puffballs

[PEATMOSS]

I've got a few puffballs on my property that have just popped up in the last couple of days. They are now about softball size.

When should I harvest them and what is the best way to prepare them?

[pushbutton]

First off a good general rule of thumb is to wait to pick until about that size...at least 4inches or so... as it will for the most part rule out any possible poisonous look alikes. As far as when ? .....it is kind of a game. They can grow to soccer ball size but also can get nasty as fast as they got big. Similarly, the longer they are left to grow, the more chance the bugs and critters will start to eat them as well. Sometimes a shroom in the hand is worth two in the woods

Prepare them pretty much the way you prepare any store bought button mushroom. Think Matt B said it best as they are the "tofu" of the fungi world. Not much flavor alone, but readily take on the flavor of what is being cooked with it.

[Matt Breuer]

3 words. Puffball French toast...

Just be sure the inside is completely white and firm. If there's any discoloration on the interior, it's too late...

[PEATMOSS]

Thanks guys.

[Stick in Mud]

Yep, the french toast idea might be the best one, but you can use them as a meat substitute (they're kinda like tofu) or as you would any other mushroom in a recipe.

I usually harvest them right when I find them....there's so much that, unless I'm feeding a huge number of people (which I'm never doing), there's no reason to wait until they get bigger (unless you want a fun science experiment--they can get massive). As Matt said, if you wait too long and the inside is no longer white, you can't (or at least don't want to) eat it.

Let us know how you like 'em!

[jerkin'm]

I just beer battered a bunch of them cut into 3/4" by 3" sticks and deep fried....a little ranch or spiced marinara...mmmmmmm....I got a bunch over the weekend and they were all perfect except 3, one was small and 2 were giants...

[JP Z]

That's awesome, I would love to find some puffballs.