Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.) are one of the top foraged mushrooms in our area. They’re up there with choice morsels like morels, chanterelles and dryad’s saddle. In some areas oysters are the most popular wild mushroom bought at farmer’s markets and stores.
You can find oysters on hardwood trees, especially living and dead elm. Our native Aspen oyster (Pleurotus populinus) prefers dead poplar trees. Besides elm, the commonly spotted and popular Oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) is likely to be found on living sugar maple and other hardwoods like beech. You can find them summer and autumn. Wet spring and fall seasons, especially fall, can make for bountiful fruiting/flushes.
These mushrooms grow in overlapping clusters with gills that are forked near the edge of the cap and run almost all the way to the root. The stem is barely noticeable. Their typically white to beige “fruits” have a hint of licorice in their scent.
Be sure to do a thorough job ID-ing oysters. It has some edible lookalikes like chanterelle (Cantharellus spp.). But also some deadly lookalikes, like angel wing (Pleurocybella porrigens) and jack-o’-lantern (Omphalotus olearius).
Edible Uses of Oyster Mushrooms
Gently cut off the whole young mushrooms, or just harvest the tender parts of the older ones. Check for maggots. The mushrooms are typically sautéed. Some folks may prefer them fried in tempura batter.
You can freeze prepared mushrooms, or slice them thin and dry them. Chef Pascal Bauder found a dehydrating “sweet spot between 170 °F to 190 °F (76 to 87 °C)” for the best flavour.
Alternative Uses of Oyster Mushrooms
This is a great species to learn how to do a spore print with. The spores will be creamy white to pale lilac.
It’s also one of the fungi being used for mycoremediation of polluted areas.
Growing Pleurotus SPP.
Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms has a huge amount of oyster growing content, but so does the internet. There are many groups and forums devoted to it. And you can start simple with a kit from Amazon like the ever popular Back to Roots Organic Mini Mushroom Grow Kit (affiliate links!) Before you know it, you may become a mushroom farmer.
Please take care to not release more nonnative oyster spores into the wild. Unfortunately, nonnatives like the invasive golden oyster are displacing native oyster mushrooms. The decline of elm is putting some pressure on some species as well.
WARNINGS
And the Usual Cautions:
1) Most medicinal herbs, if edible, are meant to be eaten in moderation, even sparingly. Some require extra preparation. Tannins are toxic if consumed in excess. Before taking any new supplements, you should consult with a healthcare professional.
2) A vast amount of these herbs are diuretic. (See the Medicinal tags above to check if this featured herb is one of them!) Diuretics are generally safe, but they can be risky for people with other medical conditions or who take certain medications. Please consult your doctor if you have any health conditions.
3) People can be allergic or sensitive to nearly any plant; try new herbs one at a time at your own risk. For instance, saponins commonly cause stomach upset.
4) For serious medicinal use, I must recommend receiving a diagnosis and working with a reputed health care provider. I generally do not post specific treatments and dosages because I think that is best between you and your health care provider, and ideally monitored.
5) Anyone pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs should talk to a health care professional before adding new food items to their diet.
6) Many plants have look-a-likes, and sometimes they are poisonous.
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RESOURCES
Stalking The Wild Asparagus (Field Guide Edition).
The Scout’s Guide to Wild Edibles: Learn How To Forage, Prepare & Eat 40 Wild Foods
Eating Wild in Eastern Canada: A Guide to Foraging the Forests, Fields, and Shorelines
The Forager’s Calendar: A Seasonal Guide to Nature’s Wild Harvests
Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms
North American Mushrooms: A Field Guide to Edible and Inedible Fungi
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