variegated) butter dish (Suillus variegatus) also turns blue on the cut, but does not have a very pleasant taste. For its specific taste, it is considered to be inedible (but not poisonous).
There are mushrooms similar to butter mushrooms that turn blue when cut. These are goats, which can often be confused with an ordinary butter dish. This fungus of the boletaceae family is also edible.