How to Easily Find, Identify and Cook Your Hen of the Woods Mushrooms
If you’re used to looking for wild mushrooms in nature, wandering through the woods is often enough to discover clusters of Hen of the Woods mushrooms – as long as you know where to look. But how do you find them, and how can you actually identify these quirky fungi, making sure you’ve got the right ones and turning them into an actual culinary masterpiece? Below we will explore all that and more! Discovering Hen of the Woods One of the main things to remember is that you need to hunt for these fungi around oak trees – that’s their spot! Look for Hen of the Woods mushroom clusters in late summer to early fall. Here are a few quick identification tips to keep in mind: Think ruffled hen feathers, that’s the general appearance. Colors vary from pale to dark brown; look closely, since they can blend in with the surrounding fallen leaves. Check the underside – it’s all pores, no gills! These mushroom clusters can get pretty hefty, weighing in at several pounds. Lookalikes includ...