Oyster mushrooms, a native species of mushroom, are very popular. Both the cultivated and the wild forms are characterized by a strong taste and a comparativeto other types of fungifirm meat. That's why the all-rounders can be prepared in a variety of ways and can develop their full flavor boiled, fried, grilled and even baked. They are not only delicious, but also healthy. In the article we first take a closer look at the ingredients in the mushrooms, then we explain how long they last and how you can clean and store them. We also give useful tips on how to prepare oyster mushrooms and offer you numerous recipes.
Preparing oyster mushrooms: Why are they actually so healthy?
Oyster mushrooms are widespread in Europe and North Americacommon type of fungus. The wild forms are mainly found in forest areas. They grow on deciduous tree stumps and can be recognized by their specific hat with rolled edges. Their flesh color varies from snow white to brown. Heavy metals are deposited in wild mushrooms, which is why they should not be consumed raw and cooked in small quantities. Around 180 g per week is considered safe. In stores you can mainly find the cultivated forms, i.e. cultivated edible mushrooms. You can safely eat these raw and in large quantities.
Oyster mushrooms ingredients: The edible mushrooms contain many vitamins and minerals
Oyster mushrooms are considered very healthy because they containimportant vitamins, minerals and polysaccharides. They are also rich in protein. We summarize the most important oyster mushroom nutrients for you:
- Oyster mushrooms vitamins: Oyster mushrooms are particularly rich in group B vitamins. The vitamin B3 content alone is impressive, as consuming 100 g of cultivated mushrooms can cover half of an adult's daily requirements. 100 g of oyster mushrooms contain 0.19 mg of vitamin B1, 0.29 mg of vitamin B2 and 0.09 mg of vitamin B6. They promote the development of muscle and nerve cells. The folic acid content is 50 mg and is sufficient to promote memory and concentration. There is also a fairly high vitamin C content: 100 g of oyster mushrooms provide around 600 mg of vitamin C.
- Do oyster mushrooms contain vitamin D?100 g of oyster mushrooms contain 0.1 mg of vitamin D. This only covers a fraction of the daily requirement (20 mg) of an adult.
- Oyster mushrooms also contain the followingminerals: Potassium, which regulates the water-electrolyte balance in our body and ensures energy production in the cells. They are also rich in phosphorus. The mineral plays a crucial role in building bones and teeth.
- Oyster mushroom protein: Both the wild and cultivated forms contain valuable protein. That's why eating small amounts of mushrooms fills you up.
- The iodine content10 mg is considered rather low and cannot cover the daily requirement of an adult.
- DieOyster mushrooms nutritional valuesare as follows per 100 g: proteins 4.4 g and carbohydrates 0 g. The mushrooms are practically fat-free and are also considered figure-friendly with an energy value of 35 calories per 100 g.
- Austernpilze Hisstamingehalt: Like many other types of mushrooms, oyster mushrooms generally do not contain histamine, but they are highly perishable. Even if stored correctly, histamine can form after a short time, both in raw mushrooms and in mushroom dishes. Allergy sufferers andPatients with histamine intoleranceYou should therefore only eat mushroom dishes after consulting your family doctor. Even then, the mushrooms should never be eaten raw and should always be eaten immediately after preparation.
- Oyster mushrooms effect:The oyster mushroom is said to have antioxidant, immune-boosting and probiotic properties. In naturopathy, the mushroom is touted as a natural cholesterol-lowering agent. The reason for this is the ingredient lovastatin, whose cholesterol-lowering effect has been scientifically proven.
When are oyster mushrooms in season?
The wild forms are mainly found in forest areas, on deciduous tree stumps. They are in season in spring and fall and sprout after intense rainfall. A walk in the forest could therefore be worthwhile for mushroom pickers in mid-May and again in September/October. The cultivated forms are independent of the season and are available commercially all year round.
What do fresh oyster mushrooms look like and how long do they last?
How long oyster mushrooms last depends on whether they are fresh and how they are stored. Fresh mushrooms can be quickly identified by several characteristics. The raw mushrooms have no smell, their cap is shell-shaped and white to light beige in color. As a rule, young specimens are darker and older specimens are lighter. A white down on the hat is considered to be harmless to health. Most people confuse it with mold. In fact, these are harmless spores.
Oyster mushrooms taste: are they suitable as a meat substitute?
Cooked oyster mushrooms are very similar in taste to veal. Therefore they are used in vegetarian andvegan cuisineused as a meat substitute.
Cleaning oyster mushrooms: just rub them with kitchen paper or wash them?
For a long time it was believed that oyster mushrooms should not be rinsed, otherwise they would become saturated with water and lose their taste. Nowadays, however, many experts have a different opinion. Since both wild and cultivated mushrooms have a dirty surface, it is not sufficient for hygienic reasons to rub off the dirt with kitchen paper. Mushrooms can absorb water because, unlike fruits and vegetables, they have a porous surface. However, there is very little water that evaporates during cooking. Whether the mushrooms will lose their flavor during preparation depends more on how they are prepared.
Storing fresh oyster mushrooms: Store in the refrigerator for a maximum of 2-3 days!
The oyster mushrooms are checked and all specimens with spots, mold and an unpleasant smell are sorted out. You washed the remaining edible mushrooms thoroughly and drained them on kitchen paper. The rule of thumb is that you should process the mushrooms immediately after purchase and then consume them as quickly as possible. But this is not always possible and all too often we postpone the preparation until the next few days. Then you are probably asking yourself the question “How long do oyster mushrooms last?” Stored in the vegetable drawer in the refrigerator, fresh oyster mushrooms have a shelf life of a maximum of three days.
Freezing oyster mushrooms: How long do they last?
If you freeze the oyster mushrooms, they will last for 5-6 months. The exact shelf life depends on how fresh the mushrooms were when frozen. The fresher, the longer they last. Here's how you can freeze oyster mushrooms:
1. Clean the oyster mushrooms thoroughly with dry kitchen paper, then rinse briefly under running water and pat dry.
2. Cut off the stem ends and halve larger specimens.
3. Portion the mushrooms and divide them into several freezer bags. Seal the freezer bags and place them in the freezer.
Frozen oyster mushrooms can be defrosted quickly and easily. But then they become soft. That's why frozen oyster mushrooms are suitable for preparing sauces, soups or risotto. You should not reheat dishes that you have prepared with thawed edible mushrooms. That's why we advise you to portion the mushrooms when freezing and throw away any leftover food. Otherwise, microorganisms can develop in the mushrooms, which can lead to poisoning and digestive problems.
Drying oyster mushrooms: step-by-step instructions
If you're not a fan of frozen foods, you can dry your fresh oyster mushrooms. There are three variants: Experienced mushroom pickers dry them in the air or in a special dehydrator. If you don't know much about mushrooms and don't have a dehydrator, just dry them in the oven. We'll explain how it works.
1. Check the oyster mushrooms for mold as usual and discard any specimens with an unpleasant smell.
2. Wash the oyster mushrooms, pat dry and cut off the stems.
3. Quarter the edible mushrooms, line a baking tray with baking paper and spread the mushroom pieces on top.
4. Let the mushrooms dry for 5 hours in an oven preheated to 60 degrees. Open the oven door regularly to allow the steam to escape. Turn the mushrooms every 20 minutes.
5. The oyster mushrooms are completely dry when they break when bent.
6. The mushroomsstore airtight. Use the dried oyster mushrooms within 10 months. Simply soak a handful of mushrooms in lukewarm water. Then you can prepare the oyster mushrooms as usual.
Marinate oyster mushrooms in oil
If you need edible mushrooms for salads, you can pickle the fresh oyster mushrooms in oil. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to prepare pickled oyster mushrooms.
1. First clean the fresh mushrooms as usual, cut off the stems and cut them into pieces.
2. Then wash and rinse a disposable glass thoroughly. To be on the safe side, and if the mason jar allows it (see manufacturer's instructions), you can put it in the oven at 50 degrees for 30 minutes.
3. In the meantime, put water, white wine vinegar, salt and finely chopped garlic in a deep saucepan made of acid-proof material. Bring the water to the boil, season with pepper and simmer the stock over low heat for 10 minutes. Then add the oyster mushrooms and simmer, covered, for 8 minutes until the mushrooms are cooked through.
4. Remove the mushrooms from the pot and season with spices of your choice. Pour into the sterilized mason jar.
5. In the meantime, heat olive oil in a deep pan to 80 degrees Celsius. Then gradually, very slowly and stirring constantly, pour the olive oil over the mushrooms. It is important that no air bubbles form.
6. When all the mushrooms are covered with the olive oil, you can seal the disposable jar airtight and leave it in a cool place for 14 days. Then the pickled mushrooms are ready and can be used in the next 5 months.
Preparing oyster mushrooms: an overview of the different preparation techniques
When it comes to preparing oyster mushrooms, they are considered true all-rounders. We will give you an overview of the different variants and explain how you can prepare the mushrooms. We'll start with a recipe for marinated oyster mushrooms.
Marinate oyster mushrooms
Marinated oyster mushrooms are a great filling appetizer on hot summer days. Here are the necessary ingredients at a glance:
- 400 g Austernpilze
- 3 small cloves of garlic
- 4 THE Balsamessig
- 1 TL Honig
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 pinch of parsley, finely chopped
- 3 tbsp olive oil
Prepare marinated oyster mushrooms: Peel and press the garlic cloves. Place the balsamic vinegar and honey in a small bowl and mix well. Add the garlic and season the marinade with salt and pepper. Rinse the oyster mushrooms under running water and pat dry. Heat the olive oil in a wide pan and place the oyster mushrooms flat in it. Remove the mushrooms from the heat and season with salt and pepper and season with parsley. Spread the marinade over it and let the marinated mushrooms sit covered for half an hour.
Grill oyster mushrooms
When prepared correctly, grilled oyster mushrooms taste simply delicious. We will explain to you what you should pay attention to when preparing it. Here are the necessary ingredients for vegan oyster mushroom skewers:
- 600 g Austernpilze
- 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and pressed
- 4 tbsp soy sauce
- 10 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 teaspoon thyme, fresh and finely chopped
- 4 tbsp vegetable cream
- Salt
Preparation: Clean the oyster mushrooms and cut them into bite-sized pieces so that you can put them on the skewers later. For the vegetable cream, peel 1 carrot, 50 g young leek, 1 red pepper and 1 potato, chop roughly, sprinkle with lemon juice and cook. Puree everything and let it cool. Then mix the pressed garlic cloves, salt, soy sauce and 2 tablespoons of vegetable cream until smooth. Place the mushrooms on skewers and brush with the marinade. Let the mushrooms marinate for thirty minutes and then grill for 5 minutes.
Frying oyster mushrooms: What you should keep in mind
If you want to fry oyster mushrooms, there are three rules you should follow.
1. Rinse the mushrooms with water.
2. Choose a pan that is as wide as possible so that the mushrooms can lie flat in it. They should not be on top of each other.
3. Before frying the mushrooms, heat the cooking oil strongly. Otherwise you will quickly lose liquid and then boil in the water.
4. Remove the mushrooms from the heat and only then season them.
How long to cook oyster mushrooms?
Do you want to make a sauce or soup with oyster mushrooms? In this case, you should first cook the oyster mushrooms. But for how long? Wild mushrooms often contain harmful germs that can only be killed at high temperatures. That's why you should let them cook for at least 20 minutes so that they become digestible. Cultivated mushrooms take 15 minutes. You should first soak dried mushrooms in water for an hour.
Baked oyster mushrooms
Here comes a recipe for baked oyster mushrooms. First we list the necessary ingredients for you:
- 700 g Austernpilze
- 10 tbsp breadcrumbs
- 2 small garlic cloves, pressed
- 8 tbsp cooking oil (for example rapeseed oil)
- 2 medium eggs
- 200 ml cold beer
For the sauce:
- 100 ml Mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 tsp capers
- Pfeffer
- 1 pinch of parsley, finely chopped
- 1 bunch of young onions, chopped small
- Salt
Preparation: First mix all the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl. Chill the sauce overnight. The next morning, clean the mushrooms and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Whisk the eggs in a large bowl, add the beer and the pressed garlic cloves, season with salt and mix everything well. In another bowl, add the breadcrumbs. Meanwhile, heat the cooking oil in a large flat pan. Be careful, because the oil must not get too hot! First put the mushroom pieces in the egg mixture and turn them, then roll them in the breadcrumbs. Carefully place the oyster mushrooms in the pan and fry until golden brown. Alternatively: Grease a baking tray and spread the oyster mushrooms on it. Then bake the mushrooms until golden brown.
Preparing oyster mushrooms: recipe ideas for every taste
Oyster mushrooms can be prepared in many ways. As proof, we offer you numerous recipe ideas below. Use the mushrooms as a substitute for minced meat, surprise your friends with a low-carb recipe and treat the family to Italian delicacies. We'll tell you how you can make different sauces with the mushrooms and whether oyster mushrooms taste good with fish.
Oyster mushrooms in sauce: two recipe ideas
Oyster mushrooms are a popular ingredient in various sauces. We offer you three recipes for delicious sauces. The first idea is for tomato sauce with oyster mushrooms. You need the following ingredients:
- 150 g Austernpilze
- 250 g tomatoes, peeled and pureed
- 1/2 onion, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons garlic, finely chopped or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Spices such as cayenne pepper and paprika powder as well as oregano and basil
- 1 tbsp sugar
- Cooking oil (for example rapeseed oil)
Preparation: First heat the cooking oil in a wide pan and fry the onion, garlic and oyster mushrooms in it. Then put the vegetables and mushrooms in a deep pot and add the tomatoes. Mix everything well and bring to a boil over medium heat. Then reduce the heat and simmer the sauce for half an hour until the liquid evaporates. After 25 minutes, season the sauce with herbs and season with salt and sugar. This tomato sauce is served with pasta.
The second recipe is for oyster mushroom Thai curry sauce. You need the following ingredients:
- Curry paste, rotten
- 250 ml coconut milk
- 5 tsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp peanut butter
- Salt to taste
- 200 g Austernpilze
- cooking oil
First fry the oyster mushrooms in heated cooking oil and then let them cool. In another pan, mix the curry paste and brown sugar and fry briefly. Then add the coconut milk and simmer the sauce over low heat for about 10 minutes. The sauce for chicken and rice noodles orServe soba noodles.
Recipe for vegan oyster mushroom wings
Buffalo wings are very popular in the USA. The spicy grilled chicken wings are an absolute party hit and vegans are therefore looking for alternatives. We offer you an idea on how you can prepare oyster mushroom wings vegan. In terms of taste, they are in no way inferior to the classic. Here are the necessary ingredients:
- 400 g Austernpilze
- Cooking oil (rapeseed oil or sunflower oil)
- 180 ml of Buffalo sauce
- 130 g flour plus an additional 190 g
- 300 ml vegetable broth
- 60 g Joghurt, vegan
- Pepper and salt to taste
- 1 tbsp onion, chopped finely
- Garlic clove, pressed
- 1/2 tsp mustard
Preparation: Clean the mushrooms and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Put the 130 g flour, the vegetable broth and the vegan yoghurt in a bowl and mix well. Then roll the mushroom pieces in the marinade and fry them in heated cooking oil for 2-3 minutes. Line a baking tray with baking paper and spread the mushrooms on it. Drizzle with the Buffalo sauce. Bake in an oven preheated to 220 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. Serve with fresh vegetables and dips of your choice.
Oyster mushrooms breaded and prepared vegan
Did you already know that you can also prepare a breading vegan? Simply mix vegan cooking cream with flour until the consistency resembles beaten egg. Then add a little more starch and season the breading to your own taste. Clean and rinse the oyster mushrooms, then cut them into bite-sized pieces. Dip the mushroom pieces in the breading first. Then roll them in flour and fry them in cooking oil.
Vegan oyster mushrooms with lentils and leeks
A warm salad is particularly popular in autumn. We offer you a recipe for vegan oyster mushrooms with lentils and leeks. You need the following ingredients:
- 200 g root lentils
- 150 g Austernpilze
- 1 small onion
- 1 bunch of chives
- vegetable broth
- 2 carrots
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- Chili powder
- Spices such as pepper, basil and oregano
- cooking oil
- Endive lettuce leaves, picked
Preparation: Cook the lentils in the vegetable broth in the evening, drain and then refrigerate overnight. The next morning, heat cooking oil in a pan. Chop the onion and carrots into small pieces and sauté them in them. Clean and wash the mushrooms, pat dry and cut into pieces. Then add the oyster mushrooms to the pan with the onions and carrots and fry for several minutes. At the end, add the drained lentils, season the salad and let it cool. Serve with torn endive leaves.
Oyster mushrooms with egg: prepare an omelet
An omelette with mushrooms and cooked ham is one of the absolute classics. But to make it taste really good, you should fry the oyster mushrooms beforehand. Only then can you prepare your omelet with any seasonal vegetables and spices you like.
Oyster mushrooms and fish: recipe idea with salmon
The combination of oyster mushrooms and fish turns out to be surprisingly tasty. Oyster mushrooms taste particularly good with salmon. The oyster mushrooms are first briefly sautéed, then placed in a baking dish with the salmon fillet and poured over with a cream sauce. Spices such as salt, pepper and nutmeg give the dish an exotic touch. The dish is baked at 180 degrees Celsius for about 20 minutes and with aSide dish of potatoesserved.
Low carb recipe for oyster mushrooms with minced meat in cream sauce
Are you following a low carb diet and looking for new, exciting recipes? Then our next suggestion is just for you! We offer you a delicious low carb recipe for oyster mushrooms with minced meat in cream sauce. Here are the necessary ingredients at a glance:
- 600 g Austernpilze
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 8 pcs. sun-dried tomatoes
- 350 ml cream or crème fraîche
- 1/4 cup young leek, chopped small
- meat broth
For the meatballs:
- 600 g minced meat of your choice
- 4 tbsp breadcrumbs
- 1 pinch of paprika powder
- 4 pinches of pepper, freshly ground
- Mustard
- a big egg
- 1/4 handful of onion, finely chopped
Preparation: Add the egg and the finely chopped onion to the minced meat and mix everything well. Season, add the mustard and knead the whole thing well again. Then portion the meat mixture and form the meatballs with a spoon. Place the breadcrumbs in a bowl and coat the meatballs in them. Heat cooking oil in a deep pan and fry the meatballs on all sides for 1-2 minutes. Then reduce the heat and continue frying the meatballs until they are cooked through.
In the meantime, heat cooking oil in a wide pan, fry the young leeks until translucent and then add the cleaned and cut into bite-sized mushrooms and fry for 2 minutes. Let the sauce simmer for 1-2 minutes. Then stir in the cream or crème fraîche and then pour in the meat stock. Mix everything well and add the now finished meatballs to the pan. Then add the sun-dried tomatoes and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. At the end, season the dish and remove it from the heat.
Preparing oyster mushrooms: Italian recipe ideas
Italians love mushrooms and add them to many dishes. You can serve oyster mushrooms with pasta, tagliatelle or risotto. The basic recipe is always the same:
- 350 g pasta, tagliatelle or rice for risotto
- 250 g Austernpilze
- Salt and pepper, freshly ground
- Basil
- cooking oil
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 200 ml cream (if desired)
Preparation: Prepare the rice, tagliatelle or pasta according to the manufacturer's instructions. In the meantime, clean the oyster mushrooms and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Heat cooking oil in a wide pan and fry the mushrooms in it. Season them and stir in the cream at the end. Garnish the pasta or risotto with the sauce and sprinkle the dish with fresh basil.
Prepare pizza with oyster mushrooms and garnish with cheese
In autumn, pizza with oyster mushrooms and cheese is a real delicacy for Italians. You knead the dough yourself and instead of tomato juice, spread the pizza with homemade salsa sauce (chop 2 peeled tomatoes, 1 pepper, 1 small onion and 1 chili pepper and put them in a pot. Drizzle the vegetables with lemon juice, add sugar and salt and set on low Heat and simmer for 2 hours, stirring constantly.). The pizza is then garnished with Emmental or Gouda. The oyster mushrooms are only cleaned and halved and then distributed raw on the pizza. The pizza is then baked in the oven for 12 minutes at at least 220 degrees Celsius.
Prepare quiche with oyster mushrooms and bacon
Quiche is the name of the French specialty that has won the hearts of local chefs. We offer you a hearty recipe with mushrooms and bacon in puff pastry. Here are the necessary ingredients:
- 300g puff pastry
- 200 g Austernpilze
- 100 g Speck
- 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 large chestnuts, grated
- 3 small eggs
- 150 ml cooking cream
- 2-3 tbsp cooking oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- To garnish: parsley, finely chopped or basil, finely chopped
Preparation: Unless the manufacturer specifies otherwise, let the puff pastry thaw first. Grease a baking tin and spread the dough on it, then put it in the oven preheated to 200 degrees Celsius and bake for 12 minutes. In the meantime, add the cooking oil to a wide pan and heat it up.
Prepare the oyster mushrooms: Wash the oyster mushrooms under running water, pat dry and add them to the pan along with the onion and chestnuts and fry over high heat for 2-3 minutes. Reduce the heat and add the cooking cream and bacon, stir and simmer for 1 minute. Then remove the mushrooms from the heat and let them cool. Then whisk the eggs and add them to the cooled mushroom mixture. Season with salt and pepper and spread over the puff pastry. Bake in a preheated oven at 200 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes.
Preparing oyster mushrooms: Are oyster mushrooms and alcohol compatible?
There are several species of mushrooms that do not mix well with alcohol. The combination can cause diarrhea and vomiting. In individual cases, the combination of oyster mushrooms and alcohol can also lead to heart palpitations.
