Puffball Mushrooms

[Driftless]

Puffballs are easy to identify for the beginning mushroom hunter because there are no poisonous species. The larger puffballs grow on composted soil and meadows. Puffballs fist-sized or larger are unmistakable. Puffballs grow on the ground or on dead wood The best time for finding puffballs is in the fall.

They must be all-white inside. Any shade of yellow or purple makes them inedible . When you cut a puffball open, you'll find no stem and no gills inside.

Peel the outside cover off before preparing. You can saute them, simmer them in soups, cook them with grains. Dip slices in a batter of egg and milk and cover with bread crumbs seasoned with salt and pepper and fry them up in butter or oil. They have a very earthy flavor and the unique taste will not disappear in a dish.

[BrianLucky13]

Do they taste good?

[hockeybc69]

I love chicken of the woods. Its about the only wild mushroom I will eat. Well other than Morels, but I have never found a Morel.

Puffballs, I just cant get the guts to try it.

[Stick in Mud]

They're alright...Check out the "mushroom thread" for some tasty ideas on how to prepare these guys.

[eyeguy 54]

same boat here. had a bunch but could not do it. lol need some apple or mesquite wood blb? let me know.

[Driftless]

Do they taste good?

fried in bread crumbs my favorite.

Is acquired taste.

[NoWiser]

They have a very earthy flavor and the unique taste will not disappear in a dish.

This is the unfortunate truth about puffballs. I eat a ton of wild mushrooms and love them all, but I've all but given up on puffballs. I want to like them because I find them all the time, but I just can't. I try to eat them every 2-3 years just to be sure and it always ends up the same. A big mushy glob of mushroom at the bottom of the waste basket.

[BrianLucky13]

Ok I won't be trying. They are everywhere this year for some reason

[pushbutton]

They are not my favorite shroom, but yeah, it has been a great year and been trying different things to do with them, and being quite successful .Been having issues with technology lately, but will try to post some pics later that were not only not a glob at the bottom of the waste basket, but hand held and quite tasty. Keep in mind Nowiser drinks Busch beer when he prepares mushrooms and might not have the most discerning palate Also keep in mind I was drinking when eating mine, and may not have been quite as good as I thought

[pikestabber]

They are at the bottom of my "tasty edibles" list, but I don't shun them and don't pass them up. I slice and fry them in butter with salt and pepper, then freeze in portion sizes between layers of wax paper, then into a freezer bag. When I want a mushroom-swiss burger or a pizza topper, I break out a chunk. To me at least, they have a traditional mushroom flavor with a slight hint of anise. Not the best, by any means, but definitely worthy keeping, IMHO. I have battered and fried them the same as I would fish, and that was good, too.

[ThunderLund78]

I've never eaten one but I found two or three while deer scouting the other day, each larger than basketball. Very "fleshy" to the touch--kind of gross. And a very strong raw mushroom smell that was off-putting. I like most 'shrooms but I just don't think could eat one.

[BLACKJACK]

I located some nice ones too while deer scouting, marked them on my memory map so I can go back in a couple of months and 'poof' them!!!

[Stick in Mud]

So here's my favorite way to make them. If you like mushrooms on your pizza, you'll probably like 'em this way.

Slice the puffball into an 1'' thick slice. Brush on olive oil, then toss on grill or in oven to dry it out a bit. I flip it once after 3 or 4 minutes, then give it another 3 minutes or so. After that, toss on whatever pizza toppings you'd like (after spreading some sauce), cover in cheese, put back in oven or on grill, and let 'er go until the cheese is done. Essentially, you're replacing the dough with the puffball.

They're definitely not my favorite, but I find this "recipe" surprisingly good. Probably my favorite way to make them. Dipping in egg and breading before frying is OK as well. But that's better with shaggy manes....Hey Pushbutton, got any left?!?

[Deitz Dittrich]

My wife loves them.. I think they are good too.. we just simmered them in a little butter and veg broth.. The texture is not the best, but flavor is good.