if you taste a red russella (then spit it out) and it's not hot or bitter, it's an edible.
I rather prefer to believe that. but where I live there aint too much biodiversity, not so much RUssula species, so it is not hard to decide the question of edibility. the most part of the problem are worms, that find them first, even the very small ones are infected and partly eaten -- tho they look pretty fresh solid and intact from outside... :/
I changed the forest. actually, I went to the local swamp where the locals use to collect cranberries and blueberries - I found all the mushrooms at the area between the swamp and its wooded edge.
nice that you appreciated that hand+ russula photo. I was impressed with the long stem -- the ones that grow on the solid ground instead of a mossy swamp, often do not need and do not have such a long stem. a special edition :P
So then is the cold summer you're having normal? Why so little biodiversity?