The Giant Puffball mushroom is a sizable, edible fungus recognized for its round shape and smooth, white exterior, growing up to 2 feet in diameter. Found in late summer and fall in grassy areas, it is prized by foragers. When young and firm, the pure white flesh is edible, boasting a mild flavor. Best enjoyed sliced, battered, and fried, or incorporated into soups and stews. Correct identification is crucial for safe foraging, ensuring the best quality for culinary use.
20-35cm typically but can occasionally be found much larger than that. White to off-white with a fine velvet like surface when young becoming smooth and papery. The inside of the fruiting body will turn to brown mature spores and these will be released when the mushroom ages, is damaged or even blown across a field like tumbleweed.
White becoming yellow then brown as it turns into spores.
Yellow/brown. Spherical with fine warts. The spores come from the inside of the fruiting body and are brown. The ‘skin’ has come away in the image revealing the large mass of spores.
No stem although sometimes they can still be connected to the ground with a fine root like filament..
Excellent. Can be sliced and fried like a steak or breaded and fried for a better texture.
