Universal Edibility Test: How to Test a Wild Plant’s Edibility

The universal edibility test is a survival procedure that you can use to determine whether or not any plants and berries you find in the wild are likely safe to consume. It contains a series of steps that gradually expose your body to more contact with the plant. The test takes place over the course of a day, during which you will chew, cook, and consume small portions of a plant, then wait to see how your body reacts to it.

The universal edibility test can prevent you from suffering any adverse reactions associated with ingesting a plant that has harmful toxins. Being able to identify edible plants can help you in a survival situation, or at least keep you from choosing the wrong plants while you’re foraging. Even if you believe a plant you found in the wild is safe to eat, you should always perform a universal edibility test before consuming any wild food.

Freshly-foraged food can be fun to gather, and can even save your life when food supplies run low. However, safety is the most important element of foraging, which is where an edibility test comes in. Here is a quick breakdown of the edibility test for unknown plants you find in the wild.

1. 1. Look for the most common poisonous traits. When you’re looking for plants to eat in the wild, you want to avoid anything that has common traits of toxic plants. Rule out mushrooms and plants with milky sap, fine hairs, spines, umbrella-shaped flowers, or shiny, waxy leaves. Green and white berries are usually signs of an inedible plant. Try to find a large quantity of one plant, because once you’ve performed the long edibility test, you will know that this is a safe food source.
2. 2. Separate the plant. Not all parts of the plant are edible simply because one part is. Split up the flowers, roots, leaves, and stems of the plant, and choose which part of it you want to test. Test parts separately before consuming the whole plant, and whenever possible, always do plenty of thorough research when taking a chance out in the wild.
3. 3. Do a skin contact test. Take the piece of the plant you want to eat and rub it on your inner forearm, the inside of your elbow, or outer lip. Wait 15 minutes. If there is no tingling, burning, or adverse reaction, you’re free to continue with the rest.
4. 4. Do a taste test. Taste that same part of the plant, and wait another five minutes. If you have any tingling, burning, or adverse reactions, spit out the plant and wash your mouth out with water. If not, you can continue with the test.
5. 5. Do a bigger taste test. If you don’t taste any bitterness, soapy flavor, or feel any numbness, take a teaspoon of that same part of the plant and chew for five minutes, spitting out extra saliva regularly. Swallow, then wait eight hours.
6. 6. Eat a small amount. If you’re still not experiencing any digestive issues, eat one tablespoon of that same part of the plant and wait another eight hours. If you still have no symptoms, you can consider that part of the plant edible in the manner in which it was prepared.
7. 7. Take precautions. Whether you’re practicing sustainable foraging or trying to rough it in nature, use common sense and your best judgment when searching for edible wild plants. Some edible species of plants have toxic look-alikes or may have edible berries but poisonous stems and bark (such as elderberries).

Testing a plant’s edibility is just one of many skills that can help you in a survival situation. Whether you’re facing a wilderness survival scenario or simply foraging for fun, below are some tips for performing a universal edibility test.

1. 1. Do it on an empty stomach. Drink a lot of water and don’t consume any food for eight hours before performing the edibility test. When you’re doing the test, do not consume any other foods besides the part of the plant that you are testing.
2. 2. Gather plenty of plant parts. Edibility tests take at least sixteen hours to complete. You don’t want to go through this time-consuming process only to realize that you don’t have enough of the plant to satiate your hunger. Before attempting the test, gather enough of the plant to make sure you have plenty to eat if it’s edible.
3. 3. If you’re not sure, skip it. Some edible plants may contain poisonous plant characteristics such as spiky hairs or discolored sap. Not all plants that have these traits are necessarily poisonous, but it’s still not worth it to risk experiencing the ill effects of these plants.
4. 4. Avoid plants with an almond scent. When it comes to plants, an almond scent is a natural indicator of toxicity (usually cyanide). Do not consume berries or plants that smell like raw or burnt almonds.
5. 5. Check the foliage. Plants with foliage that resembles dill, parsley, or parsnip greens are likely poisonous and should be avoided.
6. 6. Trust the taste. Toxic plants taste bad for a reason; nature isn’t trying to trick you into poisoning yourself (it just wants to protect itself from bugs and pests). If the portion of the plant you’re testing has a bitter or soapy taste, spit it out immediately.

Certain outdoor activities carry an elevated risk of serious injury. Wilderness scenarios require extensive survival gear, including but not limited to food, water, maps, protective clothing, and first aid, along with mental and physical fortitude. This article is for educational and informational purposes, and is not a substitute for hard skills and expertise.

Prepare for any outdoor journey by grabbing a MasterClass Annual Membership and committing Jessie Krebs’s wilderness survival course to memory. As a former United States Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape instructor, Jessie can teach you everything you need to know about packing for a trip (neon is the new black), purifying water, foraging (crickets: the other white meat), starting a fire, and signaling for help (forget SOS).