Turkey tail mushrooms are one of the main types of saprophytes (fungi that grow on dead matter) that break down rotting wood. It’s, therefore, no wonder that these polypore mushrooms are most commonly found on fallen logs or tree stumps.
You can find these mushrooms (fruiting bodies) on living trees as well, but most of the time they grow with other mushrooms that need food, like the false turkey tail fungus. For this reason, you need to learn how to correctly identify turkey tail mushrooms and avoid look-alikes.
Fortunately, turkey tail mushrooms do not have toxic look-alikes, which generally makes them a “safe” mushroom to forage.
Similar mushrooms, however, lack the health-supporting compounds that these functional mushrooms are known and valued for.
Here are 11 questions that will help you figure out what kind of mushroom is a true turkey tail and give you some useful information about it:
We’ll also talk about some ways to eat turkey tail, including the best way to get the most out of it. Let’s first identify the most common look-alikes.
Foraging for mushrooms can be an extremely rewarding hobby There’s nothing quite like finding edible wild mushrooms to take home and enjoy However, it also comes with risks if you accidentally pick poisonous varieties. That’s why proper identification is so important.
One mushroom that often causes confusion is false turkey tail. With its resemblance to the edible turkey tail, some foragers wonder if false turkey tail is also ok to eat. Let’s take an in-depth look at the edibility, safety, and identification tips for false turkey tail mushrooms
What Exactly Is False Turkey Tail?
False turkey tail refers to several species of mushrooms in the genus Stereum. The most common ones are Stereum ostrea, Stereum hirsutum, and Stereum complicatum. They are also sometimes called bubble mushrooms.
Like real turkey tail, these fungi grow as thin, leather-like caps in a shelving formation on dead logs and stumps. Their caps display colorful concentric zones of tan, brown, orange, red, and sometimes green.
On the underside, rather than pores, false turkey tails have a smooth pore surface. Their texture is harder and tougher compared to true turkey tails.
Why False Turkey Tail Is Considered Inedible
There are several key reasons experts caution against eating false turkey tail mushrooms:
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Tough, leathery texture – The caps of false turkey tails are too tough and leathery to eat. Chewing and digesting these mushrooms would be very difficult.
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No nutritional value – No vitamins, minerals, or beneficial compounds have been found in false turkey tails. There is no nutritional incentive to eat them.
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Safety concerns – Very limited research exists on the edibility and potential toxicity of false turkey tails. Consuming unknown species can be risky.
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No flavor – With their fibrous texture and lack of taste, false turkey tails do not make for good eating.
Simply put, false turkey tails lack the appeal and benefits of genuine turkey tails. The risks seem to outweigh any potential rewards. Most mushroom foraging experts recommend avoiding them.
How To Identify False Turkey Tail
Telling false turkey tails apart from true turkey tails does take some experience. Here are a few identification tips:
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True turkey tail has a white porous underside. False turkey tail’s pore surface is smooth and tan.
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True turkey tail displays muted purple, blue, brown zones. False turkey tail shows brighter rust, orange, yellow.
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With age, false turkey tail’s colors fade to grayish like turkey tail. Check for other differences like the pore surface.
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Some false turkey tail bleeds a reddish latex when fresh, unlike true turkey tail.
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Get to know both types well before harvesting. Proper ID is crucial. When in doubt, do not eat!
Make sure to use multiple identification features. Color alone can be misleading. Always confirm an ID before consuming any mushroom.
Foraging for Edible True Turkey Tail
While false turkey tail may be inedible, true turkey tail mushrooms are a tasty edible species with proven health benefits. Make sure to correctly identify them before eating or using medicinally.
Turkey tail mushrooms can be simmered into mushroom teas, extracted into alcohol tinctures, or even breaded and fried. Compounds they contain have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries.
Modern research has shown turkey tail to have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and potential anti-cancer effects. The polysaccharide PSK in turkey tail may help boost immune response.
When harvesting turkey tails, always confirm your identification without any doubt. Never eat any wild mushroom until you have positively identified it as edible. Follow proper foraging etiquette to safely enjoy turkey tails and other edible mushrooms.
The Takeaway: False Turkey Tail Edibility and Identification
Still, their striking colors make false turkey tails a beautiful addition to any mushroom log. Learn how to confidently tell them apart from the edible turkey tails, and appreciate their mimicry without needing to eat them. Follow safe foraging practices, and enjoy seeking out edible mushrooms like the health-promoting true turkey tail.
10 – What’s the Best Way to Take Turkey Tail Mushrooms?
Taking turkey tail extracts as a supplement is the best way to get a concentrated dose of all the good things that are in turkey tail.
It’s simple and quick, and you don’t have to go through the trouble of telling the real turkey tail from wild mushrooms.
You, however, need to ensure you identify the best turkey tail mushroom supplements, which will be:
- taken from the fruiting body of the mushroom instead of the vegetative body
- Label says it’s high in beta-glucans with a content of at least 25%.
- Extracted using an ideal method to preserve all beneficial compounds
Real Mushrooms’ Turkey Tail Extracts come from mushrooms’ fruiting bodies and are taken out using hot water extraction, which gets most of the health-benefiting compounds out.
They also have a beta-glucan content greater than 30%, the highest in the market. Beta-glucans are powerful polysaccharides responsible for most of the turkey tail mushroom’s health benefits.
8 – What Are the Health Benefits of Consuming Turkey Tail Mushrooms?
Turkey tail mushrooms contain polysaccharopeptide and polysaccharide-K, which have many health benefits, including:
- Helps to boost the body’s immune response (3)
- Aids in regulating digestion and easing stomach discomfort
- Helps keep cortisol levels stable during times of stress so the body can get back to normal.
- Aids in the fight against free radicals
- Promotes a healthy inflammatory response
- Has antioxidant properties that support liver health
How to Tell the Difference between a Turkey Tail & a False Turkey Tail Mushroom
FAQ
Is false turkey tail toxic?
What is the difference between turkey tail and false turkey tail?
Are all turkey tails edible?
Is it safe to eat turkey tails?
Is a false turkey tail poisonous?
No, the false turkey tail is not poisonous. While the false turkey tail may look similar to the turkey tail, it is not a poisonous mushroom. This mushroom is found in the same family as the turkey tail, but it is not toxic and is not considered a medicinal mushroom.
Is it safe to eat the tail of a fish?
Is it safe to eat the tail of a fish. The tails and fins from large fish can be smoked and boiled to help draw out meat and juices, but small fins can be fried or baked as a crispy snack, much the same way as skins.
What is a false turkey tail?
This species of false turkey tail is also known as golden curtain crust. Stereum ostrea is a saprobic, white rot fungus belonging to the Stereaceae family. Its fruiting body is made up of large, layered groups of leathery, parchment-like brackets. These brackets have multicolored zones, ranging from brown and rust to orange and green.
Can you eat false turkey tail mushrooms?
The tough texture of false turkey tail mushrooms means they’re not suitable for humans to eat. Nevertheless, a study did find that extracts from false turkey tail do possess certain antibacterial and antifungal properties, even though they may not provide the remarkable benefits of true turkey tail mushrooms.
What are false turkey tail mushrooms?
False turkey tail mushrooms, scientifically known as Stereum ostrea, are most commonly misidentified as turkey tail. Like the true turkey tail mushrooms (scientifically known as Trametes versicolor), false turkey tail mushrooms also grow on stumps and fallen logs of deciduous trees. Some other similar features it has to the “true” turkey tail:
Can you use a false turkey tail as a medicine?
Using a false turkey tail as a medicine is not recommended due to the risk of nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal problems. Additionally, since it can grow on contaminated wood, it may expose you to harmful substances.