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Borovik is especially popular due to its rich pleasant taste and aroma. It is widely used in cooking and medicine. Therefore, going to 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 use it in this case or it is better to abstain.
Does the white mushroom turn pink on the cut
This species got its name because its flesh has a light shade. 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. A light shade confirms the edibility of this representative.
Why white mushroom turns pink
The boletus has false twins that change color on the cut. There are certain signs that help to recognize such a representative. Therefore, if the white mushroom turns red or turns pink on the cut, then this feature should be suspicious. This shade is not normal.
This sign indicates the content of toxic substances, so you should refrain from using 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 white mushroom if it has turned pink
If the mushroom turned pink during cooking, then it is better to refrain from eating it. Such an effect can be produced by an inedible twin, which changes its shade at elevated temperatures.
And you need to throw out all the copies that were in the pan. False boletus is distinguished by increased bitterness, which permeates everything that was nearby.
When collecting and cooking, you need to be extremely careful, since any suspicious specimen can cause severe intoxication of the body. In case of doubt, check whether the flesh changes its color to pink when exposed to air.
Other types of mushrooms that look like porcini that turn pink
There are several species that resemble white mushrooms in appearance and can turn pink after cooking. They are also able to change the shade of the pulp when cut or broken as a result of contact with air.
Gorchak (false white mushroom). Young specimens also have a convex hat, 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 fruiting body is distinguished by dense white pulp, but turns pink when cut. A characteristic difference is the mesh pattern on the leg of a dark brown color. You can recognize the mustard by the pink tint on the back of the cap in adult specimens. This double is poisonous, and because of the increased bitterness, it cannot be eaten. And heat treatment only enhances this effect.
The pulp of the false white fungus contains a high concentration of toxic substances that penetrate into the bloodstream even with tactile contact. The first signs of food poisoning after consumption are manifested by dizziness, general weakness and nausea. They pass in a day. After a few weeks, problems begin with the separation of bile, which leads to disruption of the liver. With a large ingestion of toxins in the body, the development of cirrhosis is possible.
Satanic pain. Even a small piece of it can provoke serious poisoning. The degree of toxicity can be judged by the name. This double has a similar hat with a mushroom and a thickened leg. You can suspect a poisonous specimen by the characteristic roughness of the upper part, which is 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. On the cut, the fruiting body has a light cream color, but upon contact with air it turns pink and turns blue. Adult specimens exude an unpleasant odor.
Knowing the distinctive features, it is possible to recognize inedible twins by external signs, and if in doubt, it is recommended to slightly crack the flesh and make sure that it turns pink upon contact with air.
Conclusion
If the white mushroom turns pink when cut, then you should not put it in the basket with the rest of the specimens, since the main feature of this species is the snow-white pulp, which does not change its shade 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 white mushroom got into a common pan and turned pink after cooking, then one should not hope that the high temperature will destroy the toxic components. On the contrary, their toxicity will only increase.