mycology

too old for eating (at least by a human)

when they get older like these ones were they lose a lot of flavor and go from being springy and tender to tough, dry, and woody. cleaning them also becomes increasingly labor intensive the older they are as you have to contend with more fungus gnat larvae and cutting away rotten spots. you can't tell from my poorly-focused picture but these ones were dried out, pale, and half-eaten by bugs, a lot like me after a hike in the woods.