John Miller
Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) are one of the most commonly cultivated and consumed mushrooms in the world. They are native to East Asian countries like Japan and China and have been cultivated for centuries. They are highly sought after for their medicinal properties and savoury umami flavour. Shiitake mushrooms are typically brown with umbrella-shaped caps and white gills that turn light brown as they mature. They are often found growing on hardwood logs, particularly oak, sweetgum, and sugar maple. When foraging for shiitake mushrooms, it is important to pay attention to their distinctive characteristics, such as their white spore print, and the absence of a ring around the stem.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cap | Light to dark brown, often with white specs; oyster or fan-shaped, usually 2-10 inches across, often in shelf-like formation, smooth |
| Gills | White to very light brown; firm; attached to and run directly down the stem (decurrent) |
| Stem | White to very light brown, tough; may be stubby and off-center |
| Spore print | White to lilac grey; can be made on a white or black sheet of paper |
| Growing habitat | Found growing from hardwood logs, especially beech and poplar, and very occasionally conifers; will not be found growing from wild logs in the forest |
| Season | Summer and fall |
| Scent | Slight anise/licorice |
| Taste | Rich, woodsy flavor that intensifies when cooked, lending a savory umami flavor |
| Texture | Dense and meaty |
| Mycelium | White, turns bumpy or “popcorned” and brown in maturity |
| Fruiting | Takes at least 12 months of colonization before producing mushrooms; can be stimulated to fruit every 8 weeks, up to 3 times per year |
| Harvesting | Cut the stem as close to the wood as possible, without damaging the wood; can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks |
| Medicinal qualities | Acts as an immune system booster and liver and kidney tonic; high concentrations of eritadenine may help reduce cholesterol levels |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Spore print: white, not brown
Spore prints are an important way to identify mushrooms. To make a spore print, cut off the stem of a mushroom and place the cap, gills down, on a piece of paper. Cover it with a bowl to keep it moist and leave it overnight.
Shiitake mushrooms will produce a white spore print. The spores are white and the gills are whitish or cream-coloured, so the print will show up better on black paper. If you are using white paper, you may need to wait for the paper to dry before you can see the print. The print will be less sharp and more wavy than that of a portobello mushroom, due to the shape of shiitake gills.
It is important to distinguish shiitake mushrooms from similar-looking varieties such as Galerina marginata, which can be poisonous. Galerina mushrooms will always produce a rusty brown spore print. Gill colour is not a reliable substitute for a spore print, because young Galerina gills can look pale and will darken with age. Additionally, Galerina usually has a ring around the stem, which may degrade as the mushroom ages, whereas shiitake mushrooms never have a ring.
Shiitake mushrooms are native to the temperate mountains of Asia, where they grow on the shii tree (Castanopsis cuspidata), a member of the oak/chestnut/beech family. They have been cultivated in Japan for hundreds of years and are now one of the most commonly cultivated and consumed mushrooms in the world. They are prized for their savoury flavour and meaty texture, as well as their nutritional and medicinal properties.
Best Places to Dry Mushrooms at Home
You may want to see also
Cap: light to dark brown, often with white spots
The caps of shiitake mushrooms are typically light to dark brown in colour, and they often feature distinctive white spots. These spots are a tell-tale sign of the mushroom's maturity and edibility. A cap fully opened with spots indicates a mature mushroom ready for consumption.
The colour of the cap can vary from a light tan to a deep, rich brown, and the surface is usually smooth and sometimes slightly shiny. The caps are often curved and fan-shaped, with an inrolled margin. They can grow up to 15 cm in diameter, but are typically smaller, ranging from 5 to 10 cm.
The white spots on the cap are a unique characteristic of shiitake mushrooms. These spots are actually a form of natural bruising, caused by the mushroom's cells breaking down and releasing an enzyme that turns them white. This process is completely natural and does not affect the edibility or flavour of the mushroom. In fact, it is an indication of maturity and readiness for harvest.
When identifying shiitake mushrooms, it is important to look for these colour and spotting characteristics. While some shiitake mushrooms may have darker or lighter caps, the presence of white spots is a strong indicator of this variety. Additionally, the shape, size, and smooth texture of the cap can help distinguish shiitake mushrooms from other similar-looking varieties.
Bob Marley's Psychedelic Journey: Exploring Mushroom Use
You may want to see also
Gills: white to light brown
When identifying a shiitake mushroom, it is important to pay attention to the gills. The gills of shiitake mushrooms are whitish, cream-coloured, or white to very light brown. They have serrated edges and are attached to and run directly down the stem (decurrent).
The gills of young shiitake mushrooms can be used to distinguish them from other similar mushrooms, such as Galerina, which can have gills that appear pale but will darken with age. A spore print can also be made to differentiate between the two: place the cap, gills down, on white paper and cover it with a bowl to keep it moist. A shiitake mushroom will produce a white spore print, while Galerina will produce a brown spore print.
When purchasing shiitake mushrooms, look for those with firm gills and a fresh, smooth appearance. The mushrooms should be dry but not dried out and appear plump.
To clean shiitake mushrooms, brush off any debris with your fingers or a damp paper towel, or rinse them briefly under running water and pat them dry with a paper towel.
Mushroom Magic: Grams for Portion Sizing
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Stem: white to light brown, sometimes absent
When identifying shiitake mushrooms, it's important to pay close attention to the stem, which can provide key visual cues. The stem of a shiitake mushroom is typically white to light brown in color. However, it's worth noting that the stem can sometimes be absent or very short, especially in mature mushrooms. This is a unique characteristic of shiitake mushrooms, setting them apart from other varieties.
The color of the stem is an important distinguishing feature. A white or light brown stem is a good initial indicator that you may be dealing with a shiitake mushroom. However, it's important to remember that the color can vary, and sometimes the stem may even take on a darker hue, especially if the mushroom is more mature or has been exposed to sunlight.
The presence or absence of the stem is another critical factor in identification. Shiitake mushrooms are known for sometimes having a very short or absent stem, which is quite unusual compared to other mushroom varieties. If you come across a mushroom with a distinctive cap but no visible stem, it could very well be a shiitake. However, don't discount mushrooms with a visible stem; the stem can vary in length, and sometimes it may be quite long and slender.
The texture of the stem can also provide clues. Shiitake mushroom stems are typically firm and fleshy, similar to the texture of the cap. They should feel solid and not easily break or crumble when handled. However, older mushrooms may have a slightly drier and more brittle stem, so this is not a definitive indicator.
Overall, when examining mushrooms for identification as shiitake, the stem color, presence, length, and texture can all provide important visual clues. Remember that a white to light brown stem, whether short or absent, is a good initial indicator, but always look at other characteristics as well to make a confident identification.
Oyster Mushrooms: Kosher or Not?
You may want to see also
Habitat: only grows on hardwood logs
Shiitake mushrooms are one of the easiest mushrooms to grow for beginners. They grow well on hardwood logs, preferably oak, cut from living, healthy trees. The best time to cut the trees is after the leaves fall in autumn and before the leaf buds open in spring. This is when the most sap is in the logs. If this time frame is not possible, any time in winter is the second-best choice. Summer logs are not recommended as they reduce production.
After cutting, the logs should be drilled with holes spaced 4-5 inches apart around the bark-covered surface. The holes are then filled with either plug or sawdust spawn and tapped in with a hammer. The spawn is inserted and the holes are sealed with melted wax. The logs should be inoculated within a few weeks of cutting to prevent the log from drying out or allowing competing fungi to contaminate.
After inoculation, the logs should be left outdoors in a shady place to incubate until they are ready to fruit. The logs should be watered twice a day and soaked in water for 12-24 hours. After the initial 8-10 months of colonisation, the mushrooms will fruit when the temperature window comes around. Each strain fruits twice a year. After harvesting, the logs can rest for 8-10 weeks and be re-soaked for a second time to produce another flush.
Mushroom Burgers: Healthy or Hype?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Shiitake mushrooms have a light to dark brown cap, often with white spots, and gills that are white to very light brown. The stem is also white to very light brown and can be tough. The gills are attached to and run directly down the stem. The mushroom has an umbrella-shaped cap and is 2-10 inches across.
The most reliable way to distinguish a shiitake from a Galerina is to make a spore print. Cut off the stem and place the cap, gills down, on a piece of white paper. Cover it with a bowl to keep it moist. A shiitake will produce a white spore print, while a Galerina will produce a brown spore print.
Shiitake mushrooms will only be found growing from hardwood logs that have been inoculated. They are native to a few countries in East Asia, most commonly in Japan and China, and grow on fallen trees during the spring and autumn.
