Honey agarics: benefits and harm to the human body

Honey mushrooms are considered quite common mushrooms, from which various delicious dishes are prepared. They can be fried, salted, marinated, dried, etc. They grow in whole families, so from one site you can immediately pick up a whole basket of mushrooms. For this reason, many mushroom pickers prefer to pick mushrooms. If in the forest you find several openings, it means that somewhere nearby there is still a whole group or a friendly family of this species. Rarely when a fungus grows alone. Honey mushrooms surprise with their variety. Even seasoned mushroom pickers, they can be misleading in determining the species.

How they look and where they grow

These are agaric mushrooms. Usually for real, true mushrooms mushroom pickers go to the forest in the fall. Their round caps can be seen from afar. Honey mushrooms grow near old, rotten trees, on rotten stumps, in the area of ​​fallen trees, driftwood. But you can find representatives of the family in the meadow, under bushes, on the forest edges. The length of the leg of the honey agaric is usually 12–13 cm. Some species have fringe or, as many mushroom pickers call it, a skirt.

Appearance Features

True representatives can be distinguished by the following signs:

1. They have a high leg, which has a kind of ring in the middle of the length or closer to the hat.
2. The hat itself has a rounded shape resembling an umbrella.
3. The surface of the mushroom cap is scaly.
4. The color of the hat can be different - from pale yellow to red.
5. The plates at the bottom of the mushroom cap are cream or pale yellow in color.

Kinds

34 mushroom species of honey mushrooms are known, of which only 22 have been thoroughly studied. All of them are somewhat similar to each other, but each species has its own characteristic features.

There are true mushrooms and fake (false), edible and inedible. In the article, we will consider some representatives of the family in more detail and learn how to distinguish a real honey agar from a "fake".

By the timing of exit and external signs, several of the most famous types can be distinguished:

• autumn or true honey agaric;
• summer;
• thick-legged;
• winter;
• spring;
• northern;
• bulbous-legged;
• shrinking;
• meadow;
• royal and others

Autumn
This species is called the true or true representative of the family of honey mushrooms. It is characterized by a fall in autumn. If the autumn is warm, then there is a chance to find mass families and collect a rich harvest. For such a species, both deciduous and coniferous thickets are suitable. The mushroom can be called illegible, as it can parasitize in different places: not only near trees, but also in grass and near shrubs.

It is not difficult to recognize him, so even a beginner mushroom picker will be able to recognize him. The hat is painted in a pleasant yellowish color, reminiscent of a shade of honey, may be pale orange or light brown. The hat is darker in the center. On its surface are flakes that can disappear with age. The leg of the mushroom is long (8–10 cm).

The cap size of a young honey agaric is small, its diameter is from 3 to 5 cm. The shape is convex, round, wrapped inward at the edges. Hats of mature mushrooms open and increase in size, their diameter can reach 10 cm or more.

The hat of honey agarics is dense, and its flesh has a whitish color. The mushroom smells good.In the adult representative, the flesh of the hat becomes rough, almost unsuitable for eating. Such mushrooms are best avoided. Mature specimens are not only tasteless, but can also be harmful to health.

The yield of the autumn species is widespread in moist birch, aspen, coniferous and other forests. The beginning of growth is August, the end of the exit occurs with the first frosts. The optimum temperature for mushrooms of this species is + 10 ° C.

Northern
It is practically no different from autumn. True, the mushroom has a more saturated color of the hat - light brown and looks outwardly stronger. Places of growth are those of the first species.

Fat foot
The name itself speaks for itself. The mushroom has a thick leg compared to the autumn and northern species. Also has flakes on a hat that have a light color. You cannot meet this kind of whole families. Thick-legged honey agarics grow in small groups.

The hat of the thick-legged species has a wide form, lowered to the bottom along the edges. Its diameter is no more than 10 cm. The color of the young specimen is different - from light brown to dark. Thick-footed honey mushrooms with pink hats are found. With age, the color darkens and becomes brown.

Young mushrooms always have a “skirt” on their legs, which disappears as they grow. The beginning of the release is August, the end is September.

Bulbous
Pretty beautiful mushroom with a bright hat. The color of the hat is deep brown or bright yellow. In this species, the scales are located on the entire surface of the fungus. The legs have a tuberous shape. They can grow both on trees and on the ground.

The growth period is from early August to early October. Mushroom prefers deadwood, old stumps, rotten trees.

Shrinking
This is a non-cross species (or, as it is also called, oak). He prefers deciduous trees. The leg does not have a characteristic sign - the ring, so it can be confused with the lying representatives of honey mushrooms. Only experienced mushroom pickers can identify a real mushroom and collect it.

One can recognize the honey agaric by other characteristic signs: scales on the hat and the hairiness of the body inherent in true representatives of honey agarics. Gather mushroom since July. Finish gathering in October.

Summer
This species does not apply to real honey mushrooms, but is very similar to it. It is edible, therefore we will tell a little about it.

The mushroom cap is small, not exceeding 6 cm in diameter. Color - pale yellow. The main feature of this species is the presence of a tubercle. The surface of the cap is smooth, almost without scales. The leg is shorter than the autumn look.

The mushroom can be harvested starting in April. Fruits this species before the onset of cold weather.

Winter
This is also a false but edible mushroom. Outwardly, it is no different from the true representatives of the family; it prefers rotten trees and rotten stumps. It got its name from the ability to bear fruit even at low air temperatures. The output season is determined from autumn to early spring. But this does not mean that in 40-degree frosts you can pick a mushroom. In such cold weather, he is in the stage of suspended animation, but with the onset of the first thaw, he will immediately begin to come to life.

He is not choosy in the choice of places of growth. It can be found in the forest, in the garden, in the park, etc. For this reason, the Japanese and Koreans successfully cultivate the winter species.

Lugovoi
Also applies to false honey mushrooms. Very similar to the true representatives of the family, the same color and the same shape of the hat. But there is no ring on the leg, and on the hat you will not find scales.

The mushroom prefers meadows and open places with grass. It can be collected from the beginning of summer until the end of autumn.

Royal
It is attributed to false mushrooms. It has a rather peculiar and spectacular appearance. His whole body, including the leg, is covered with scales. He has a bell-shaped hat, prefers rotten forest stumps and trees, begins to leave in August, and ends in late autumn.

How real mushrooms differ from false ones

How to distinguish the true representatives of the family of honey from the false? Consider the signs inherent in true mushrooms:

1. They have a formation in the form of a ring on the leg, or as it is called - a "skirt".
2. They smell good.
3. Real mushrooms always have pale hats.
4. The surface of the caps is covered with flakes.
5. The plates located under the hat have a pale yellow, close to white, or cream shade.

Composition and calorie content

Honey agarics is a low-calorie product. There are only 17 kcal per 100 g.

Worth to know! The main composition of mushrooms is water. Its content in honey mushrooms is 90%.

In addition to water, the mushroom contains:

• proteins;
• minerals;
• fiber;
• fats
• alimentary fiber;
• carbohydrates;
• disaccharides;
• ash;
• monosaccharides.

Among the useful elements it is worth highlighting amino acids, micro and macro elements, antioxidants. In particular, the composition of the fungus includes:

• vitamins of group B, A, E, C;
• phosphorus;
• magnesium;
• sodium;
• potassium;
• iron;
• calcium and others.

Why mushrooms are useful

For women

We highlight the main points of the usefulness of mushrooms for the female body:

1. The product is low in calories, so extra pounds will not be gained with it.
2. Helps with diets and fasting days.
3. Removes excess fat from the body.
4. Normalizes the nervous system, helps with anxiety and insomnia.
5. Promotes the formation of new cells due to its composition.
6. Strengthens blood vessels.
7. Beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, nails and hair.
8. Removes toxins from the body.
9. Helps with constipation.
10. Prevents the development of malignant tumors, in particular mammary glands.

For men

Mushrooms can completely replace a full lunch or dinner, despite its low calorie content. Honey mushrooms are quite nutritious.

It is known that fungi of this family reduce cholesterol in the blood. They have enough protein necessary for a strong sex to maintain muscle tissue. Mushrooms have a positive effect on the work of the heart.

During pregnancy

Honey mushrooms during pregnancy can be eaten, but in moderation and only in boiled or stewed form. This is a nutritious and healthy product that will saturate a woman’s body with the missing minerals, micro and macro elements, vitamins.

When breastfeeding

1. During lactation, mushrooms are allowed, but the rules must be followed:
2. Do not abuse mushrooms.
3. It is better to buy honey mushrooms that were raised on the farm.
4. You can’t eat pickled mushrooms, it is worth abandoning salted ones.

Important! You can start eating mushrooms when the baby is more than 4 months old. Until then, one should not take risks.

For kids

It is immediately worth noting that until the child is 7 years old, it is not necessary to give him mushrooms. They can cause discomfort and upset stomach. But after 7 years of age, mushrooms in limited quantities will benefit children.

They are able to:

• improve eyesight;
• activate the brain;
• strengthen immunity;
• normalize the nervous system.

When losing weight

When conducting diets, honey mushrooms are especially in demand. Their caloric content, even when fried, does not exceed 22 kcal per 100 g. For this reason, losing weight people can safely eat mushrooms for lunch and dinner. At the same time, it is important that the person does not have digestive problems, since fungi can be difficult to absorb by the body.

Are pickled mushrooms useful?

Some people incorrectly claim that pickled mushrooms do not bring any benefit to a person. This statement is incorrect. If you compare the composition of fresh mushrooms with pickled, then there will not be much difference between them. The advantage of pickled mushrooms will be that they are easier to absorb by the body, and there is practically no fat in them. Minus - high carbohydrate content. But the product remains useful, nutritious and very tasty.

Is it possible to eat mushrooms with gout?

Honey mushrooms with gout are allowed to be included in your diet, but in small quantities. Mushrooms practically do not contain purines, therefore this species, along with oyster mushrooms, is considered to be a permitted product for the patient. You can eat stewed mushrooms and boiled, refusing salted and pickled.

Important! In the period of exacerbation of the disease, fungi should be discarded.

Medical use

Honey mushrooms are used by traditional healers.A special kind of bread is prepared from their mycelium for patients with diabetes mellitus. Mushrooms serve as a laxative. It is proved that mushroom pulp is able to overcome staphylococci, help eliminate E. coli from the body. Honey mushrooms are also useful for radioactive radiation.

Honey mushrooms in medicine are used as antibiotics and painkillers. It is known that an alcohol tincture prepared on the basis of honey mushrooms can cause a wart. Taking the infusion inside, adding a little honey to it, you can cope with viral infections and strengthen the immune system.

Harm and contraindications

There are no special contraindications to the use of mushrooms, but they are not worth it, for example, eat at night, since the food is heavy. Caution should be taken on people suffering from:

• gastrointestinal diseases;
• renal failure;
• allergies
• hypertension.

Also, do not give mushrooms to children under 7 years of age.

Symptoms of poisoning mushrooms

It is possible to cause poisoning not only by poisonous specimens, but also by edible ones. The cause of poisoning may be improper storage or preparation.

Signs will appear almost immediately or a couple of hours after eating them:

• nausea and vomiting;
• pain in the intestines and stomach;
• diarrhea;
• heartburn and belching;
• bad feeling;
• headaches;
• temperature increase up to 38 ° C;
• gas formation.

How to store honey mushrooms

Consider the shelf life for fresh, salted, pickled mushrooms.

Fresh

Honey mushrooms can be kept fresh for no more than 5 hours in the refrigerator. The important point is that they can only be stored in raw form. If the mushrooms have been peeled, then they must immediately be put to cook.

Salted

The shelf life of salted mushrooms depends on the method of salting. With the hot method of pickling, it is allowed to store mushrooms in the refrigerator for up to one year, with a cold method - no more than 6 months.

The optimum temperature is + 5 ° C. Low temperatures can freeze mushrooms, and therefore they will lose their value. When the temperature rises, they can become acidic and become unfit for food.

Pickled

Proper preparation of mushrooms for pickling and a consistent preservation process makes it possible to keep mushrooms in this state for up to 12 months. If the cans were closed with an ordinary plastic lid, then their shelf life is six months. Fried canned mushrooms, covered with oil, should be stored no more than six months.

The optimum temperature is + 5 ° C. They can be stored in a cool dark place, so it is not necessary to use a refrigerator. True, this will reduce the period to 3 months.

Is it possible to freeze

Mushroom freezing is considered the most ideal storage method. To do this, you must first sort out the mushrooms, remove debris, cut off the lower part from the leg. If the instance is large, then you need to remove the shell from it.

Do not wash mushrooms before freezing! They can stick together. If washing cannot be avoided, it is necessary to thoroughly dry the mushrooms before sending mushrooms to the freezer.

You should know! Honey agarics are frozen in plastic bags or containers.

The optimum temperature regime is minus 22 ° C. Subject to all conditions of proper storage, mushrooms in the freezer can lie down to six months, while maintaining their value and useful qualities.

Honey mushrooms that have previously undergone heat treatment can be frozen for up to one year.

Is it possible to dry

Drying mushrooms is one of the storage methods. In terms of taste and usefulness, dried mushrooms are not inferior to pickled ones. Minus - “unpresentable” appearance.

Dried mushrooms are stored in containers or glass jars. The container is tightly closed.You can store dried honey mushrooms in canvas bags, the main thing is that the storage space is dry.

Important! Mushrooms should be checked once a month so that they do not have bugs. If this happens, the mushrooms should be rinsed and dried in the oven at a temperature of + 70 ° C.

Shelf life is one year.

How to clean mushrooms mushrooms

To facilitate the home process of cleaning mushrooms at home, it is necessary to start the selection when picking mushrooms, getting rid of garbage, rotten and wormy specimens. From the legs of a healthy honey agaric, cut off the lower part, remove coniferous needles, leaves, dirt, etc. Release the hat from the film.

Important! Arriving home, you must immediately sort again mushrooms. If quick sorting is not possible, then the mushrooms should be placed in water, adding citric acid and salt to it.

For cleaning, you will need a knife, sponge and colander.

1. To begin, we separate the hats from the legs.
2. We clean the dirt with a knife.
3. Remove damaged parts.
4. We wash off the rim under the hat with water, or remove it with a knife.
5. We wash the mushrooms and start cooking.

If you plan to dry, then you should not wash them!

What can be cooked from mushrooms: recipes

Caviar

For cooking, we need:

• honey mushrooms - 400 g;
• a few arrows of green onions;
• sunflower oil - 2 tbsp;
• onion - 1 onion;
• vinegar - 1 tbsp;
• salt and pepper - at the discretion of the hostess.

Cooking:

1. Honey mushrooms sorted, clean and mine.
2. We cook an hour. We look at the readiness. It may take less time. Then drain the water.
3. We send the mushrooms to fry in oil until all the liquid has evaporated.
4. Remove from heat and cool.
5. We send the fried mushrooms in a meat grinder and pass them through it.
6. Shred and fry the onion in the same pan and in the same oil in which honey mushrooms were fried.
7. Add the pepper, if necessary, salt. A couple of minutes before readiness, add the chopped green onion arrows and pour in the vinegar. Mix the ingredients thoroughly.
8. We mix the fried onions with ground mushrooms and thoroughly mix all the ingredients.
9. We prepare jars: we sterilize them together with lids. Spread the caviar.
10. We heat it in a separate bowl, we can say - we heat it, vegetable oil.
11. Pour jars of caviar with hot oil so that the snack is completely covered with oil. Roll up.
12. We store caviar in the refrigerator or in a cool and dark room.

Soup

For cooking, we need:

• honey mushrooms - 300 g;
• carrot - 1 pc. medium size;
• potatoes - 2 pcs.;
• onion - 1 onion;
• Lavrushka - 1 leaf;
• vegetable oil - 1 tbsp;
• peas of pepper - 4 pcs.;
• salt - at the discretion of the hostess.

Honey mushrooms for soup are taken in medium or small sizes so that they are not cut, but left whole. It will turn out both beautifully and tasty. Other ingredients can be added to the soup, such as barley or other cereals, pasta. The soup will be fuller and richer.

Cooking:

1. We clean and wash the mushrooms. Put them in a separate pan, then fill with water, salt and cook on gas. As the water begins to boil, remove the dishes from the stove and drain the water. Pour a new batch of water and wait for the preparation of vegetables.
2. Onion finely chopped. Three carrots on a grater with large or medium cloves.
3. Fry the prepared onions and carrots in oil.
4. Cut potatoes into arbitrary pieces, preferably medium-sized cubes.
5. Fried vegetables and chopped potatoes are sent to the pan. Turn on the gas and cook.
6. We wait until the water boils, then reduce the fire, salt, pour the pepper in the pot and continue cooking until all the ingredients are fully cooked.
7. Once everything is ready, turn off the gas and leave the soup to simmer on a hot stove. It will take no more than 10 minutes. You can add greens to the soup, it will turn out even more appetizing.
8. We serve to the table.

Salad

To make a salad you will need:

• honey mushrooms - 300 g;
• eggs - 3 pcs.;
• potatoes - 200 g;
• ham - 300 g;
• yogurt - 150 g;
• green onion - 30 g;
• pepper - to taste;
• salt - at the discretion of the hostess.

Cooking:

1. My honey agaric, clean, pour water and send for half an hour to cook. Drain the boiling water and fill the mushrooms with new fresh water. Put the pan on the gas again and cook for another 15–20 minutes.
2. Boil potatoes and eggs. Then we clean them and cut them into small pieces or cubes. Cut ham into arbitrary cubes.
3. In the salad bowl, first spread the eggs in a uniform layer, salt and, if necessary, pepper.
4. Put a layer of chopped potatoes on the eggs, add salt and pepper again. From above, fill everything with yogurt, spread a layer of ham and again add a little yogurt.
5. Sprinkle all with green onions, after chopping it.
6. Drain the water from honey mushrooms and let them dry a little. Spread on top of the salad.
7. We send the finished dish for a couple of hours to the refrigerator.

Salad ready. Eat on health!

Solyanka

We will need to prepare:

• honey mushrooms - 500 g;
• onions - 500 g;
• cabbage - 2 kg;
• bell pepper - 1 kg;
• vegetable oil - 100 ml;
• vinegar - 100 ml;
• parsley - 50 g;
• cloves - 3 pcs.;
• Lavrushka - 2 leaves;
• peppercorns - 5 pcs.;
• ground pepper and salt - at the discretion of the hostess.

Cooking:

1. We clean mushrooms, wash and start cooking. We drain the first batch of water after it boils. Fill with new water and continue cooking for another half hour.
2. Shred finely cabbage. Finely chop the onion and fry it until a golden hue appears. Paprika cut into small pieces.
3. We mix cabbage with bell pepper and add to the finished fried onion. Salt everything, pepper if necessary. Continue frying for another 15 minutes.
4. 5 minutes before the vegetables are completely cooked, add cloves, peas, pepper, boiled parsley and boiled mushrooms.
5. Pour vinegar a couple of minutes before turning off the gas. We mix everything.
6. We sterilize the cans with the lids. We lay out the solyanka in prepared containers. Roll up banks or close with tight lids.
7. Turn the cans over the lids, cover with a towel and let the hodgepodge cool.
8. We send the snack in storage in a cool place.

Pate

To prepare the paste, you will need:

• honey mushrooms - 1 kg;
• onions - 350 g;
• carrots - 350 g;
• salt - 25 g;
• frying oil - 100 ml;
• sugar - a pinch;
• vinegar - 1 tbsp;
• pepper to taste.

Cooking:

1. Honey mushrooms are cleaned, washed and soaked. We pour out the dirty water and put out clean mushrooms to cook in a deep bowl. To do this, fill them with about 2 liters of fresh water.
2. Remove the foam that will form during the cooking process with a spoon. You can use a slotted spoon. The first water can be drained and filled with new water. If the mushrooms are clean and fresh, then you can cook in one water.
3. After the water begins to boil, reduce the gas and cook for half an hour.
4. We prepare a colander, drain the water. From the broth we make soup.
5. Cut the onion in half rings and fry it until transparent.
6. Add the grated carrots to the onion and continue frying for another 15 minutes.
7. We spread the mushrooms in the fried vegetables, add gas and fry until all the liquid has evaporated. Salt everything, pepper if necessary and mix thoroughly. 2 minutes before cooking, add vinegar and sugar.
8. Turn off the gas, let the vegetables and mushrooms cool down a bit and send them to the grinder for grinding. To make the paste tender, you need to use a small nozzle or grind the ingredients in a meat grinder several times. It will be enough 2 times.
9. We sterilize the cans with the lids.
10. We spread the paste in the container, making sure that there is no air in the snack.
11. Strongly heat the vegetable oil in a separate bowl, calcine it and pour the paste with hot oil. Will be enough for each container with a snack 3-4 tablespoons
12. We cover the banks with lids.
13. In a separate pan, lay the towel on the bottom.We put jars of prepared snacks on it and fill them with half hot water. We sterilize the cans for half an hour.
14. We get the container and roll up. Let them cool and send them to storage.

How to fry

For the usual frying of mushrooms, we need:

• honey mushrooms - 2 kg;
• roasting oil - 500 ml;
• spices to taste;
• salt - at the discretion of the hostess.

Cooking:

1. Honey mushrooms are cleaned, washed and filled with water for half an hour. Drain the water.
2. We take out the pan and spread the mushrooms there. We fill everything with water and cook them for 40 minutes. Drain and let mushrooms dry.
3. Pour oil into a frying pan and heat it.
4. We send mushrooms to hot oil, salt, pepper, if necessary, add spices.
5. Mix everything, cover the honey agarics with a lid and simmer them for half an hour.
6. Remove the lid and fry in open state for another 10 minutes. Mushrooms are ready.

How to cook

By time, honey mushrooms are enough to cook for half an hour. To do this, you must first thoroughly clean and rinse the mushrooms. Then put on gas and bring the first batch of water to a boil. Drain, pour mushrooms in water again. Put on gas and cook. Cooking time - half an hour. Salt, pepper, add herbs and spices if necessary.

How to pickle

We give a simple recipe for conservation. For cooking you will need:

• honey mushrooms - 1 kg;
• peppercorns - 4 pcs.;
• vinegar - 1 tsp;
• lemon - 1 pc.;
• salt - at the discretion of the hostess.

Cooking:

1. We clean the mushrooms, wash them, fill them with water and keep them in the water for about 15 minutes.
2. We merge it, put mushrooms in a separate bowl. Fill again with water and start cooking. Add a little lemon juice.
3. As soon as the water boils, drain it. Honey mushrooms are fresh. Continue cooking with moderate gas. As soon as the water begins to boil, we reduce the gas. Cooking time - half an hour. Add salt to the water.
4. Turn off the gas, pour in the vinegar, add the peppercorns. We try marinade on salt. We prepare jars and put marinade with mushrooms in them.
5. We roll up the containers, cool the snack and send it to storage.

Is it possible to eat false mushrooms

False representatives of honey mushrooms are divided into edible and inedible. It is clear that only edible species can be eaten. Moreover, in terms of taste, they are no worse than the true representatives of mushrooms.

Photo mushrooms