When I found a group of these growing in the grass I thought that they were St. George's Mushrooms. I then took a spore print and it was reddish brown rather than the expected white, so I then I thought I may have a toxic Inocybe instead, and lost all confidence in my ability of being able to recognize edible mushrooms... Looking through pictures, I was eventually able to figure out that it is actually an edible Agaricus campestris.
Just be aware that some Agaricus species are toxic, depending on your area, so be sure to exclude any local poisonous species.
Yeah. In that same spot I found a group of yellow stainers Agaricus xanthodermus around the end of last year... Those turn bright yellow when you cut them.
I rarely eat mushrooms that I forage. Only when I am really really sure of what I have. Shaggy Manes are an example of something that I'll eat if I trust that the ground that they are growing on is not on top of potentially toxic waste.
Yeah I prefer the easy ones too. Sounds like you are somewhat experienced, but I’ve seen lots of people think that because Agaricus has the button mushroom that it’s an easy one for a novice. I’ve eaten them occasionally but it’s more of an advanced group of mushrooms for the table.
Just watch out for A. californicus if you’re in range for that one.
In the UK agaricus is pretty safe -- checking for yellow staining and the sniff test is enough to eliminate poisonous species.
Yeah but not everyone can smell the bad ones. Personally, I can’t which was quite confusing and frustrating when I was trying to learn them. I believe it’s a genetic trait.
Ah, that's rough. Acquire a nose-for-hire through mushroom based bribery? But yeah, a pain not to be able to tell them apart :/