The chestnut boletus (Xerocomus badius) is a tasty edible mushroom that is often found under spruce trees. It is often confused with the boletus, but you can tell the two species apart with a simple test: In contrast to the boletus, which does not change color, the flesh of the chestnut bolete turns blue when pressed or when cut. It can also be confused with the non-poisonous but inedible gall bolete (Tylopilus felleus). In some regions the chestnut boletus is also called brown cap.
How do you clean brown caps correctly?
To clean brown caps (chestnut boletes), cut away the hard part of the stem, eating and damaged areas, peel off the cap skin and remove the fungal sponge. Clean the mushrooms with a knife and a damp cloth without washing them.
Be careful, maggots
The chestnut mushroom grows preferentially on acidic soils near spruce trees, but is also often found under pine and beech trees. A typical identifying mark is the smooth, chestnut brown hat. This is covered with a slightly greasy layer. Like other boletus, the brown cap is very popular with snails and maggots. While you can simply cut away the snails' feeding areas, the maggots are usually located inside. That's why you should cut the chestnut mushrooms you have collected lengthwise in the forest and examine the mushrooms for possible infestation. As a rule, you can leave larger specimens - they are already too heavily infested - and should only take the young ones with you. You can carry out a rough preliminary cleaning at the collection point.
Cleaning chestnut boletus – you have to pay attention to this
At home, you can clean and process the chestnut boletus straight away. If you clean them thoroughly, you can store the fresh mushrooms in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator for three to four days. However, it is better to prepare them immediately and/or freeze them raw if necessary. The best way to prepare is as follows:
- Cut off the lower, hard part of the stem.
- Cut away corrosion and other damaged areas.
- The stem quickly becomes woody and spoils the enjoyment of the mushroom.
- Take off the hat skin.
- Remove the fungal sponge.
- Clean the mushrooms with a knife and a damp cloth.
- Do not wash chestnut mushrooms as they soak up a lot of water.
Caution is also advised when infested with golden mold: This poisonous mold is often found on larger chestnut mushrooms. Infected specimens are no longer edible and should therefore be left standing.
Tip
The chestnut mushroom is a mycorrhizal fungus and usually lives in symbiosis with spruce trees, but also with other tree species. For this reason it cannot be grown in the home garden. Nonetheless, you can purchase brown cap mushroom growing kits. However, this is the red-brown giant trumpet (Stropharia rugosoannulata).
