Obligatory Disclaimer: this is not a mushroom hunting guide. Do not eat any wild mushrooms that you are not 100% sure what they are. I am not responsible for anybodies mushroom poisoning except my own. :)
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| 25 lbs: collected 22 September 2010 in Altoona, WI |
Maitake
Ram's Head...
No matter what you call it, this is arguably one of the greatest mushrooms to ever be discovered.
I have been mushroom hunting with my dad since I was a little girl. These are one of my favorite, and they are not hard to find! They grow in clusters at the base of trees, usually Oaks. They often grow in the same place year after year.
And by the way, you can buy these at some grocery and natural food stores- I usually see them for no less than $12 per pound!
Mushroom stalking: We know where several grow around town and on our property and every fall we watch them go from a orange sized ball of fungus to a 10 lb beauty in a matter of days. Sometimes we check on them several times per day, and right when they have stopped growing in size, and just before they start to turn slimy and and overrun with bugs; we pluck them. Of course, we usually have permission first...usually. :)
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Also, I have seen mushroom "haters" eat and like this mushroom.
You know who you are.
Collecting and eating this mushroom is a lot of fun- I would highly encourage it. Maybe you even have on in your yard and never knew what it was!?
Not only does it taste good, it is also prized in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine as a medicinal mushroom. In fact, I have several different immune support supplements in my clinic that contain this species of mushroom- pretty cool.
How to Prepare:
We spray ours down with the hose when we get it home. Pull it apart, taking care to wipe all the little balls of dirt from the nooks and crannies. Watch out for bugs- there are always some hiding in there. Break into small pieces and cook as you like.
Check this out for more help:
http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/outdoor-recreation/how/mushrooms/edible-mushrooms
