Top 20 Edible Mushrooms Popular in Alaska

Discover the captivating world of fungi in Alaska! This region, known for its diverse and pristine ecosystems, is truly a haven for edible mushroom varieties. In this guide, we're exploring the top 20 most common edible mushrooms in Alaska. From their unique appearances and distinct tastes to their preferred habitats and culinary uses, we'll provide you with all the juicy details. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Alaska's wild edible fungi and enhance your foraging skills or culinary adventures in the process.
* Disclaimer: Content feedback CAN NOT be used as any basis for EATING ANY PLANTS. Some plants can be VERY POISONOUS, please purchase edible plants through regular channels.

Most Popular Edible Mushrooms

Coral tooth fungus

1. Coral tooth fungus

Coral tooth fungus (Hericium coralloides) is a species of coral mushroom most frequently sighted on dead or decaying hardwoods. Generally, younger specimens are white and become increasingly yellowish as they mature. Found around the world, the Māori refer to this species as pekepekekiore.
Shaggy mane

2. Shaggy mane

The shaggy mane mushroom is commonly found in North American and European grasslands. Some peoples foraged for its young egg-shaped caps, but it has more recently been found to be a bioaccumulator of heavy metals, meaning it pulls toxic metals up from the soil where it grows. As a result, shaggy manes should not be eaten. The mushrooms usually appear in clusters or “fairy rings.”
Common puffball

3. Common puffball

These puffy mushrooms grow in small groups on the forest floor. Once they're mature, common puffballs turn yellow and "puff out" smoke-like spore clouds when disturbed. Be very careful when identifying these mushrooms, as their young, immature form looks very similar to the lethal Deathcap.
King bolete

4. King bolete

Extremely popular in many cuisines, this edible wild mushroom grows around the world near the roots of forest trees. In some regions, king bolete mushrooms are collected in great enough volumes that their sale can support entire families during the harvest season. King boletes are reported to be high in fiber, vitamins B and C, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and several antioxidants.
Early morel

5. Early morel

The early morel can be found in wooded areas of North America, Asia, and Europe. It is called the Early morel because it is one of the first mushrooms to emerge early in spring. It is distinctive for its wrinkled and thimble-like cap.
Flat-top coral

6. Flat-top coral

The flat-top coral (Clavariadelphus truncatus) forms a distinctive little mushroom. Its stalk is barely differentiated from the cap in many specimens, leading to an overall tapered shape that has been compared to that of a club or bat. It is distantly related to the chantarelles and shares their golden color.
Shingled hedgehog

7. Shingled hedgehog

Shingled hedgehog(Sarcodon imbricatus) is often found in the company of fir trees, and it is therefore partial to mountainous or hilly regions. Endemic to Europe and North America, the species is prone to forming fairy rings. It fruits in early autumn.
Peppery bolete

8. Peppery bolete

Peppery bolete(Chalciporus piperatus) has coloration ranging from browns to oranges, from pigments that lend themselves to the creation of natural dyes. Not only does peppery bolete prefer sandy soils and coniferous/beech trees, but it is also known to maintain parasitic relationships with certain other species of mushroom.
Gypsy mushroom

9. Gypsy mushroom

Cortinarius caperatus, commonly referred to as the gypsy mushroom, is a sought-after species that grows across the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The fruitbodies sport ochre-colored caps and pale gills and stems - their cap color fades over time though, which may lead to their being confused with other, more toxic species.
Pear-shaped puffball

10. Pear-shaped puffball

The mushrooms of this species grow in such tight clusters that they may cover fallen trees and stumps almost entirely in a brownish, puffy coat. Pear-shaped puffballs appear all around the northern hemisphere on decaying hardwoods from fall through winter.
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