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Lobster Mushroom is a generic name used to describe mushrooms that have been infected by a parasitical fungus, called "Hypomyces Lactifluorum". The fungus turns mushrooms a bright orange, orangey-red, or even a purplish-red on the outside. The mushrooms also acquire a firm texture and a delicate, woody taste. Some people think they even taste a bit like lobster or shellfish, but it may be that they're reading that into their taste buds from the name.
In taking over the mushroom, the parasite stops the mushroom from producing gills to make its own spore to reproduce, and instead causes the mushroom to grow small sacks that contain spore for the parasite.
Closely related parasites will also turn mushrooms green, white and yellow.
Efforts at cultivating Lobster Mushrooms domestically hinge on being able to grow domestically "Lactarius" or "Russula" mushrooms, which the parasite usually prefers, but ways of growing these particular mushroom varieties domestically is still being studied. In the wild, not all varieties of Lactarius or Russula mushrooms that the parasite might infect are safe to eat.
You can now buy Lobster Mushrooms in stores, gathered from the wild by (presumably) experienced collectors who know what they are doing.
Cooking Tips
The red colour loses its brightness after cooking.
Nutrition
It is very, very hard to pick safe Lobster Mushrooms in the wild, as the fungus could also take poisonous mushrooms as hosts. Because the parasite totally transforms the look of the mushroom, identification is very hard.
Also called:  Hypomyces Lactifluorum (Scientific Name)
Other entries for Wild Mushrooms
Beefsteak Mushrooms, Blewit Mushrooms, Branched Oyster Fungus, Chanterelle Mushrooms, Chicken-of-the-Woods Mushrooms, False Morels, Field Mushrooms, Granulated Bolete Mushrooms, Hedgehog Mushrooms, Honey Mushrooms, King Trumpet Mushrooms, Lion's Mane Mushrooms, Lobster Mushrooms, Matsutake Mushrooms, Morel Mushrooms, Mousseron Mushrooms, Nametake Mushrooms, Oronge Mushrooms, Porcini Mushrooms, Puff Ball Mushrooms, Slippery Jack Mushrooms, St George's Mushrooms, Stone Mushrooms, Wine Cap Mushrooms
Other entries for Mushrooms
Agaricus Mushrooms, Bay Boletus Mushrooms, Brick Top Mushrooms, Cauliflower Mushrooms, Cloud Ear Mushrooms, Enoki Mushrooms, Hen-of-The-Woods Mushrooms, Mushroom Gills, Nameko Mushrooms, Oyster Mushrooms, Shiitake Mushrooms, Shimeji Mushrooms, Snow Mushrooms, Stipe, Straw Mushrooms, Truffles, Wood Ear Mushrooms
Other entries for Vegetables
Agave, Artichokes, Asparagus, Brassica Family, Canned Vegetables, Cardoons, Celery, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Frozen Vegetables, Garlic, Gourds, Herbed Vinegars, Horseradish Tree, Hoshi Shiitake, Leafy Vegetables, Lotus, Mixed Vegetables, Pak Wan, Peas, Peppers, Root Vegetables, Sago Palm, Seaweed, Spinach, Sprouts, Squash, Tomatoes, Viscous Vegetables
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