The Universal Edibility Test | How to Test if Any Plant is Edible
This is an updated article on the Universal Edibility Test. Our first article was several years ago, and we will continue to update this article as we learn and practice more foraging and as updates to the edibility process are discovered.
There may come a point where you need to test the edibility of a plant for survival purposes. You do not want to just start eating anything green that you come across, but you may also not have time to learn all of the local flora. The universal edibility test is here to help and guide you through a process to determine which plants or even just parts of plants are safe to eat. While it may seem tedious and slow, doing each of these steps is important to stay safe while trying new plants.
The main idea of the test is to expose yourself to the plant in a controlled manner and to see if any symptoms develop between exposure. This wilderness survival skill can come in handy not just in the wild, but in backyards as well given an emergency
Step 1: Make sure there is plenty of the plant
You do not want to go through all of these steps if you can not apply them to an abundance of plants. The Universal Edibility Test is a thorough and lengthy process, and you do not want to waste time doing it if you do not have plenty of the plant you are testing.
Step 2: Separate the parts of the plants
Pull the flowers, buds, leaves, stems, seeds, and roots apart and into separate piles. It is important to try each part of the plant separately since some components could be toxic but others are edible. Rhubarb is one example where the stalks are edible but the leaves are toxic. Also check the plant to make sure it is in good shape, not rotting, and doesn’t have any insects in this step.
Step 3: Pick one part of the plant
Picking a part of the plant that is most plentiful will give you the best return on your time investment.
Step 4: Smell the plant
If the plant has an unpleasant odor, do not eat that part of the plant. Strong or acidic smells should raise suspicion. Any scent that smells like almonds is best to avoid since that is an indicator of a toxic compound.
Step 5: Touch the plant
Touch a piece of the plant to your wrist for 15 minutes. If you experience itching, burning, or numbness, do not eat that part of the plant. Wait eight hours until going to the next step to check for the development of rashes or any other reaction. Do not eat during this time.
Step 6: Put the plant on your lips
You can cook the pieces of the plant for this step, and prepare it as you would eat it. Cooking plants is preferred because some plants are toxic raw, but not when cooked. Once prepared, then touch the plant to your lips to test for itching, burning, or numbness. If you experience any of those in the next 3 minutes, do not eat that part of the plant.
Step 7: Put the plant on your tongue
Pop a small portion of the plant in your mouth and place it on your tongue for 15 minutes.
Step 8: Chew the plant
Chew the plant and then hold it in your mouth for 15 minutes without swallowing. If it tastes soapy or bitter, spit it out and do not eat that part of the plant.
Step 9: Swallow the plant
Swallow the plant. Wait eight hours for any adverse reactions, and if there are none, then prepare at least ¼ cup of that plant part and eat it. If you have no reaction after another 8 hours then that part of the plant is edible. You will want to repeat this entire process for all of the parts of the plant since the entire plant could be edible, or just select parts.
Universal Edibility Test Printable PDF
If you are looking to print or save a PDF of the universal edibility test so you can have it around for reference- we got you. Here you can download a black and white PDF for standard 8.5″ x 11″ paper printing. Open it up in a new tab, and then you can print from your browser prompt or save it to your computer:
The Final Word
If you would prefer not to go through the steps and wait these periods to determine if a plant is edible, it may be a good idea to pick up an edible plant guide. It is important to note that these steps do not work for mushrooms or other types of fungus. If you want to determine what types of fungi are edible, a mushroom guide is what you need.
The universal edibility test can also sometimes lead you to believe edible plants are inedible. For instance, stinging nettles are edible when cooked, but cause a skin reaction. Another example is how acorns and water lilies are both very bitter unless boiled, so the edibility test would falsely rule them out. Learning your local plants using a guide may be the easier route, but knowing the procedure to test a plant’s edibility is always good knowledge to have.
Keep exploring, stay prepared, and be safe.
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Hi S.G.,
I love this. These steps are similar to those found in the SAS Survival Guide. I’ve not tried these myself, but they’re awesome to have around when needed. I use an edible plant guide, and usually stick to eating plants I’m familiar with. As you say in the article, however, we may not be afforded that luxury when in a survival situation. Thanks for sharing!
Joey
Every plant is edible- once.
Haha, yeah
Ive recently have gotten interested in prepping. Although I’ve only really have read on it on Pinterest and barely started buying certain items that I would expect to be useful. I am really interested in learning about edible plants and bugs for the harder times as well as the best items to have in a bug out bag. I will have at least 3 to six people with me if shtf just to give you an idea. I will be the main person everyone would depend on as they have no interest in prepping. I would however like to get my son involved more if you have any ideas. He’s a smart kid and quick learner and would be the next in line to count on if God forbid something happened to me. Anyway any info or ideas you may have would be appreciated.
Thanks….Jeff
The lily of the valley pictured is quite poisonous. It contains a cardiac glycoside similar to the digitalis that is in foxglove. Here’s a thought: buy a book on indigenous edible plants in your area and learn what plants are edible that way, instead of ingesting unknown plants that could kill you. Not very bright.
I’ve been studying wild edibles and medical plants for years.This is a great article.thanks
That was likely the point. Anyone with basic knowledge of plants and herbs knows that roots, stems, flowers and leaves of lily of the valley are toxic. Stop trolling. It makes YOU look not very bright.
I found it interesting that you said in step eight if a plant taste soapy or bitter do not eat it.
Many of the greens that I eat in my own yard are bitter I. E. Dandelion, wild lettuce.
That’s true, but luckily you can easily recognize those through your experience. If you start foraging unknown plants you’ll want to steer clear of the bitter tastes. Of course, a local expert or visual guide can help you out as well.
Don’t try this in Australia. There 95% of what looks edible is poisonous. The ‘flat bread’ the aboriginals eat has to be left in running water for 7 days and cooked for 3. 😲😬
This is a helpful rubric for those unplanned times when you must have nourishment, but you are in unfamiliar terrain and don’t have guidebooks, plant ID websites, or experienced guides. All of my life I have foraged. People need to know about this in urban food deserts, not just the wilds. I am a registered nurse/NP and love to cook, but also do make my own salves, balms etc. I’ve studied my own ‘backyard’ and watched what my livestock eats or refuses. Use the best information you can get (I have many books) but remember, skeptical readers, that survival may require risk as well as caution.