Can you eat raw fresh baby bella mushrooms?

While it is possible to eat raw portobello mushrooms, Dr. Andrew Weil advises against eating any mushrooms without cooking them first. Raw mushrooms contain potentially harmful and toxic carcinogens. read more

I recently bought pre-sliced baby bella mushrooms and made a raw soup. I did not clean the mushrooms before, as they were sliced and would soak up a lot of water if rinsed. The raw mushroom soup was delish, but about 5 spoons into it I got nauseous and lost my appetite (this never happens). read more

Because of these concerns and because they offer little in the way of improving health, common button mushrooms are best avoided. But the types eaten in Asia—shiitake, maitake, oyster mushrooms, and enoki—provide a range of health benefits. read more

Cooking mushrooms also releases key nutrients like B vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Dr. Weil states that cooking any mushroom at a high temperature prior to eating, whether by sauteeing, broiling or grilling, helps to break down many of the potentially harmful toxins. read more