Oyster Mushrooms?
Buying, Cooking, and Recipes of Oyster Mushrooms
By Molly Watson Updated on 07/29/21
The Spruce / Molly Watson
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What Are Oyster Mushrooms?
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How to Cook
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Taste
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Recipes
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How to Store
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Oyster mushrooms, the common name for the species Pleurotus ostreatus. are one of the most common types of cultivated mushrooms in the world. They’re also known as pearl oyster or tree oyster mushrooms. The funghi grow on and near trees in temperate and subtropic forests around the world. and they’re grown in many countries. Oyster mushrooms are eate in a variety of cuisines and are especially popular in Chinese. Japanese, and Korean cooking. They can be dry and are eaten cooked.
What Are Oyster Mushrooms?
Oyster mushrooms are belove the world over for their delicate texture and mild. savory flavor. The mushrooms have broad, thin, oyster- or fan-shaped caps and are white. gray, or tan, with gills lining the underside. The caps are sometimes frilly-edged and can be foun in clusters of small mushrooms. or as larger mushrooms. Oyster mushrooms are more expensive than white button mushrooms but less so than rarer mushrooms like morels. and take little prep since they can be use whole or chopped. They are even used to make mycelium furniture and many other products.
How to Cook With Oyster Mushrooms
Like all mushrooms, oyster mushrooms uk act almost like sponges. soaking up any water they come into contact with. Don’t leave them sitting in water, even for the sake of cleaning them. Cultivated oyster usually don’t need much cleaning wipe off any bits here. or there with a dry paper towel. A damp paper towel can be use on extra dirty mushrooms.
Cleaned mushrooms can be sautéed, stir-fried, braised, roasted, fried, or grilled. Use the mushrooms whole, sliced, or torn into sized pieces.
While you can eat oyster mushrooms uk raw and they can be quite pretty added to salads. they tend to have ametallic flavor when uncooked. Cooking brings out their delicate flavor, turning their spongy texture into something velvety. We recommend using oyster mushrooms for cooked. dishes and using button mushrooms for salads and other raw dishes.
Dried oyster mushrooms don’t need to be soak to be rehydrate the way other dried mushrooms do— add them to the dish. and they will soak up liquid right away.
Minh Hoang Cong / 500px / Getty Images
What Do Oyster Mushrooms Taste Like?
Oyster tend to have a subtle, savory anise flavor. Because their flavor is mild, without the strong earthiness of some mushroom varieties. they work well in a range of different dishes. Oyster mushrooms also take on a tender, pleasing texture when cooked. Cooking methods like frying, roasting. and grilling can keepmore texture in the mushrooms while braising and sautéing makes them softer.
Oyster Mushroom Recipes
One of the most popular ways to cook oyster mushrooms uk is to stir-fry or sauté them. This requires a preheated hot pan, a small amount of liquid, and stirring. Make sure to give them space so their moisture can cook off, that way they will sauté rather than steam. Serve as a side dish or use in sauces, stir-fries, pastas, risotto, or even to top toast.
Because they get so silky when cooked, oyster mushrooms respond well to braising, too. Add them to soups and stews or sauces. The mushrooms can also be grille whole on skewers. roasted, or dredged in a crispy coating and deep-fried.
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Where to Buy Oyster Mushrooms
Since most available oyster mushrooms uk are cultivate in greenhouses. they tend to be available all year round. They are sometimes sold loose by the ounce but are more often sold packaged or bagged for a set price. They sometimes appear at major supermarkets in the produce section. and fresh and dried mushrooms can often be foun at Asian markets. Wild varieties are in season during the fall.
Look for mushrooms or clusters of mushrooms with a bright. springy texture and no wilted or dark spots. These spots say the mushrooms have soaked up moisture and started to go bad. Dried mushrooms should be in an airtight container and whole with a pleasant aroma.
When foraging for oyster, look for clusters on dying or fallen beech trees. Young mushrooms are best. and American foragers should avoid yellowish lookalikes which are poisonous.
How to Store Oyster Mushrooms
Water is the greatest enemy of oyster. Store them in a loose paper bag (not plastic) in the fridge for up to three days. They are delicate and will start to wilt and become dry and tough the longer they sit and wait to be eat.
Dried mushrooms should be store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to one year. Cooked mushrooms will keep for up to three days in the refrigerator or can be froze for up to three months. We do not recommend freezing raw mushrooms since the moisture breaks down their delicate texture.
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