The Takeout on MSN: Why you should never eat shiitake mushrooms raw Shiitake mushrooms are delicious, but you should never consume them raw or even undercooked. Here's why. The shiitake, (/ ʃɪˈtɑːkeɪ, ˌʃiːɪ -, - ki /; [1] Japanese: [ɕiꜜːtake] ⓘ Chinese, or black mushroom, Lentinula edodes) is a macrofungus native to East Asia and mainland Southeast Asia, which is cultivated and consumed around the globe.

Understanding the Context

Find out what nutrients are in shiitake mushrooms and learn how they can help with everything from heart health to immune support. Shiitake are edible mushrooms native to East Asia. They’re tan to dark brown, with caps that grow between 2 and 4 inches (5 and 10 cm). While typically eaten like vegetables, shiitake are fungi...

Key Insights

Shiitakes have a meaty texture and woodsy flavor, making them the perfect addition to soups, salads, meat dishes and stir-fries. They’re often used in Japanese recipes, along with oyster mushrooms and maitake mushrooms. Shiitake mushroom is an edible and medicinal wood-dwelling fungus of the family Marasmiaceae. Native to East Asia, it is among the most commonly cultivated fungi in the world. It is important in a number of Asian and vegetarian dishes and has been used extensively in traditional Asian medicine.

Final Thoughts

Shiitake mushrooms are known for their benefits, medicinal uses & rich taste. These edible fungi promote skin health, optimize digestion, and improve repair & growth.