What are the BEST Edible Mushrooms in Alaska?
Finding the best edible mushrooms in Alaska was not as easy as I thought. Some are edible, others are poisonous, and plenty of them don’t show appear often.
That’s why I created a list of the 10 BEST Edible Mushrooms in Alaska!
This ultimate guide will give you the best edible mushrooms in Alaska, how to identify them, and even where to find them in your yard.
Read THIS Before Identifying the BEST Edible Mushrooms in Alaska
Knowing the type of mushroom growing in your yard can be the difference between a fascinating hobby that can result in a nutritious and edible food source and a deadly toxin. Always make sure to work with your local city and gardening club before eating mushrooms found in the wild.
It is important to pay close attention to the following when picking or eliminating mushrooms in your yard:
- The size, including the cap, gills, scales, spores, and stem.
- The color, including the cap, gills, scales, spores, and stem.
- Location, both in the United States and in your yard
- Odor and even taste
And if you want to learn more about the best edible mushrooms in Alaska watch the below video!
10 BEST Edible Mushrooms in Alaska
#1. Ringless Honey Mushroom (Armillaria Tabescens)
Specifications:
- The Ringless Honey Mushroom has a golden, honey-colored cap, white spores, narrow to broad pinkish/brown gills, and thick, cluster stalks.
- This type of mushroom grows from late summer to early winter throughout the United States, including Alaska.
- It is important to kill these mushrooms when you see them as they will attack and kill trees by depleting them of water and nutrients. They are considered parasitic fungi.
- While this mushroom can be consumed when cooked, it is generally not recommended due to potential allergic reactions by some. This is an edible mushroom though.
- An interesting fact is that the ringless honey mushroom actually grows underneath the ground, rather than on top of it. The best way to get rid of this mushroom is from its roots beneath the ground!
#2. Field Mushroom (Agaricus campestris)
Specifications:
- The Field Mushroom has a white and pink cap, dark chocolate spores, narrow to broad white stalks that are brown, and deep pink and brown gills.
- This type of mushroom grows from late summer to early winter throughout the world, including Alaska, Ireland, and Wales. It is also one of the most commonly eaten mushrooms in the world by humans, cows, and goats.
- You can leave these mushrooms in your yard. They grow on dead vegetation and will not kill trees, live plants, etc.
- This mushroom can be consumed when cooked and is a great edible mushroom. It is incredibly nutritious, but should only be consumed in moderation. It should be noted not to pick it from yards that have sprayed pesticide or herbicide in your or your neighbors’ yards.
- The Meadow Mushrooms sometimes can be confused for Field Mushrooms due to their white gills and spores, but should not be foraged or eaten!
#3. Fly Agaric Mushrooms (Amanita muscaria)
Specifications:
- The Fly Agaric Mushroom has a deep red and orange cap, white spores, narrow white stalks, and white to pale yellow gills.
- This type of mushroom grows from late summer to late summer throughout the world, including United States, Ireland, and Britain. This mushroom should not be consumed. If you do consume it, it should be raw and will cause hallucinations.
- You should kill these mushrooms unless you want them to be a natural pesticide or herbicide in your yard. This mushroom is common in Alaska and will grow on hardwood, including spruce, birch, and pine trees.
- This mushroom should not be consumed. If you decide to eat the mushroom, it should be consumed raw when foraged. When consumed, you should expect hallucinations, drowsiness, etc.
- The Fly Agaric Mushroom is the type of mushroom you will typically see and read about in fairy tales and will even see in fairy gardens across the world.
#4. Morels Mushrooms (Morchella esculenta)
Specifications:
- The Morel Mushroom has a yellow and brown flesh orange cap, white spores, thick white or pale cream stalks, and brown gills.
- This type of mushroom grows from summer to early summer in the United States. While it can also be found in Ireland and Great Britain, it is much rarer. The Morel Mushroom is one of the most common yard mushrooms that can be found and eaten.
- You can leave the Morel Mushroom in your yard and even pick them up. This mushroom is considered symbiotic with its environment and can be found under trees and sometimes on trees. They are considered a beneficial partner with trees and insects won’t harm them either!
- This mushroom should be consumed when foraging in the summr! This is considered when of the most sought-after mushrooms in Alaska but should be noted that in large quantities it may cause a stomach ache.
- Did you know that the Morel Mushroom is one of the few mushrooms you can grow in your very own home?
#5. Winter Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)
Specifications:
- The Winter Oyster Mushroom has either a brown, blue-grey, or creamy cap, white spores, thick, wide stalks, and white gills.
- This type of mushroom grows in the winter in the United States, Ireland, Britain, and Southern Europe. Humans and animals will find this mushroom to be very delicious.
- The Winter Oyster Mushroom can be found on dead or dying wood. You typically won’t find it on conifer trees, but rather beech or similar type of trees.
- This mushroom is delicious and is one of the best edible mushrooms! It is one of the more popular mushrooms to be eaten by hobbyists and commercial foragers alike.
- While this mushroom is edible and enjoyed by many, it is considered a slightly parasitic mushroom that should be destroyed or foraged when seen.
#6. Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus)
Specifications:
- The Chicken of the Woods Mushroom has a creamy yellow/orange cap, white spores, thick and short creamy yellow stalks, and dark yellow gills.
- This type of mushroom grows from early summer to winter in the United States, Ireland, Britain, and Southern Europe. While they can be eaten at any time, they are most tasty when they are young and moist.
- The Chicken of the Woods Mushroom can be found in Alaska, the United States, and throughout Southern Europe. You will find it as a pest in forests on dead and dying trees. Once they grow and spread it is very hard to get rid of them.
- This mushroom can be consumed, but aren’t the most popular type of mushroom to eat due to its peculiar and sometimes sour flavor.
- There are other types of similar mushroom species to the Chicken of the Woods Mushroom that will grow in Europe. An interesting fact about this type of mushroom is that its pores turn black when bruised.
#7. Shaggy Mane Mushroom (Coprinus comatus)
Specifications
- The Shaggy Mane Mushroom has a white creamy cap, white spores, thin and tall stalks, and white gills.
- This type of mushroom grows in the summer in the United States, Ireland, Britain, and Southern Europe. Humans and animals will find this mushroom to be very delicious.
- The Shaggy Mane Mushroom can be found on grassy land and open woodlands.
- This mushroom is delicious and is one of the best edible mushrooms! But you should take extra care when preparing and it is not recommended to be eaten. Most people will have strange reactions when eating the shaggy mane mushroom.
- While this mushroom is edible and enjoyed by many, it is considered a parasitic mushroom that should be destroyed or foraged when seen.
#8. Fairy Ring Mushroom (Marasmius Oreades)
Specifications:
- The Fairy Ring Mushroom has a white, cream cap, white spores, narrow to broad white/brown gills, and thin stalks.
- This type of mushroom grows from late summer to early winter throughout the United States, including Alaska.
- Feel free to forage these mushrooms if you see them! They are not harmful and actually grow in numerous nutrient-rich and dense soils throughout the state.
- This mushroom is edible and incredibly delicious. It can be cooked and used in soup, as part of sauces, and even has a nutty and sweet taste.
- An interesting fact is that the fairy ring will form perfect circles where they grow, but this may change depending on the amount of foot traffic by humans or animals.
#9. Shaggy Inkcap (Coprinus comatus)
Specifications:
- The Shaggy Inkcap Mushroom has a white cap, white spores, thick, white stalks, and cream-white gills.
- This type of mushroom grows from summer to early winter in the United States, Ireland, Britain, and Southern Europe. This is an edible and nutritious mushroom that can be consumed.
- The Shaggy Inkcap Mushroom can be found in Alaska, the United States, and throughout Southern Europe. You will find it in open woodlands and grassy lawns.
- This mushroom can be consumed, but does not have much taste! If you are eating this mushroom, you should forage it early in its life. If not you should refrigerate it and if not then it will quickly become bad.
- This mushroom is very versatile. It can be used in soups, salads, and even fried!
#10. Wood Blewit (Lepista nuda)
Specifications:
- The Wood Blewit Mushroom has a purple and cream cap, gray spores, tall and thick gray stems, and purple and cream gills.
- This type of mushroom grows from summer to winter in the United States, Ireland, and Britain. You can eat this mushroom when properly cooked, but it is recommended in small portions as it often disagrees with people.
- The Wood Blewit Mushroom can be found in mixed woodland yards in Alaska and the United States. You will find them on rotting wood and in compost.
- This mushroom can be consumed when cooked in small portions. The cap is the tastiest and can even be found in supermarkets.
- While other mushrooms have quickly been foraged and disappeared in Alaska, the wood blewit mushroom continues to be plentiful and can be found throughout yards and forests.
Common Factors of the BEST Edible Mushrooms
As a reminder, the below factors are common for the best edible mushrooms
- Most are parasitic to humans and should not be consumed.
- These mushrooms can be found throughout your yard, but most commonly on trees and in wet areas of your yard.
- Each mushroom on this list has a common fungus relative that it can be mistaken for. Leverage this guide to have the best chance of identifying common yard mushrooms in Alaska.
- Most mushrooms on this list will only grow a maximum height of 6 inches tall and 3 or 4 inches wide.
- A majority of the mushrooms on this list will have no smell to them.
And remember that you should pay attention to this guide, other local experts, and your local mushroom clubs before foraging. This can be the difference between a nutritious and delicious mushroom and a harmful and even deadly fungus.
If you want to learn about other mushrooms, chickens, vegetables, fruits, herbs, and bees check out thegardeningdad and search for the plant you want to grow in the upper right-hand corner.
