Mokrukha mushroom, its varieties, edibility and properties

What do spruce moth mushrooms look like?

According to the description and photo, the spruce moth has a hemispherical cap. The diameter of the surface of the mushroom is from 4 to 10 cm. At a young age, the ends of the cap are tucked towards the stem, but over time the surface of the spruce moth acquires a convex-conical, and then an outstretched shape with an inconspicuous tubercle in the center.

The hat can be gray with a brown or blue tint in the center and purple around the edges. The smooth skin of the spruce moth is covered on top with a thick layer of mucus, which is why the mushroom begins to shine and appears wet.

The edges of the cap of young specimens are connected to the stem by a thin mucous membrane. It looks like a colorless film formed by thread-like fibers, which begins to tear as the fungus grows. The bedspread peels off and remains hanging on a high, massive leg. Subsequently, black inclusions appear on the surface of the spruce weed.

Under the cap there are a sparse layer of descending arcuate plates of grayish or white color, from 3 to 6 mm in width. In young specimens they are covered with a mucous membrane. With age, the plates acquire a brown tint, after which they become purple, almost black.

In young specimens, the leg is thick, slightly swollen, from 5 to 11 cm. As it grows, it acquires a cylindrical shape, and its base becomes narrowed. It has a solid structure and a smooth surface of bright yellow or lemon color.

Spruce weed is characterized by elongated fusiform or cylindrical spores. Their surface is smooth, brown, with 1-2 oily drops.

The pink flesh becomes grayish as the moth grows. The structure of the fruit body is fleshy, but fragile.

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In Russian forests you can find 6 species of midge. They belong to the section of lamellar mushrooms. Of course, these mushrooms are not as popular as boletus or boletus mushrooms. However, the percentage of useful substances in them leaves even porcini mushrooms behind. One of the species is spruce moth . It is also called slug, wet goo. It received such names due to the abundant layer of mucus that covers the fruiting body.

The mushroom cap is gray-brown with a purple tint. It is slightly depressed in the center or has a small bump. Its diameter sometimes reaches 12 cm. The edges of the cap are downward, and it itself is dense and covered with a thick layer of mucus. Its flesh is white or pinkish in color, with a sour taste and a subtle odor. It is meaty and juicy, like the same butter dish. The cap of old mushrooms has dark specks.

The plates of sticky moth are sparse and branched. In young mushrooms they are white and covered with mucus. With growth, the mucous membrane comes off and envelops only the leg. Old mushrooms have almost black plates.

The mushroom stem is massive and can reach 12 cm in length. It becomes denser at the base, and there it changes color to bright yellow. Its surface is mucous, like that of the cap. The spore powder is almost black in color. Despite the fact that the appearance of spruce moth is not very appetizing, it is considered an edible mushroom and, in terms of taste, belongs to category 4.

Mushroom habitat: Temperate zone of Russia. In the spruce forests.

Harvesting time: July to November

Edible. Used for frying, salting, pickling. Pre-boiling is not necessary.

Is it possible to eat spruce moths?

Spruce mushrooms are edible mushrooms. Before cooking, it is important to clean the mushroom from the skin and mucous membrane; to do this, using a sharp knife, carefully pry the edge of the cap towards the middle and remove the top layer. Before the main culinary processing, the fruiting bodies of mokruha need to be pre-boiled for 15 minutes.

Important! When peeling the mushroom, your fingers may turn black, but the pigment can be easily washed off with warm water and soap.

Benefits and harm to the body

Spruce moth is considered one of the most useful species due to the high content of carbohydrates and amino acids in its composition. Fruit bodies are rich in vitamins C, B and E, chitin and fiber. All these components have a beneficial effect on body systems:

• increasing its tone;
• helping to improve memory;
• eliminating chronic fatigue;
• improving the process of hematopoiesis.

The use of the product is especially useful for those who suffer from headaches or have diseases of the nervous system.

The mushroom is used to prepare an antimicrobial tincture. This product prevents the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, spruce moth is actively used to eliminate skin diseases, sinusitis, heal wounds, and also for rinsing the mouth.

Important! It must be borne in mind that the effect of such folk remedies from mushrooms on the body has not been officially confirmed.

Masks with spruce dust will be useful for split ends, and for weakened and dull hair, rinsing with a decoction of the mushroom is suitable. Regular use of such products helps stop hair loss and even prevent baldness.

Despite all their nutritional value, most edible mushrooms are a rather difficult product for the body. That is why the use of spruce moth is contraindicated for people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and kidneys. This is due to the fact that fiber and chitin can provoke the appearance of pancreatitis or gastritis. In addition, the fungus can increase the development of gout.

Spruce fly should absolutely not be given to children under 10-12 years of age, as well as during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you are hypersensitive to substances in the product, an allergic reaction may occur.

Only specimens collected in environmentally friendly areas are allowed to be used for food. Preliminary heat treatment of fruiting bodies will significantly reduce the risk of problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Medicinal uses and beneficial properties of the mushroom

Slug is considered one of the most useful types of weevils, because it is very rich in carbohydrates and amino acids. It contains vitamins of group B, as well as C and E, necessary for humans. It contains chitin and fiber. All these substances have a beneficial effect on the human body, namely:

• increase body tone;
• improve memory;
• fight fatigue;
• promote the process of hematopoiesis.

This product is especially useful for people who suffer from headaches, chronic fatigue, and diseases of the nervous system.

A tincture is made from spruce moth, which is used as an antimicrobial agent. It has a strong suppressive effect on the proliferation of various pathogenic microorganisms, including staphylococci. It is used to treat skin diseases, sinusitis, wound healing and rinsing the mouth. However, such a medicine has not undergone clinical trials, its effect has not been scientifically confirmed.

Traditional healers offer the following recipe for tincture:

1. The wet ones are cleaned of dirt, but not washed. This will preserve the mucus, which contains substances beneficial to the body.
2. Then they are finely chopped and placed in a glass container. There is no need to compact the mushrooms to the top.
3. The product is poured with high-quality vodka or alcohol and placed in a dark place for 2 weeks. The composition should be infused at room temperature. It is necessary to shake it periodically.
4. After the specified period of time, strain the tincture using gauze and squeeze out the mushrooms.
5. The resulting product is stored in a place protected from sunlight and also at room temperature.

Take it 20 drops three times a day, washed down with water or added to liquid. Children under 12 years of age are allowed to take the medicine. Then the dosage is reduced to 3-7 drops, depending on age. The tincture is also used to wipe sore spots on the skin.

Slug extract is well known to experienced cosmetologists. It can be found in some masks and creams. Such products help restore youth and freshness to the skin. Masks with an extract of this mushroom can tighten pores, eliminate oily shine and remove flaking.

Masks made from crushed spruce dust are good for hair that has split ends. It is useful to rinse weakened and dull hair with a decoction of them. Regular use of this mushroom will even help you cope with baldness.

False doubles

The spruce fly does not have poisonous counterparts, which is a great advantage of the species.

Sometimes it can be confused with similar-looking edible varieties:

1. Mokruha is spotted: the fracture of its flesh has a red tint, and there are dark inclusions on the surface of the mushroom.
2. Another edible doppelgänger is the purple moth. It is distinguished by orange-brown flesh and dark purple plates.
3. Often, because of the dark cap, spruce fly is confused with boletus, but the latter do not have plates.

Similar types of mushrooms

Many varieties of mokrukhs have dark caps, which makes them look like the common butterfly or butterdish. The latter has a porous olive-yellow layer on the back of the cap. Mokruhi belong to the lamellar mushrooms.

It is the presence of rare white plates, becoming darker near the stem, that distinguishes these mushrooms from the goat mushrooms that often grow next to them. In addition, young specimens are equipped with a thin mucous layer. And on old mushrooms, only a thin ring remains near the cap.

Collection rules

To avoid negative consequences, you must adhere to the main rules for collecting spruce bits:

1. The fruiting body is carefully cut off with a sharp knife so as not to damage the structure of the mycelium.
2. It is best to place mushrooms in a wicker basket so that they do not turn the specimens lying nearby purple. The best option is to sort mushrooms by type.
3. Old moths should not be cut off as they may be rotten inside. Collected specimens must be checked for worms.
4. It is best to start harvesting in the morning, before most of the moisture has evaporated from the mushrooms. This way, mokruki will retain a maximum of useful substances in their composition.
5. The optimal time for harvesting mushrooms is after warm rain. It is not recommended to go out on a “quiet hunt” in dry weather.

It is important to process the collected mushrooms as soon as possible so that they do not spoil and retain their beneficial properties. Spruce bits are carefully sorted and cleaned of dirt, earth clods and pine needles. Afterwards, it is better to place the raw materials in a cool place. For long-term storage, mushrooms can be placed in the freezer. When frozen, fruiting bodies can be stored for 10 to 12 months.

Important! Before freezing, the fruiting bodies must be boiled.

How to collect and store

Spruce weed grows from July to the end of October (it is less common in early November) in forests with coniferous trees (mainly spruce), and is sometimes found in mixed forests. The highest fruiting is observed from mid-August to the end of the first autumn month. A lot of wet things come out after a lot of rainfall.

The mushroom is quite common in the central and northern regions of Russia. It grows next to spruce, and in some cases – with pine. It is found both in grass under sunlight and in dark places among moss. Spruce moths grow in groups. They can often be found in the vicinity of boletus.

A significant advantage is that the slug does not have poisonous counterparts. In rare cases, it can be confused with other similar mushrooms that are also edible:

1. Mokrukha spotted. Its flesh has a red tint at the break. The cap has dark spots, and the spore powder is olive in color.
2. Wet purple. The flesh of the mushroom has an orange-brown tint, its plates are dark purple.
3. Butter. Mokruhi with dark caps resemble ordinary buttermilk, but the latter do not have plates.

It is important to remember the following rules before going into the forest for mokrukha:

1. The mushroom must be carefully cut with a knife so as not to damage the mycelium.
2. It is better to collect moths in a separate basket, as they can turn nearby mushrooms purple. In general, the entire crop must be collected separately by type.
3. You should not collect too old specimens. They may turn out to be rotten. It is necessary to check the mushroom for worms.
4. You need to collect moths early in the morning, when they have not yet spent all the moisture. This way the product retains more useful components.
5. A good harvest can be harvested after the warm rain that fell the night before. After dry weather, it is best not to collect slugs.

It is advisable to process the prey on the day of collection, so the mushrooms will not spoil and will retain their beneficial properties. It is necessary to sort through the wetlands, clean them of dirt, soil and pine needles. Selected mushrooms are stored in a cool place. You can freeze slugs. In this form they are stored for 10-12 months. Before this, they must first be boiled.

How to cook spruce mokruki

Spruce moss is salted, fried, pickled, and also dried. The mushroom is used to make soups, sauces, casseroles and sandwiches. Fried or boiled fruit bodies are added to salads. Mokrukha in combination with other types of mushrooms is also used as an addition to main dishes. It goes especially well with meat or fish. No less popular are recipes for canning spruce dust.

Before peeling mushrooms, they need to be placed in water for 5-7 minutes: then the mucous membrane will be much easier to remove. After cleaning, the fruiting bodies should be thoroughly washed and boiled over fire for 15-20 minutes. Heat treatment changes the color of the mushroom to a darker one, but this does not in any way affect the taste of the product.

Frying spruce moths does not require a lot of oil, since their pulp itself releases a sufficient amount of juice. You should also not stew mushrooms for a long time, this will make them tough.

Use in cooking

Mokruhi can be boiled, fried, dried, pickled and pickled. They are suitable for making sauces, soups, casseroles. Cooking these mushrooms is not difficult. For example, spruce moths can be boiled for only 15 minutes - this is enough to make them safe for consumption. After exposure to high temperatures, the flesh of mushrooms usually changes color (darkens or turns purple), but this should not be alarming. Changes in color do not affect the nutritional characteristics or taste of the product. Morukh is prepared according to the same principle as boletus. Before cooking, the caps and stems must be thoroughly cleaned of the mucous layer.

Recipes for spruce weeds

There are many different options for preparing spruce dust. Among them, everyone can find the most suitable one for themselves. All of them are easy to perform.

Pickled spruce moths

Ingredients:

• 2 kg mokrukh;
• 2 cloves;
• 70 g sugar;
• 50 g salt;
• 100 ml 6% vinegar;
• black pepper;
• Bay leaf;
• sunflower oil;
• 1 liter of water.

How to cook:

1. Peel the mushrooms, place in a deep container and add a small amount of water, adding a pinch of salt and citric acid. The mixture should be brought to a boil and cooked for 15-20 minutes.
2. Drain the water and rinse the fruiting bodies thoroughly.
3. Fill a saucepan with water, add sugar, black pepper, cloves, salt, vinegar and bay leaf.
4. Bring the resulting mixture to a boil and add 2 kg of peeled spruce chips. Cook on fire for 15-20 minutes.
5. When the fruiting bodies settle to the bottom, they need to be transferred along with the marinade into prepared jars. The liquid should completely cover the mushrooms.
6. Add 1 tbsp to each jar. l. sunflower oil and close with a nylon lid. Pickled mokruhi should be stored in the refrigerator.

Spruce moths in Korean

Mushrooms must be carefully separated from the mucous membrane and boiled. After this, the fruiting bodies should be fried, adding chopped onions and Korean carrots. Season the dish with olive oil.

Stuffed peppers with spruce mokrukha and buckwheat

In addition to the classic version with rice and minced meat, you can use buckwheat and mushrooms to stuff peppers:

1. The fruit bodies are boiled and fried for several minutes.
2. Then the spruce flour is mixed with buckwheat, salt and pepper to taste.
3. The resulting mixture is filled with peppers that have been seeded in advance.
4. Add a little tomato paste to a container of water and simmer the peppers for 30-35 minutes until fully cooked.

Bachelor sandwiches

1. 2-4 slices of bread are fried in a frying pan. Then spread with a thin layer of butter.
2. Pre-peeled and boiled fruit bodies are fried over low heat for 3-5 minutes.
3. Mushrooms are placed on bread, sprinkled with grated cheese and finely chopped herbs.
4. After this, the sandwiches are placed in the microwave for 2-3 minutes to allow the cheese to melt.

Low calorie content and rich composition of nutrients allow you to consume spruce moths even during a diet. Moreover, in terms of protein content, such mushrooms are not inferior even to meat dishes.

Features of preparing mokrukh

You can prepare this variety of mushrooms in the same way as other mushrooms: fry, stew, dry, freeze, pickle. But in all cases it is strongly recommended to boil them thoroughly.

Before heat treatment, fruits should be washed, cleaned of dirt, and mucus removed (as far as possible). Then cut them into medium-sized pieces, put them in a cooking container, add water and cook over low heat. Cooking time is at least half an hour, after which the water is drained and the mushrooms are discarded in a colander.

The greatest amount of vitamins is stored in dried slug mushrooms.