Graying russula

The graying russula (Russula decolorans) is a very common mushroom throughout Finland. It is symbiotic with the pine tree, and its typical habitats include barren heathland forests and rocky, lichenous areas. Unfortunately, many mushroom pickers ignore the graying russula. Even though large graying russulas are often maggoty, small specimens are usually clean.

Characteristics

The graying russula is easy to distinguish as hardly any other Russula mushrooms have such an orange-yellow, brick-red cap. However, the colour fades in old and rain-flushed mushrooms. The cap of a young graying russula is hemispherical or domed and slightly sticky. As the mushroom ages, the cap grows wider, develops a dent in the middle and feels dry on the surface.

The gills of the graying russula are yellowish white, growing more yellow with brown spots in older mushrooms. The stem is uniformly thick, starting out as white and growing grey and porous in older mushrooms. The flesh is delicate and white in younger mushrooms. When cut, it turns reddish and then grey. The graying russula does not have a characteristic scent. As all members of the genus Russula, the graying russula’s flesh often breaks off similar to cheese and the gills are fragile. The graying russula has a cuticle typical of Russula mushrooms, and the cuticle is easy to peel up to the halfway mark of the cap.

Use

The mushroom can be used for various dishes, such as soups, sauces and pies. It is also very tasty when simply fried with onions.

Preparation

After cleaning, the mushroom can be diced directly into a pan and cooked in its own juices. A raw graying russula is slightly tart. Cooking dispels the tartness and makes the mushroom taste mild and pleasant.

Preservation

The graying russula is a great mushroom for freezing. Fry the mushrooms in their own juices. Once most of the liquid has evaporated, cool and freeze the mushrooms. The mushrooms can also be dried. They grow a little grey when drying. 50 grammes of dried mushrooms account for about one litre of fresh ones. Dried mushrooms can be used similarly to fresh ones.