Is it safe to eat uncooked mushrooms? I usually eat shiitake or portabella daily but I've always cooked them in the past. I'd like to go raw with mushrooms as I have with fruits and veggies, but I know they're a whole different category. Just curious to know if there's any short/long term issues with eating them. Those spores worry me unless I cook them! :shifty:

I put them on my salad at salad bar restaurants all the time. As long as they're cleaned, I don't see an issue. Or let's say, I don't see any issue beyond the possiblity of cross-contamination that you would have with any raw vegetable.

I eat raw portobellos all the time.

I wash them and de-stem them. They are great with raw, homemade guacamole and chopped tomatoes on top.

I also use them in this really good raw fettucini dish.

Eating raw organic mushrooms is safe. If you want them to take on more of the texture of cooked, you can marinate them in EVOO and then dehydrate them. I do this when I make my pesto stuffed mushrooms.

I also harvest wild mushrooms and eat them. However, this is very dangerous unless you know what you are doing. I thought about starting a thread on the subject one time, but I would feel bad if someone ate a mushroom that was poisonous.

Never thought about eating them with guacamole. May have to try that sometime as I make an excellent guac that gets no action these days since dropping tortilla chips a few months ago.

Seems like I seriously need to invest in a dehydrator. If they truly take on the texture of cooked after being marniated and dehydrated, then I think I'm sold! I just tried to eat some of my shiitake raw and it honestly felt like I had chicken skin slipping between my teeth. My friend has a dehydrator she never used, maybe I can buy it off her. I've gotten use to diet changes in the past, raw mushrooms will come around for me eventually now that I know they're safe to eat. Thanks for the replies everyone :)

SamuelWilson - You're probably right in regards to someone eating the wrong mushroom. I know I'd be super thrilled and eat the first mushroom I came across after hearing wild mushrooms are edible. :D

You could try the carrot and parsnip fettucini that I make a lot. It calls for marinating and dehydrating the portobellos. They turn out so good.

http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=49435

Wow Jenna! You did an impeccable job recreating the recipe if those are your photos. Now I am completly in dire need of a dehydrator. This can be the first thing I make with it :)

I eat both portobella and shiitake mushrooms raw. The portabellas are really good with guacamole!