In this article, we’re going to cover what oyster mushrooms taste like along with a few tips you can follow to get the most out of them…
Let’s get started…
What Do Oyster Mushrooms Taste Like?
Don’t be concerned – oyster mushrooms get their name from their resemblance to shellfish, not because they taste like oysters.
These mushrooms have a very mild flavor that, sometimes, tastes like button mushrooms when enjoyed raw.
However, when you cook oyster mushrooms you can enjoy a much wider range of delicious flavors. When cooked at very high heat they tend to be earthy, aromatic, a bit sweet, and, sometimes, they have a hint of an anise flavor.
To enjoy a more delicate flavor, try cooking your oyster mushrooms in a gentle sauté, which helps to bring out a briny flavor that can be outstanding.
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Oyster Mushroom Texture
There are a few different varieties of oyster mushrooms, so the texture of your mushroom may vary slightly.
Tannish brown tree oysters are very common in grocery stores and have a velvety soft texture that blends well in most fish and chicken dishes. Don’t cook them more than four minutes.
The name “Shimeji” refers to close to 20 different types of oyster mushrooms. They have a firmer texture and are perfect if you want to pair your mushrooms with seafood.
King Trumpet mushrooms are in the same family as oyster mushrooms and are much denser and larger. They are great to use in stews or to grill, thanks to their texture.
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What’s the Best Way to Eat Oyster Mushrooms?
Oyster mushrooms are incredibly versatile and work well in many different recipes, making them a great mushroom to have on hand.
In the above video you can see how easily you can use rich and meaty oyster mushrooms to make a delicious vegan barbeque slider that is a perfect food for a party.
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Oyster mushrooms are also perfect for use in sushi, if you want something a little lighter. They taste great when sautéed with spices and maple syrup before being rolled.
Finally, in this video you can see how oyster mushrooms are breaded with a flax egg and panko breadcrumbs to make a delicious baked mushroom cake.
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How Do You Cut Oyster Mushrooms?
Oyster mushrooms are incredibly easy to clean and to cut, which means that you can start cooking them in your recipes right away. It’s important when you are going to cut and prepare oyster mushrooms that you use a very sharp knife that has a thin tip so that you can easily separate them from each other and from the stem.
Follow these steps to quickly cut your oyster mushrooms:
- Remove any mushrooms from the group that look damaged
- Carefully use a knife’s tip to cut away the cap from the firm central stem
- Use the stem for stock or discard
- Clean dirt from the caps, if necessary
To store oyster mushrooms (or any mushroom varieties), check out this guide to freezing mushrooms.
Wrap up
Oyster mushrooms are one of the most versatile mushrooms that you can buy in the store and are great to have on hand.
Because they can be used both in low-heat applications and can also withstand high-heat cooking, oyster mushrooms are perfect for use in a wide variety of dishes and will bring their interesting flavor and great texture to your meals.
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Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
