Nature doesn’t come with a “use-by” date. You just have to look, sniff, and use your judgment. If your mozzarella looks like stilton or your apples are growing beards, it’s time to throw them out.
But what about magic mushrooms? They don’t always smell or look great to begin with, so how do you know if they’re still good? Is there a point when they begin to lose their potency or become dangerous to eat?
Let’s find out.
Do Psilocybin Mushrooms Expire?
Yes, magic mushrooms expire.
Most drugs lose potency over time and all plant matter is prone to rapid degradation and bacteria/mold growth. Shrooms suffer from both of these issues.
How Long Do Fresh Shrooms Last?
Fresh mushrooms have the shortest lifespan, as they usually expire within 3 to 5 days. Bacteria thrive in moist environments, so those fresh mushrooms won’t last long.
Bacteria also like warmth, so you can prolong the life of those mushrooms by keeping them somewhere cool and dry, but you’re fighting a losing battle and fresh magic mushrooms are best when consumed within 2 to 3 days.
How Long Do Dried Mushrooms Last?
If properly dried, magic mushrooms can last for between 6 and 12 months.
The drying process removes the water, and if they are kept in cool, dry, and air-tight environments, they can last for a very long time.
How Long Does Magic Mushroom Food Last?
As the laws on magic mushrooms are steadily relaxed, we’re seeing them being added to more foodstuffs, including chocolate. In such cases, they can last for much longer than fresh or dried whole mushrooms.
These products often use mushroom powders, which undergo a thorough drying process. They can also benefit from the introduction of sugars, fats, and salts. For instance, mushroom honey has a very long shelf life, with the sugar helping to keep it potent and stable for up to 3 years.
If you’re taking mushrooms in food or capsule form, don’t assume that there is no mold/bacteria because you can’t see it. Check the label for a use by date and always err on the side of caution.
Not only can ingesting expired mushrooms be dangerous, but if you’re worried about bacteria/mold, you may spend the entire trip anxious that you’re going to die and panicking every time you feel a little nauseous. If nothing else, you’re going to have a very bad trip and some frightening hallucinations, so it’s just not worth it.
Is it Safe to Consume an Old Magic Mushroom?
It really depends on how “old” it is.
The longer you leave magic mushrooms, the less potent they will be. You can still consume them at this point, but there will be less of the active compounds and so the effects won’t be as pronounced.
If the mushrooms have not been stored properly or they have been left for a long time, they may develop mold and bacterial growth. At this point, they are not safe to consume and should be discarded.
Eating moldy magic mushrooms can make you very sick. In some cases, it could lead to a life-threatening bacterial infection. It’s just not worth the risk.
How Do I Know if Magic Mushrooms Have Gone Bad?
There’s no way to know if psilocybin-containing mushrooms have lost their potency. You just have to make your own judgment based on how old they are and how well they have been stored. However, there are a few ways you can tell if they have gone “bad”, including:
Smell Them
Mushrooms have a distinctive earthy smell, so it’s normal for your magic mushrooms to smell a little musky. But if you detect a sweet, sour, or otherwise “funky” odor, it could indicate the presence of yeast or bacteria.
Look for Visible Signs of Mold
Are your Penis Envy mushrooms wearing a merkin? If so, it’s time to get rid of them.
Mold can appear as grey, black, white, or a combination of these colors. It tends to look fuzzy and is usually hard to miss.
If you notice any fuzz on your shrooms, get rid of them. And don’t just pick out the bad ones while keeping the rest. If one of them has a lot of bacterial growth, there’s a good chance the others have been infected as well. Stay on the safe side and get rid of all of them.
Look for Discoloration
If you notice any signs of discoloration, including tinges of brown, black, and white that shouldn’t be there, get rid of them.
A little blue discoloration is normal, though. Magic mushrooms can take on a blue tinge when they are cut or damaged.
Check for Soft Spots
Soft spots on dried mushrooms could be indicative of a bacterial colony. If your mushrooms are a little squidgy, get rid of them!
How Do I Dry Magic Mushrooms?
If you have fresh mushrooms that you can’t use straightaway, consider drying them.
You can dry them by placing them on a towel or tissue and ensuring they are evenly spaced. Put them in a dry area and keep them out of sunlight. Ideally, you should place them in front of a fan in a well-ventilated area.
This process won’t remove all of the water. For that, you need a dehydrator.
Do Fly Agaric Mushrooms Go Bad?
Fly agaric mushrooms, like psilocybin-containing mushrooms, will lose their potency and eventually go bad. Often labeled as poisonous mushrooms, and rarely consumed for their recreational value, these colorful fungi contain compounds such as muscarine and muscimol and can be dangerous if consumed when moldy.
Summary: The Shelf Life of Psilocybin Mushrooms
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic drug, so it’s prone to losing its potency if it’s not stored properly.
To keep your mushrooms potent and safe for a long time, put them in an air-tight container. This won’t change the moisture levels, but it will protect them from oxygen, UV light, heat, and fungal/bacterial spores, all of which can hasten the degradation and the spread of bacteria.
To preserve them for the long haul, stick with dried mushrooms and consider adding them to honey.
Of course, even if you follow these tips, your mushrooms will degrade eventually and even the best container won’t protect them from bacterial growth if they are left for a long time.