The herb mushrooms available in German supermarkets are cultivated mushrooms that you can basically – and with a little knowledge – grow yourself at home. The effort is worth it, because king oyster mushrooms not only look similar to the noble porcini mushroom, they also taste almost the same. The mushrooms are also very easy to process and prepare.
How do you cut king oyster mushrooms correctly?
To cut king oyster mushrooms correctly, first remove the dried stem end. Do not wash the mushrooms, but carefully clean them with a paring knife and remove any dark spots. Rub the cap and stem with a damp cloth before cutting the mushrooms lengthwise into thin slices.
Pay attention to freshness when buying
With supermarket goods, you can never know exactly how long they have been on the road or on display. For this reason, here you will find a few criteria that can help you assess the freshness of the king oyster mushrooms on offer. Of course, you should only take the best quality home with you:
- Good quality is not offered packaged in plastic containers.
- Instead, choose loose goods that are loose and airy in the refrigerator.
- Fresh king oyster mushrooms have a pleasant, mild smell of mushrooms.
- They have an even, not watered down color.
- The edge of the hat is also the same color as the rest of the hat.
- The flesh on the cap and stem is elastic.
- There are no dark spots or spots visible.
If you can answer these points in the affirmative, take the mushrooms – preferably organically grown, of course – straight home with you.
Cleaning and cutting herb mushrooms – this is how it works
Like all mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms taste best fresh. That's why they are cleaned straight away at home and, if they are to be put in the pan straight away, also cut. However, if you want to keep the mushrooms in the fridge for a few more days, it's best to leave them whole and simply wrap them in a damp cloth. Otherwise, clean and cut the king oyster mushrooms as follows:
- Cut off the dried end of the stem.
- Do not wash the king oyster mushrooms under any circumstances, they absorb a lot of water.
- Now clean them carefully with a small vegetable knife.
- Cut away dark areas and remove dirt.
- Rub the cap and stem with a damp cloth.
- Now cut the king oyster mushrooms lengthways into thin slices.
- This is best done with a vegetable slicer.
You can then prepare the mushrooms straight away - for example, fry them in a pan with butter - or preserve them by freezing, drying or pickling them.
Tip
Sometimes a white, cobweb-like down can be seen on fresh king oyster mushrooms. However, this is not mold, but rather the fungal mycelium. Infected mushrooms can still be eaten.
