Fungi produce valuable products inside their cells like medicines, oils, and natural colors. However, fungal cell walls are very tough and hard to break open compared to bacteria or algae. Scientists have developed various methods to break open fungal cells, ranging from physical approaches like grinding with beads or using sound waves, to gentler chemical and enzymatic methods. The best method depends on the type of fungus, what product you want to extract, and how much you need to make.