Oyster mushrooms, also known as Pleurotus ostreatus, are one of the most popular forms of cultivated mushrooms in the world. They are also known as tree oyster mushrooms and pearl oyster mushrooms. The fungi naturally grow on and near trees in temperate and subtropical woods all over the world, and they're also grown commercially in a number of nations. Oyster mushrooms are popular in many cuisines, but they are notably popular in Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cookery. They can be dried and are usually consumed cooked.
What Exactly Are Oyster Mushrooms?
Oyster mushrooms are well-known around the world for their delicate texture and mild, delicious flavour. The mushrooms have broad, thin, oyster- or fan-shaped caps that are white, grey, or brown in colour and have gills lining the bottom. The caps are sometimes frilly-edged and can be found in clusters of little mushrooms or as larger mushrooms on their own. Oyster mushrooms are more expensive than white button mushrooms but less expensive than rarer mushrooms such as morels, and they require little preparation because they can be eaten whole or diced. They're even utilised to build mycelium furniture and a variety of other items.
What Do Oyster Mushrooms Taste Like?
Oyster mushrooms have a mild, savoury anise flavour. They perform nicely in a variety of cuisines because their flavour is light and lacks the distinct earthiness of some mushroom kinds. When cooked, oyster mushrooms develop a soft, pleasant texture. Cooking methods such as frying, roasting, and grilling can keep the firmness of the mushrooms while braising and sautéing soften them.
How To Cook With Oyster Mushrooms?
Oyster mushrooms, like other mushrooms, operate nearly like sponges, soaking up any water that comes into touch with them. Even if you are cleaning them, do not leave them in water. Cultivated oyster mushrooms normally don't require much cleaning; merely wipe away any particles with a dry paper towel. On very filthy mushrooms, a moist paper towel can be used.
Mushrooms can be sautéed, stir-fried, braised, roasted, fried, or grilled after being cleaned. Use the mushrooms whole, diced, or simply torn into the desired size.
While oyster mushrooms can be eaten raw and look lovely in salads, they have a slightly metallic flavour when undercooked. Cooking brings out their delicate flavour and transforms their spongy texture into something quite velvety. For cooked foods, we prefer oyster mushrooms and button mushrooms for salads and other raw dishes.
Dried oyster mushrooms do not need to be soaked like other dried mushrooms; simply add them to the dish and they will absorb liquid straight away.
Storage Of Oyster Mushrooms
Water is the oyster mushrooms' worst enemy. Refrigerate them in a loose paper bag (not a plastic bag) for up to three days. They are delicate, and the longer they sit, the more they wilt and become dry and tough.
Dried mushrooms can be stored for up to a year in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Cooked mushrooms can be refrigerated for up to three days or frozen for up to three months. Because moisture degrades the delicate texture of raw mushrooms, we do not recommend freezing them.
