Chicken-of-the-Woods

A Jeroboam of gratitude to Pam for spotting and documenting this sensational Chicken-of-the-Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) specimen this morning.

Glen: Dinner?

Pam: They are called “chicken of the woods” and edible but I’ll pass.

Geo: The good news is that they are beautiful. And delicious! But the bad news is that they are an indication that the tree is dying… Can you take a photograph with larger frame/perspective to show me which tree that is? Looks like it might be the black cherry…

As it turns out, I guessed the right tree, a mature Wild Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) tree overlooking the lawn and lake that has been in decline for several years. Branches and limbs have been dying back, and each season expands visible signs of rot in the trunk. So the accuracy of my guess was bittersweet. It looks likely this tree’s days are numbered. 

But let’s not dwell on matters moribund. Let’s celebrate these vibrant Chicken-of-the-Woods mushrooms. First, I’d best offer you a bit better introduction to this yellow-orange “fungus-amongus”.

What is Chicken-of-the-Woods?

Laetiporus sulphureus is a species of bracket fungus (fungi that grow on trees) found in Europe and North America. Its common names are sulphur polypore, sulphur shelf, and chicken-of-the-woods. Its fruit bodies grow as striking golden-yellow shelf-like structures on tree trunks and branches. Old fruitbodies fade to pale beige or pale grey. The undersurface of the fruit body is made up of tubelike pores rather than gills.

Laetiporus sulphureus is a saprophyte and occasionally a weak parasite, causing brown cubical rot in the heartwood of trees on which it grows. Unlike many bracket fungi, it is edible when young, although adverse reactions have been reported. (Source: Wikipedia)

There you have it, chicken-of-the-woods is both beautiful and edible when in its colorful prime. But I, like Pam, am hesitant. I actually love cooking and eating mushrooms of all sorts, but I’m a wary forager. I don’t feel comfortable and confident with my knowledge of mushrooms, so I err on the side of caution. But I have enjoyed this delicacies when prepared by others, and I look forward to doing so again when my wellbeing doesn’t depend upon becoming an expert mycologist.

With their bright orange color and meaty texture, chicken of the woods mushrooms are one of the most exciting edible mushrooms out there, and if you catch them at the right time they can be some of the best mushrooms you’ll ever eat. They’re a perfect wild mushroom for beginners, and something to look forward to every year.

[…]

Famous as the mushroom that tastes like chicken, they’re a great mushroom meat substitute in many dishes, making them perfect for using in vegetarian and vegan mushroom recipes. Some people like to treat them like crab or lobster. (Source: Forager Chef)

If you’re interested in learning how to harvest and prepare chicken-of-the-woods, be sure to check out Alan Bergo’s deep dive into “The Laetiporus”. Enjoy!