Giant ones, little ones, brown ones, white ones, spiky ones, smooth ones, hard-shelled ones, even a poisonous one and a look alike.
First, recognize them by their ball-like shape. Cut them in half from top to bottom. If you see gills on the inside DON’T EAT IT, IT’S DEADLY. This is most likely a young Amanita before its stalk has grown. It should
be smooth and white on the inside. If they are brownish on the inside they have passed their prime. Lastly, if its a rich black on the inside, DON’T EAT IT. It’s probably a Poisonous Pig Skin. Although it’s not deadly, your going to have a bad time. Again I reiterate if you have any doubts don’t eat it and check your mushrooms with your local mycologist.
If you come across a “False Puffball,” don’t eat it. Although I don’t think you would want to. It is a slime mold and you would notice its slimness right away. I have only come across one of these in all my life of mushroom hunting and the thought of it being a puffball never even crossed my mind. I didn’t even think it was a mushroom. I thought it was an egg sac from an insect or amphibian.
Puffball spores are statismospores, meaning they don’t forcibly expel them so raindrops and wind blow them out slowly over time. I like to help them along from time to time by stomping on them. I’m not sure if this makes a huge difference, but I like to think it does, plus it’s fun.
Most little puffballs grow in clusters making it easier to get a meal from one find. After cutting them in half to check for gills and freshness, they fry up pretty easily. The larger ones can make a good scramble or a good mushroom steak. I find if you blanch them a little, it helps them hold their form. I also find that drying them and crumbling them into a fine powder makes for a good mushroom stock or soup.
