Is it possible to eat puff balls?

Question

Puff balls are a fungi are they safe to eat? if so can anyone tell me how to cook them.

Answer 1

no..they're poisonous, leave them alone.

Answer 2

I think you can stuff them, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has a recipe in one of his books.

Answer 3

Yes, they are edible. I do not know how to prepare them but I understand that they only taste good if picked while unripe, that is before they start puffing.

Answer 4

Are you talking about the gigantic white ones? If so, then yes - they are edible. Use them exactly the same way as any other mushroom.

If you are talking about the little brown puffballs then I have no idea whether they are edible or not. Fungi are one of those things. If in doubt then leave well alone.

Answer 5

As far as I am aware, yes you can eat the big ones.

However, mushrooms can be very poisonous if you pick the wrong ones (we have a whole line of graves of Polish soldiers who picked the wrong ones in our cemetery!!). It is imperative that you know exactly which type of fungi you are dealing with.

Answer 6

i have no idea but still, worth 2 points for this answer

Answer 7

Yes I think so, but ALWAYS consult a good guide book if you don't want to end up in hospital. From memory I think they are described as safe to eat if cooked but they're about as tasty as eating stewed cardboard.

Answer 8

Shouldn't this be in the g*y and L*****n section?

Answer 9

it may be better to just l**k them.

Answer 10

fungi puff balls? EWWWW no thanks!

Answer 11

no

Answer 12

Yes that can be eaten - they have a lovely meaty texture.

They can be chopped up and put in stews, casseroles and spag bol sauce.

Answer 13

Puff balls are edible but not the very big ones which are very tough.  I must say that I haven't tried them myself

Answer 14

I did not know puffs had them!

Answer 15

Some, i believe, are edible, and some are not.

If you don't have experience gathering wild mushrooms, or access to someone who does, I recommend that you leave them alone.  I don't know enough about mushroom gathering to give advise.

Doc