Foraging for wild mushrooms? Here’s what to watch out for

Are you someone who, as soon as autumn arrives, prefers to curl up under a blanket on the sofa with enough crisps, tea and biscuits (or red wine and cheese boards) to stay there for the foreseeable future? Or are you more the type who would rather head into the woods with a basket to pick mushrooms? In that case, good to know: here’s what to watch out for when foraging for mushrooms.

Actually, I should follow my intuition here and simply write, ‘Don’t do it, this foraging!’ Just imagine picking the wrong mushroom and throwing it into the pan—good grief, what misery you could be in for. But okay, let’s say you know exactly which mushrooms are poisonous and which aren’t, or you’re heading out with an experienced forager (do have them taste them first, though), then it’s still wise to follow the guidelines below.

Pick with the seasons

In summer, we already wrote about foraging for wild blackberries. You’re less likely to put a poisonous variety in your basket, but there are similarities when it comes to foraging. Staatsbosbeheer considers large-scale foraging in its areas to be theft and/or damage to its grounds, for example, and hefty fines apply.

Follow the rules for foraging

What is allowed? Filling a container with 250 grams of ‘loot’—that’s about the size of a standard mushroom tray. But even then, pay attention to the following:

• First of all, make sure you know exactly what you’re picking and don’t accidentally pick a poisonous or endangered plant species.
• Only forage in areas where you’re allowed to go, and follow the applicable rules there.
• Remember that you’re a guest. Don’t trample clumsily through crops or stray from the paths, and always leave enough food behind for the animals that depend on it.

From the forest to the pan

If you follow these guidelines and head out with a guide (whether that’s a person or a little book), you might soon find yourself stirring a delicious mushroom risotto made with your own foraged mushrooms in a pan. Good luck!

Read also:

• According to this chef, we cook mushrooms completely wrong—and he shows how to do it properly
• 6 facts, myths and top tips about risotto
• Why I hate mushrooms (that texture!)