Instead, truffle mushrooms look like wrinkled potato or coal. Their sizes vary from that of a marble, golf ball, or a human fist. They also come in different colors, most of which are black, brown, and white. Are They Poisonous? Practically all truffle mushrooms are safe to eat, though only a few varieties are used as delicacies. If you can t smell anything or you smell something like ammonia, then look for other truffles. If you buy ripe or mature truffles, eat them as soon as you can. Storing Truffle Chefs and truffle experts advise against storing or preserving truffles, as it causes them to dry out and lose their flavor as well as aroma. Yes, truffles are known all over the world not only as fungi, but also as an exquisite delicacy that s meant to be savored along with other gourmet dishes. You can tell that a mushroom is a truffle if it has a thick, rough, and wrinkled outer skin. It is usually black, white, or brown, depending on its variety. Aside from using it as a main ingredient, truffles are also used to make oils. Truffle oils have been a practical substitute in using fresh truffles. Because it is so expensive, chefs came up with an idea to turn fresh truffles into oil or a concentrate which has all the taste and odor of truffle without worrying that the fresh truffle would go into waste over time. All you need are a little knowledge of how to work the truffle s magic. The following are some tips to make cooking with truffles an easy task for you. Get your truffles from your local gourmet shops or specialty stores. Of course, you don t need to go hunting for truffles in the forest. That s too time-consuming and laborious a task, unless it s your hobby. There is no question of the flavour and aroma it could bring to your dishes. A small amount of truffles could bring out the taste superbly. However, is the flavour enough reason to purchase an expensive food? We are often riddled with the question if truffles and fungi, in general, would have any nutritional value.