wild foods Archives * The Hunter Gatherer Society

Beefsteak fungus identification showing a thick, reddish bracket mushroom with a pale pore-covered underside growing on an oak tree.

Beefsteak Fungus Identification Guide: Edibility, Lookalikes, Harvesting & Uses

Imagine walking through an old oak forest and spotting what looks like a thick slab of raw beef growing straight out of a tree. It’s deep red, slightly glossy, and surprisingly fleshy. Cut into it, and you may discover pale streaks running through the interior, along with a reddish liquid that looks remarkably like blood. It sounds unusual, but that’s exactly what makes beefsteak fungus one of the most fascinating wild mushrooms to discover. Also known as ox tongue fungus, this distinctive mushroom has a long history as a wild edible. Its unusual appearance, juicy texture, and tart flavor set it apart from almost everything else you’ll find in the woods. Despite its name, however, beefsteak fungus doesn’t taste like[…]

Common chickweed (Stellaria media) with green leaves and small white flowers

Chickweed Identification Guide: Edibility, Lookalikes, Harvesting & Uses

September 24, 2026 rpolipnick Foraging, Foraging Wild Edible Plants and Mushrooms

Common chickweed (Stellaria media) is easy to walk past. It creeps through gardens, lawns, paths, field edges, and other disturbed ground, often forming soft green mats during cool weather. For foragers, that little patch of green is worth a closer look. Chickweed is a tender edible plant with a mild flavor. The young leaves, stems, and flowers can be eaten raw or lightly cooked. Better yet, the plant gives us several useful identification features that are easy to check in the field. You still need to identify it carefully. Scarlet pimpernel can grow in similar places and has somewhat similar leaves. Low-growing spurges can also become tangled in a chickweed patch. Both deserve attention before anything goes into your basket.[…]

Wild onion plants showing green leaves, white bulbs, and roots for identification

Wild Onion Identification Guide: Edibility, Uses, Harvesting, and Complete Field Guide

September 17, 2026 rpolipnick Foraging, Foraging Wild Edible Plants and Mushrooms, Wild Edible Plants Foraging and Identification Guides

Wild onions are one of the easiest wild foods to overlook. Their narrow green leaves often blend into grass, lawns, field edges, and open woods. However, crush a leaf and the smell usually gives the plant away. A true wild onion should release a clear onion, garlic, or chive-like scent. Several species in the genus Allium are commonly called wild onion or wild garlic. Depending on where you live, you may find common wild onion (Allium canadense), field garlic (Allium vineale), nodding onion (Allium cernuum), or another regional Allium species. Many of these plants are edible. In fact, the leaves, flowers, and bulbs can often be used much like cultivated onions, garlic, or chives. There is an important safety concern,[…]

Common purslane identification showing fleshy green leaves, reddish stems, and yellow flowers

Purslane Identification Guide: Edibility, Uses, Harvesting, and Complete Field Guide

September 3, 2026 rpolipnick Foraging, Foraging Wild Edible Plants and Mushrooms, Wild Edible Plants Foraging and Identification Guides

Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is one of those wild edible plants that can be hiding in plain sight. It grows low to the ground in gardens, disturbed soil, sidewalk cracks, farm fields, and other sunny places, where its thick leaves and reddish succulent stems are often dismissed as weeds. For foragers, purslane is much more interesting. The tender leaves and stems are edible raw or cooked, with a pleasantly tart, slightly salty flavor and a crisp, succulent texture. Purslane also has a long history as a food plant and is still eaten in many parts of the world. It can be an excellent beginner wild edible, but there is one particularly important identification lesson: learn to distinguish purslane from prostrate[…]

King bolete identification guide showing a mature Boletus edulis with a brown cap and thick reticulate stem

King Bolete Identification Guide: Edibility, Uses, Harvesting, and Complete Field Guide

August 27, 2026 rpolipnick Foraging, Foraging Wild Edible Plants and Mushrooms, Wild Edible Mushrooms Foraging Guides

This king bolete identification guide explains how to recognize Boletus edulis and closely related North American porcini. It also covers habitat, lookalikes, harvesting, cooking, preservation, and safety. Because several mushrooms share the classic porcini shape, confirm the full combination of pores, stem netting, flesh color, staining, habitat, and maturity before eating one. Quick Answers Is king bolete edible?Yes. King bolete is a highly prized edible mushroom. However, cook it thoroughly before eating it. What is its scientific name?The traditional scientific name is Boletus edulis. In North America, however, “king bolete” and “porcini” may also refer to several closely related species. What does a king bolete look like?Look for a rounded brown cap, a thick pale stem, fine white netting near[…]