The chicken of the woods is a type of mushroom that develops on dead trees’ decomposing wood. In addition to being consumed raw or cooked like any other mushroom, it has been utilized in conventional Chinese medicine.
The chicken of the woods can be kept for up to six months without refrigeration and is not harmful. You should preserve your chicken of the woods in an airtight container and keep it in a cool, dark place with a lot of humidity.
Chicken of the woods mushrooms is a versatile food that can replace meat in a variety of recipes. They can be steamed or sauteed, and are often paired with meat. Try sauteed chicken of the woods with garlic and shallots, a splash of white wine, and fresh thyme for a gourmet dish. You can also store chicken of the woods mushrooms in a paper bag in your refrigerator for about a week.
What is Chicken of the Woods?
Because of its succulently mild flavor and meaty texture, this exquisite wild mushroom, formally known as laetiporus sulfurous, is more commonly referred to as “Chicken of the Woods.” Two additional names for this species are sulfur shelf and wood lobster.
This mushroom is easy to recognize thanks to its striking orange color and underside, which has small pores rather than gills. If you’ve never gone mushroom hunting before, always confirm your find with an expert forager before eating. Eat a hunch never, ever!
In the late summer and early fall, these mushrooms are frequently spotted growing on an old oak tree that is dying on a forest boundary. Any that are found growing on fir trees should not, however, be consumed.
How to Store Chicken of the Woods?
Chicken of the Woods mushrooms can be stored in a variety of ways, depending on your preferences and requirements. You can produce your own, get them at the grocery store, or go foraging for them in the woods.
The following advice will help you properly store chicken of the woods mushrooms.
-If you want to keep them for immediate consumption, keep them somewhere dry and cool.
-You can store them in the refrigerator if you want to keep them for a few days or longer.
Additionally, you may freeze them, which can help keep them fresh for up to six months.
Whatever method you decide on, make sure to fully clean the mushrooms before using them or storing them.
Take a basket or sack that can breathe when you go mushroom hunting for Chicken of the Woods. Avoid piling these mushrooms up on top of one another in your container because they don’t thrive in tight spaces. They’ll begin to deteriorate if they’re packed in too closely. The best way to store mushrooms in the refrigerator is in a single layer on a tray or plate.
For Long Term Storage
It’s not as hard to store chicken of the woods mushrooms as one may believe. If you’ve collected these mushrooms while foraging and wish to preserve them for later use, you can do so according to a few straightforward guidelines.
First of all, it’s crucial to understand that raw consumption of chicken of the woods mushrooms is not advised. They have to be cooked before eating. Therefore, you must boil these mushrooms before storing them.
Second, there are several ways to store chicken of the woods mushrooms once they have been cooked. Drying them is one option. The mushrooms can be dried in a dehydrator or by hanging them in a cool, dry area. The dried mushrooms can be kept for up to six months in an airtight container kept in a cool, dark location.
The mushrooms can also be preserved by being pickled. They can be preserved in this manner by being put in a jar with a vinegar solution, which should then be kept there for up to two months in a cool, dark location.
Chicken of the woods mushrooms can also be frozen, as a final option. The mushrooms must first be cooked before being pureed with water or stock. After that, the mixture can be put into freezer bags and kept there for up to eight months.
How to Cook Chicken of the Woods?
A beloved springtime mushroom, Chicken of the Woods is frequently one of the first to appear in the woods. Stuffed is a good mushroom for beginners because the kinds of stuff are simple to recognize and somewhat simple to locate. However, even seasoned foragers occasionally struggle to figure out how to properly store chicken of the woods mushrooms.
Sautéing chicken of the woods mushrooms is the best method of preparation. They will taste better and be more appealing as a result of this. You might also try roasting or grilling them, but make sure to peel the skin first. Soups, stews, and casseroles taste great when made with chicken of the woods mushrooms.
You can try using chicken of the woods mushrooms to make a cake if you’re seeking a more novel approach to preparing them.
You can pickle or dry chicken of the woods mushrooms to store them. While pickling is an excellent choice if you want to increase its shelf life, drying is the greatest method for preserving its flavor.
What are the Different Ways to Enjoy Chicken of the Woods?
In a number of dishes, chicken of the woods can be used in place of chicken meat. They can be used in these recipes as well as to make a delectable mushroom sandwich.
4 ounces of sauteed mushrooms, cooked fettuccini noodles, and one jar of your preferred pasta sauce make up the Chicken of the Woods Pasta. If desired, sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.
Chicken Fried Chicken of the Woods – Use the mushrooms in place of the venison in my recipe for Chicken Fried Venison.
Coconut Curry Soup – These mushrooms would be ideal for use in this bright soup because of their mild flavor!
Fresh herbs – If you want to prepare some wild mushrooms as a simple side dish or for use in dishes, think about sautéing them in butter with fresh herbs. Sage leaves, thyme sprigs, and fresh rosemary would all be ideal. Here, a slight touch of lemon juice would be fantastic.
What Kind of Taste does Chicken of the Woods have?
The term “chicken of the woods” was given to the mushrooms because many people said they tasted like chicken. However, do they taste like chicken? They only share one thing in common: both of them are moderate. Although they are substantially more tender than chicken, they can be substituted for chicken in many recipes. They don’t have any aftertaste of seafood in my opinion and instead taste more like a crab.
Regardless of how they taste, they are beautiful. They are suitable for various recipes because they lack the earthy, musky flavor that most people associate with mushrooms.
Consuming a wild chicken of the woods mushroom uncooked is never a smart idea, and boiling the mushrooms lowers the danger of gastrointestinal issues and eliminates any heat-sensitive toxins.
How do you Clean Chicken of the Woods?
Cleaning your Chicken of the Woods thoroughly is essential, so start by gently removing the shelves to allow access to every location and make the cleaning process simple and quick.
Utilize a gentle mushroom brush to remove any substantial dirt particles, and then quickly wipe them down with a damp paper towel or cloth to ensure that your mushrooms are spotless and prepared for usage.
If your mushrooms are dirty, as mine are, give them a quick soak to get rid of any dirt or creepy crawlies that might be hiding inside. A prolonged soak will cause them to get soggy and lose their mouthwatering flavor.
What are the Health Advantages of Chicken of the Woods?
A form of edible fungi called chicken of the woods mushrooms has several health advantages. You can forage for these mushrooms, which are frequently found in woodland regions. They are a common addition to recipes because of their crisp texture and mild chicken flavor.
Mushrooms called chicken of the woods are a good source of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant chemicals. These substances may aid in warding off illness and enhancing general health. Chicken of the woods mushrooms also includes vitamins and minerals necessary for the body’s correct operation.
You may eat chicken of the woods mushrooms in many different ways. They can be added to salads, soups, stir-fries, or pasta dishes after being sauteed, grilled, or roasted. They can also be a component of baked foods like pies and cakes. The chicken of the woods mushroom is a tasty and wholesome food that may be consumed in a variety of ways.
Reference: CHICKEN OF THE WOODS- MEDICINAL MYCOLOGY
There are numerous health advantages to eating chicken of the woods. Turkoglu et al. claim that the antioxidant activity is comparable to that of alpha-tocopherol and the artificial preservative BHA (2007). It significantly suppressed gram-positive bacteria and Candida species, according to the same study (Turkoglu et al., 2007). Previous studies discovered anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) activity (Ershova et al., 2003). The growth of Leuconostoc mesenteroides was restrained during submerged cultivation. Sauerkraut and pickles are fermented by this bacterium. Attempting to pickle the mushroom and cabbage in the same crockpot is probably not a good idea.
Conclusion
Chicken of the Woods mushrooms should be consumed within a few months of being harvested due to their short to medium shelf life. You can keep them in the refrigerator for up to a week if you need to keep them for a longer period. These mushrooms can be used in any recipe that calls for either chicken or mushrooms, although they are best prepared before eating.
There are countless options when it comes to cooking Chicken of the Woods mushrooms. You may grill, sauté, stir-fry, bake, or even make soup with these mushrooms. Below are some of our favorite recipes.
