How They Feel

Time to use your hands

We have looked and we have sniffed. Now let's use our hands to feel our mushrooms. Touching gently is a great way to learn.

You guessed it — wash your hands first! Clean hands keep the mushrooms healthy. And bring your grown-up along to explore with you.

Use soft, kind fingers. Mushrooms are delicate, like a little sponge.

Firm and springy is good

Give a healthy mushroom the gentlest touch. A fresh oyster mushroom feels:

• Firm, not floppy

• A little springy, like a soft eraser

• Dry-ish on top, or only a tiny bit damp

When you press very softly and it bounces back, that is a happy, fresh mushroom. Nice work!

The gills feel soft

Remember the gills under the cap? Feel them very lightly with one finger. They feel soft and a little bumpy, like tiny ribs.

Be extra gentle here. The gills tear easily. A soft touch is a detective's best friend.

When feeling says "careful"

Your hands can warn you, just like your nose. An old mushroom feels different from a fresh one.

Watch out if a mushroom feels:

• Slimy or slippery

• Mushy and squishy, with no bounce

• Wet and soggy all over

Slimy or mushy means the mushroom is too old. Tell your grown-up. Those ones go in the bin, not on your plate.

Feel, but never taste

Here is the big rule for hands. We can touch our kit mushrooms gently. But we never put a raw mushroom in our mouths.

Mushrooms are only for eating after a grown-up cooks them. Cooking makes them safe and yummy.

And remember: we only feel our own kit mushrooms. We never touch wild mushrooms outside. That rule keeps you safe every single time.

After touching, wash your hands again. Well done — your hands are now clever mushroom helpers!