Chicken of the Woods

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Chicken of the Woods

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Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2573
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 14 1:52 am Post subject: Chicken of the Woods
It has been very dry and rather cool for middle of August. Spotted this neon glow whilst driving down the road today. Absolutely prime chicken of the woods, Laetiporus frondosa Collected some. Was advised not to wait on the others - with this dry weather they might not grow much, just dry out. I'm thinking of pickling a pint or two - any advice?

Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2573
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 14 2:51 am Post subject:
My error. I'm half right / half wrong, confusing chickens and hens. What I found today is Laetiporus sulphureus Hen of the woods is Grifola frondosa

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46239
Location: yes

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 14 7:33 am Post subject:

Edibility
Laetiporus sulphureus prepared dish

Because of the taste, the mushroom has been called chicken polypore and chicken-of-the-woods. Many people think that the mushroom tastes like crab or lobster. The authors of Mushrooms in Color said that the mushroom tastes good sauteed in butter or prepared in a cream sauce served on toast or rice.[8] It is highly regarded in Germany and North America.[9] The mushroom is a good substitute for chicken.

Young specimens are edible if a large clear watery liquid comes out of it.[5] The mushroom should not be eaten raw.[1] Deer like to eat the mushroom.[10]
Allergic effects

Some people have had gastrointestinal upset after eating this mushroom.,[8] and it should not be consumed raw.

Studies have shown severe adverse reactions, including vomiting and fever, in about 10% of the population, but this is now thought to be a result of confusion with morphologically identical species such as Laetiporus huroniensis which grows on hemlock trees, and L. gilbertsonii which grows on Eucalyptus.[11]
Medicinal

The mushroom produces the Laetiporus sulphureus lectin (LSL) which has haemolytic and haemagglutination activities. Haemolytic lectins are sugar-binding proteins that lyse and agglutinate cells. The haemagglutination and haemolytic activity are started by binding carbohydrates.[12]

and

Description

Like the sulphur shelf mushroom, G. frondosa is a perennial fungus that often grows in the same place for a number of years in succession. It occurs most prolifically in the northeastern regions of the United States, but has been found as far west as Idaho.

G. frondosa grows from an underground tuber-like structure known as a sclerotium, about the size of a potato. The fruiting body, occurring as large as 100 cm, is a cluster consisting of multiple grayish-brown caps which are often curled or spoon-shaped, with wavy margins and 2�7 cm broad. The undersurface of each cap bears approximately one to three pores per millimeter, with the tubes rarely deeper than 3 mm. The milky-white stipe (stalk) has a branchy structure and becomes tough as the mushroom matures.

In Japan, the Maitake can grow to more than 50 pounds (20 kilograms), earning this giant mushroom the title "King of Mushrooms". Maitake is one of the major culinary mushrooms used in Japan, the others being shiitake, shimeji and enoki. They are used in a wide variety of dishes, often being a key ingredient in nabemono or cooked in foil with butter.
Use in traditional Eastern medicine

The sclerotia from which hen of the woods arises have been used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine to enhance the immune system. Researchers have also indicated that whole maitake has the ability to regulate blood pressure, glucose, insulin, and both serum and liver lipids, such as cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids, and may also be useful for weight loss.[citation needed]

Maitake is rich in minerals (such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium), various vitamins (B2, D2 and niacin), fibers and amino acids. One active constituent in Maitake for enhancing the immune activity was identified in the late 1980s as a protein-bound beta-glucan compound.

i have eaten both but always cooked ,with some folk cooking will not prevent allergic reactions so if it is a new one try a tiny bit (normal food testing procedures ie skin,lip,eat a bit ,have dinner)and see how you feel

as with a few shrooms different references use different names(old /new taxonomy)

Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2573
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 14 1:35 pm Post subject:

Thank you for the thorough descriptions, dpack. I've foraged and eaten both mushrooms, numerous times, and enjoyed them very much.

Have pickled mushrooms, just not chicken of the woods and was wondering if anyone here had done so.

I collected some yesterday, was going to let the others grow some more. But the advice seems to be take it while young and tender.

With older chicken of the woods I sautee the tender edges, braise the middle, and use the very firm base to make a mushroom flavored stock.

Will collect on my way off to the farmers market this morning.

Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2573
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 14 5:44 pm Post subject:
Well someone else got there ahead of my return visit this morning, and collected all of the remaining chicken of the wood mushrooms. C'est la vie.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 14 6:34 pm Post subject:
I like to use it in a Thai green curry.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46239
Location: yes

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 14 6:42 pm Post subject:

i never leave em for later on as ron usually gets em

ive not tried pickling cotw but i would think it might work very well with the younger ones/softer bits

when i pickle st george's ,boletus etc i salt them into the gills and then turn them top up on a rack overnight to dry them a bit then smoke them to dry them a bit more before pickling em in balsamic vinegar.i recon that would work well with cotw slices.

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