Puffball mushrooms are commonly found (a few days after a good rain) in meadows, fields, and deciduous forests usually in spring or late summer and autumn.

In fact, my first encounter with a puffball mushroom was on a foraging tour at Prospect Park. It was lying alone on the forest floor between large trees. At first glance I thought someone had lost their volleyball. As I got closer, it looked otherworldly, like a meteorite but white and leathery. My guide told us it was a puffball mushroom!

The Calvatia Gigantea or giant puffball is easily identifiable and due to its large size, spherical shape (without a stem), no gills, pure white color (if young), and marshmallow like texture inside.

Giant Puffballs are difficult to mistake for other mushroom, making them one of the safest types of mushrooms to forage and cook. The closest look-alike is the young Amanita egg, however once bisected it you’ll see gills, which puffballs don’t have. ***Don’t eat the Amanita mushroom, it’s very toxic and even deadly!***

There are other types of puffball mushrooms too but as a beginner forager, stick with the unmistakable Calvatia Gigantea.

Selecting puffballs-

The puffball must be pure white, if you see any yellow or brown tones in the flesh, cut those areas off, or toss the entire puffball – it is too old.

Storing puffballs-

Puffballs have a very short shelf life and refrigerator life - only 1 to 2 days. For long-term storage it’s best to cut into slices, grill or lightly bake, and then freeze in between sheets of parchment paper.

Cooking puffballs-

They can be cooked like Tofu: grilled, baked, sautéed, fried, or added to soup and sauces.

I wonder…

🤔 Can I grow puffballs?

Yes, For example Etsy sells them as mushroom spawn, which can be grown indoors or outdoors.

🤔 How big can giant puffball mushrooms grow?

To the size of a small sheep, or around 2 feet diameter.