Mushrooms Safety Inspection

Mushrooms are often washed with bleach or chlorine solutions to make them look "perfectly white" and attractive on shelves. 1. The "Brilliant White" Warning: Natural button mushrooms have an off-white, slightly creamy or "earthy" color with some bruising. If mushrooms look "brilliant white" or "snow white" with zero blemishes, they have likely been bleached. 2. The Smell Test: Take a deep sniff. Natural mushrooms smell like fresh earth and rain. If you detect a sharp, chemical, or "swimming pool" (chlorine) smell, they have been chemically treated. 3. The Texture Test: Gently touch the mushroom cap. Natural mushrooms are firm but have a slight velvety "give." If they feel slippery, slimy, or unnaturally hard, they may have been treated with preservatives like formaldehyde. 4. The Water Wash: Wash a mushroom in warm water. If the water turns slightly milky or bubbles slightly, it indicates chemical residues.