Oyster Mushrooms
Inventory, 5 lbs : 35.97
This item was last sold on : 04/22/24
Description/Taste
Oyster mushrooms are medium to large in size with caps averaging 5-25 centimeters in diameter and a very short or non-existent stem. The caps are broad and fan-like, ranging in color from dark gray, brown, tan, pink, to yellow, and have curled edges that become wavy and lobed with maturity. White gills extend from beneath the cap, and the flesh is white, meaty, and firm. Oyster mushrooms have a slightly chewy texture and are soft with a bittersweet aroma reminiscent of anise. When cooked, they have a mild and nutty, seafood-like flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Oyster mushrooms are available year-round, with a peak season in the late summer through fall.
Current Facts
Oyster mushroom is a general descriptor used to refer to three different species of fungi including Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus pulmonarius, and Pleurotus populinus, which all belong to the Pleurotaceae family. Oyster mushrooms get their name from an uncanny resemblance in appearance and taste to fresh-shucked oysters. Found growing on decaying wood, especially beech and aspen trees, Oyster mushrooms grow in stacked layers in a shelf-like formation and are found in many different temperate forests across the world. Oyster mushrooms are one of the most cultivated mushrooms in the world along with shiitake and button mushrooms and are extremely versatile in flavor melding with many different cuisines and culinary applications.
Nutritional Value
Oyster mushrooms contain vitamin B6 and D, fiber, potassium, and folate. They also contain an antioxidant called ergothioneine, which can help decrease inflammation in the body.
Applications
Oyster mushrooms are best suited for cooked applications such as frying, stir-fry, and braising, as up to ten percent of the population could have a slight allergic reaction to eating the fungus raw. They can be cooked and added to soups, chowders, sauces, egg dishes, tarts, pasta, lasagna, and pizza. They can also be fried for tempura, fried into vegan calamari, used as a substitute in mock-oyster Rockefeller, or stuffed into dumplings. Oyster mushrooms cook relatively quickly and are typically added at the end of the cooking process. They are popularly used in many Asian dishes in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese cuisine. They can also be dried for extended use and do not have to be rehydrated before using. Oyster mushrooms pair well with onions, shallots, green onions, garlic, ginger, potatoes, thyme, parsley, peas, green beans, eggplant, sherry, soy sauce, tofu, scallops, poultry, lemon, and spaghetti. They are extremely perishable and are recommended to be used immediately for optimum flavor and quality. They can also be stored in a paper bag in the refrigerator for a very short time.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Oyster mushrooms are one of the only few carnivorous mushrooms, feeding on bacteria and nematodes, which are small roundworms, to obtain nitrogen for growth. They also grow rapidly on decaying wood, contributing to a faster rate of decomposition which helps add additional minerals back into the ecosystem. With this ability, Oyster mushrooms are being studied as an alternative way to clean toxins from the environment. While further research needs to be completed before assessments can be made, scientists are hopeful these mushrooms can offer a safe and effective way to remove unwanted toxins from designated areas on a small scale.
Geography/History
Oyster mushrooms are native to Europe, North America, and Asia and have been growing wild since ancient times. They were first recorded and classified in 1775 by Dutch naturalist Nikolaus Joseph Freiherr Von Jacquin and were later reclassified in 1871 by German mycologist Paul Kummer to the classification we are currently familiar with. Oyster mushrooms were also commercially cultivated beginning in the 1940s, and today China is one of the largest exporters of cultivated Oyster mushrooms. Oyster mushrooms can be found at local markets and specialty grocers in Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
Wayfarer Bread | La Jolla CA | 805-709-0964 |
Poseidon on the Beach | Del Mar CA | 858-755-9345 |
Saiko Sushi-North Park | San Diego CA | 619-886-6656 |
The Santaluz Club Inc - Main Dining | San Diego CA | 858-759-3150 |
Juniper & Ivy | San Diego CA | 858-481-3666 |
Davanti Enoteca Little Italy | San Diego CA | 619-237-9606 |
Fish Guts | San Diego CA | 619-888-0081 |
Edgewater Grill | San Diego CA | 619-232-7581 |
Coco Maya by Miss Bs | San Diego CA | 858-245-3780 |
Orfila Vineyards & Winery | Oceanside CA | 760-738-6500 |
Del Mar Country Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-5500 x207 |
The Lion Share | San Diego CA | 619-564-6924 |
Duke's La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-454-1999 |
Nomad Donuts | San Diego CA | 619-431-5000 |
Tribute Pizza | San Diego CA | 858-220-0030 |
Relic Bageri LLC | San Diego CA | 619-335-6328 |
Lucky Bolt | San Diego CA | 662-832-3638 |
Qero | Encinitas CA | Chris 702-334-8845 |
Farmer and The Seahorse | San Diego CA | 619-302-3682 |
Catania La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-551-5105 |
Harbor Breakfast | San Diego CA | 619-888-6586 |
La Clochette Du Coin-Pacific Beach | San Diego CA | 619-402-7911 |
InterContinental Vistal Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-501-9400 |
Nick & G's Restaurant | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-771-1871 |
Vineyard Gourmet Catering | Temecula CA | 951-858-1585 |
Shore Rider | La Jolla CA | 858-412-5308 |
Bellamy's Restaurant | Escondido CA | 760-747-5000 |
Herb & Wood | San Diego CA | 520-205-1288 |
Inn at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-381-8289 |
The Bowl | San Diego CA | 619-813-5865 |
Secret Sister | San Diego CA | 619-281-0718 |
The Plot | Oceanside CA | 422-266-8200 |
The Guild Bar- Banquet | San Diego CA | 619-573-0289 |
Park Commons - ARE | San Diego CA | 619-295-3172 |
264 Fresco (Kitchen) | Carlsbad CA | 760-720-3737 |
Third Corner Encinitas | Encinitas CA | 619-417-9251 |
Word of Mouth Kitchen | San Diego CA | 858-705-3752 |
The Glen at Scripps Ranch | San Diego CA | 858-444-8500 |
Villa Capri Poway | Poway CA | 858-391-9400 |
Barbarella La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-454-7373 |
Cocina De Barrio | San Diego CA | 760-840-1129 |
Grass Skirt | San Diego CA | 858-412-5237 |
Happy Medium SD | San Diego CA | 509-869-2279 |
Georges at the Cove | San Diego CA | 858-454-4244 |
The Smoking Goat | San Diego CA | 858-232-4220 |
Reata Glen | Ladera Ranch CA | 949-545-2250 |
American Pizza Manufacturing | La Jolla CA | 858-246-6756 |
Mister A's | San Diego CA | 619-239-1377 |
Wolf In the Woods | San Diego CA | 619-851-7275 |
Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-6063 |
Parkhouse Eatery | San Diego CA | 619 295 7275 |
Paradisaea Restaurant | La Jolla CA | 732-915-6669 |
Crudo Cevicheria & Oyster Bar | San Diego CA | 619-313-9127 |
Barleymash | San Diego CA | 619-276-6700 x304 |
Prager Brothers Artisan Bread | Carlsbad CA | 760-445-9536 |
The Village | San Diego CA | 619-729-8515 |
Armonia LLC | San Diego CA | 619-724-7210 |
La Jolla Country Club | San Diego CA | 858-454-9601 |
Uprising Pizza | El Cajon CA | 619-928-3286 |
Smokin J's BBQ | San Diego CA | 703-314-1486 |
Herb & Sea | Encinitas CA | 858-587-6601 |
SIE Culinary Management | San Diego CA | 858-964-8677 |
Bar Ella | San Diego CA | 858-808-2286 |
Pamplemousse Grill | Solana Beach CA | 858-792-9090 |
Seneca | San Diego CA | 619-588-2411 |
Rancho Valencia | Del Mar CA | 858-756-1123 |
Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center | National City CA | 619-434-4281 |
Cocina de Barrio Encinitas | Encinitas CA | 760-840-1129 |
Lafayette Hotel - Quixote | San Diego CA | 619-296-2101 |
Mission Pacific | Oceanside CA | 760-450-7864 |
Bali Hai Restaurant | San Diego CA | 619-222-1181 |
US Grant Hotel Main | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
Carbon | San Diego CA | 702-423-3807 |
Stake Chophouse & Bar | Coronado CA | 619-522-0077 |
insideOUT | San Diego CA | 619-888-8623 |
Boujiemana | San Diego CA | 415-710-0510 |
Cocina de Barrio Point Loma | San Diego CA | 858-349-2313 |
Sushi Ota 2021 | San Diego CA | 858-270-5047 |
Kettner Exchange | San Diego CA | 909-915-9877 |
Ciccia Osteria | San Diego CA | 619-674-4069 |
Mille Fleurs | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-3085 |
Sheraton Carlsbad (7 Mile) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
Nobu | San Diego CA | 619-814-4124 |
The Seabird Resort | Oceanside CA | 951-704-9703 |
Tahona (Kitchen) | San Diego CA | 619-573-0289 |
Eddie V's La Jolla - EV# 8511 | La Jolla CA | 858-459-5500 |
The Shores | La Jolla CA | 858-459-8271 |
Kona Kai Resort and Marina | San Diego CA | 619-221-8000 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Oyster Mushrooms. One is easiest, three is harder.
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