Start foraging with edible shelf fungus (chicken of the woods 'mushroom')
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Date: 2023-09-28
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Comments and reviews: 19
Kevin
I see that you were concerned about it, maybe mostly just from a legal perspective. But if you want to responsibly inform people on this topic, maybe this is the kind of video that should have someone with a relevant Ph. D. chime in? You not having an expert weigh in on this video like you do on so many others leads me to conclude that the universe exists in one of 2 states:
A) You couldn't find an expert who would want to connect their name with this video
B) You did not consult an expert
I may very well be wrong about this, and another option exists, in which case, my apologies.
However, I feel your video also lacks credibility because it uses the logical fallacy of appeal to ancient wisdom. Saying my ancestors walked out and ate crap off of trees and lived long enough to procreate is no better argument than saying my ancestors went without vaccines and were just fine. Some were. Many weren't. Lots and lots of them died. Using such an argument with your background is beneath you.
I love what you do. I don't think this was your best work.
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I see that you were concerned about it, maybe mostly just from a legal perspective. But if you want to responsibly inform people on this topic, maybe this is the kind of video that should have someone with a relevant Ph. D. chime in? You not having an expert weigh in on this video like you do on so many others leads me to conclude that the universe exists in one of 2 states:
A) You couldn't find an expert who would want to connect their name with this video
B) You did not consult an expert
I may very well be wrong about this, and another option exists, in which case, my apologies.
However, I feel your video also lacks credibility because it uses the logical fallacy of appeal to ancient wisdom. Saying my ancestors walked out and ate crap off of trees and lived long enough to procreate is no better argument than saying my ancestors went without vaccines and were just fine. Some were. Many weren't. Lots and lots of them died. Using such an argument with your background is beneath you.
I love what you do. I don't think this was your best work.
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Sam
Thanks for talking about mushroom foraging! There is a lot of fear mongering and so-called mycophobia surrounding wild fungus. There are very few mushrooms that can outright kill you, and they do not look like mushrooms people typically forage anyways. My word of advice if you're scared of dying from mushrooms is to avoid any little brown mushroom and white, gilled mushrooms. I would also recommend hunting chanterelles (I believe those are chanterelle pins at 10: 07 in the video, they fruit during the summer and fall and are the most delicious mushroom ever! They have such a unique, fruity taste. It's a bargain to hunt them because they cost something like 50/lb but grow everywhere, at least in wet years in temperate forests in North America. Unlike morels, they are incredibly easy to spot because they're bright orange. The only (non-lethally) poisonous lookalike, the jack-o-lantern, has some very distinguishable features. Learn Your Land has a very good video about identifying chanterelles.
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Thanks for talking about mushroom foraging! There is a lot of fear mongering and so-called mycophobia surrounding wild fungus. There are very few mushrooms that can outright kill you, and they do not look like mushrooms people typically forage anyways. My word of advice if you're scared of dying from mushrooms is to avoid any little brown mushroom and white, gilled mushrooms. I would also recommend hunting chanterelles (I believe those are chanterelle pins at 10: 07 in the video, they fruit during the summer and fall and are the most delicious mushroom ever! They have such a unique, fruity taste. It's a bargain to hunt them because they cost something like 50/lb but grow everywhere, at least in wet years in temperate forests in North America. Unlike morels, they are incredibly easy to spot because they're bright orange. The only (non-lethally) poisonous lookalike, the jack-o-lantern, has some very distinguishable features. Learn Your Land has a very good video about identifying chanterelles.
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Tim
There's sadly very little CoTW around me, as it happens; but bountiful pheasantback, another polypore found on decaying wood, and not easily confuse with others. It's a fairly ordinary mushroom, the distinctive quality being its odor, a kind of fresh, fruity, almost cucumber or watermelon-rind sort of aroma; if that's not your kind of thing, it mostly cooks out.
A reminder to always gather responsibly! If you don't see much of something, consider leaving it be; if you see a lot, grab a little in the expectation that others may do the same. (If it's your own private land, you might take more) Only do it on public land where gathering is permitted, or private land that you've obtained permission for. Wearing bright colors probably also a good idea, especially as hunting season approaches.
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There's sadly very little CoTW around me, as it happens; but bountiful pheasantback, another polypore found on decaying wood, and not easily confuse with others. It's a fairly ordinary mushroom, the distinctive quality being its odor, a kind of fresh, fruity, almost cucumber or watermelon-rind sort of aroma; if that's not your kind of thing, it mostly cooks out.
A reminder to always gather responsibly! If you don't see much of something, consider leaving it be; if you see a lot, grab a little in the expectation that others may do the same. (If it's your own private land, you might take more) Only do it on public land where gathering is permitted, or private land that you've obtained permission for. Wearing bright colors probably also a good idea, especially as hunting season approaches.
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Edim
Foraging done responsibly is a great family activity. Here in Eastern Europe picking mushrooms is a long tradition and there are entire guides and TV programs informing new foragers what to look out for. General rule is if you're not sure what it is then leave it be. It's better to miss out on some edible mushrooms than to bring something potentially deadly. You'd rather have a couple mushrooms for risoto but be certain they're all perfectly safe.
Foraging is a learned skill. Now is probably the best time to pick it up bc we have a wealth of knowledge available at our fingertips in the internet.
I've been out mushroom picking on my own recently and went back home with half a pound of chanterelles and made delicious vegan soup.
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Foraging done responsibly is a great family activity. Here in Eastern Europe picking mushrooms is a long tradition and there are entire guides and TV programs informing new foragers what to look out for. General rule is if you're not sure what it is then leave it be. It's better to miss out on some edible mushrooms than to bring something potentially deadly. You'd rather have a couple mushrooms for risoto but be certain they're all perfectly safe.
Foraging is a learned skill. Now is probably the best time to pick it up bc we have a wealth of knowledge available at our fingertips in the internet.
I've been out mushroom picking on my own recently and went back home with half a pound of chanterelles and made delicious vegan soup.
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Der
Some important notes!
(1) It is critical that you can identify the type of wood that it grew on. If it sprouts on the wood of a poisonous tree (yew, laburnum, locust tree)the fruiting body might have accumulated some of the toxins! They also grow on oaks and accumulate polyphenols, making them bitter and indigestible.
(2) This fungus contains a substantial amount of oxalic acid (like beets or rhubarb) and should be boiled in water for at least 10 min before continuing with any recipe, discard the cooking water.
(3) There are indeed poisonous polypores such as Hapalopilus nidulans. Although it lacks the vibrant colour, its deadly poisonous and the inexperienced might still confuse them.
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Some important notes!
(1) It is critical that you can identify the type of wood that it grew on. If it sprouts on the wood of a poisonous tree (yew, laburnum, locust tree)the fruiting body might have accumulated some of the toxins! They also grow on oaks and accumulate polyphenols, making them bitter and indigestible.
(2) This fungus contains a substantial amount of oxalic acid (like beets or rhubarb) and should be boiled in water for at least 10 min before continuing with any recipe, discard the cooking water.
(3) There are indeed poisonous polypores such as Hapalopilus nidulans. Although it lacks the vibrant colour, its deadly poisonous and the inexperienced might still confuse them.
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DraccQueen
My dad one time at the park he dies karate near, found a chicken of the woods mushroom on a tree. He wasn't entirely sure, he took some pictures and got the opinion of various people in a foraging group he's in, and confirmed and brought it home.
I was nervous to eat it, he made scampi with it and it was absolutely delicious. I dream about that mushroom sometimes.
This video came out at a good time, we just finished eating a lions mane mushroom we nabbed yesterday. A little old and chewy, but delicious as always.
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My dad one time at the park he dies karate near, found a chicken of the woods mushroom on a tree. He wasn't entirely sure, he took some pictures and got the opinion of various people in a foraging group he's in, and confirmed and brought it home.
I was nervous to eat it, he made scampi with it and it was absolutely delicious. I dream about that mushroom sometimes.
This video came out at a good time, we just finished eating a lions mane mushroom we nabbed yesterday. A little old and chewy, but delicious as always.
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Fox
OK, so I have a strong natural fear of. well. nature. Grew up in a densely settled suburb. Live now in a suburban downtown where the only nature is a park with carefully-curated flora. The idea of foraging for a fungus as anything other than an alchemy ingredient in a video game is no thanks, I'll buy them at the store, thanks. (or not, since I'm no more fond of mushrooms than is Lauren)
But the scariest part of this video wasn't that. It was the last five seconds. AAAAAAAH!
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OK, so I have a strong natural fear of. well. nature. Grew up in a densely settled suburb. Live now in a suburban downtown where the only nature is a park with carefully-curated flora. The idea of foraging for a fungus as anything other than an alchemy ingredient in a video game is no thanks, I'll buy them at the store, thanks. (or not, since I'm no more fond of mushrooms than is Lauren)
But the scariest part of this video wasn't that. It was the last five seconds. AAAAAAAH!
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PhilosophicPie
Chicken of the woods are oftentimes less digestible when harvested from oak trees. While eating the tree it grows on, the fungus takes in tannic acid from the oak which is hard to digest. But you can boil the fungi for 30 min. or so to alleviate that problem (consistency will stay the same but the colour will fade a bit. You can then press it dry with a towel and fry it. This only applies to oaks, no other tree is problematic. at least to my knowledge.
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Chicken of the woods are oftentimes less digestible when harvested from oak trees. While eating the tree it grows on, the fungus takes in tannic acid from the oak which is hard to digest. But you can boil the fungi for 30 min. or so to alleviate that problem (consistency will stay the same but the colour will fade a bit. You can then press it dry with a towel and fry it. This only applies to oaks, no other tree is problematic. at least to my knowledge.
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Qlevy
I've been foraging since kindergarten. Grandpa was the best teacher when it comes to identifying stuff but as time progressed, i kept on bringing more and more different mushrooms and his knowledge didnt keep up. Although he knew about the Chicken of the Woods, he didnt really cook it so, I gave it a try. He was picky about eating them but after one bite he took couple more: ) Tough to find interesting recipes with this mushroom tho.
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I've been foraging since kindergarten. Grandpa was the best teacher when it comes to identifying stuff but as time progressed, i kept on bringing more and more different mushrooms and his knowledge didnt keep up. Although he knew about the Chicken of the Woods, he didnt really cook it so, I gave it a try. He was picky about eating them but after one bite he took couple more: ) Tough to find interesting recipes with this mushroom tho.
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themanwithsauce
Regarding this being your first foraging experience - I can attest to how fun and rewarding it is to be with people who know what they're doing, and to be able to hunt down and find something yourself. It's a ton of fun, you learn a lot, and in this case, you get a tasty meal as a reward! I'm still very much a beginner but every time I'm on a hike and I see chicken of the woods, it puts a smile on my face.
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Regarding this being your first foraging experience - I can attest to how fun and rewarding it is to be with people who know what they're doing, and to be able to hunt down and find something yourself. It's a ton of fun, you learn a lot, and in this case, you get a tasty meal as a reward! I'm still very much a beginner but every time I'm on a hike and I see chicken of the woods, it puts a smile on my face.
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Cody
This video is really unexpected because I'd have thought your lawyer would immediately nix the idea in spite of your persuasive arguments at the end. Could you do a more detailed podcast about how you have to research, verify, and think about this kind of stuff - recommendations and advice about doing things more adventurous than measuring flour - from a legal perspective? I think that would be really interesting.
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This video is really unexpected because I'd have thought your lawyer would immediately nix the idea in spite of your persuasive arguments at the end. Could you do a more detailed podcast about how you have to research, verify, and think about this kind of stuff - recommendations and advice about doing things more adventurous than measuring flour - from a legal perspective? I think that would be really interesting.
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Noxida1
I've foraged a little and love getting rosehips for rosehip jam and brambles and berries. I've grabbed Chicken of the Woods a couple of times when I've been out if I see it.
The only thing I've been told to watch out for is the tree it's growing on. The fungi can absorb poisonous nutrients from certain trees, specifically yew trees which make Chicken of the Woods inedible as far as I'm aware.
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I've foraged a little and love getting rosehips for rosehip jam and brambles and berries. I've grabbed Chicken of the Woods a couple of times when I've been out if I see it.
The only thing I've been told to watch out for is the tree it's growing on. The fungi can absorb poisonous nutrients from certain trees, specifically yew trees which make Chicken of the Woods inedible as far as I'm aware.
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Ricksdetrix
Chicken of the woods is the only thing I'd feel comfortable foraging. Well, that and blackberries. I went on a overrun trail not too long ago and found an absolute bounty of elderberries, and right as I was about to pop one in my mouth I though maybe I shouldn't eat berries i'm only 80% sure about and I think that sums up foraging pretty well. You have to be like 99% sure
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Chicken of the woods is the only thing I'd feel comfortable foraging. Well, that and blackberries. I went on a overrun trail not too long ago and found an absolute bounty of elderberries, and right as I was about to pop one in my mouth I though maybe I shouldn't eat berries i'm only 80% sure about and I think that sums up foraging pretty well. You have to be like 99% sure
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Blaoufh
I think there could be more emphasis on washing foraged produce. The risk of picking a poisonous species is one thing, but even if you identify successfully, there's also a risk of contamination by wildlife. See the rise in rat lungworms infecting brains in the southeast recently.
Food is pretty cheap in the U. S, foraging doesn't really seem like it's ever worth it IMHO
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I think there could be more emphasis on washing foraged produce. The risk of picking a poisonous species is one thing, but even if you identify successfully, there's also a risk of contamination by wildlife. See the rise in rat lungworms infecting brains in the southeast recently.
Food is pretty cheap in the U. S, foraging doesn't really seem like it's ever worth it IMHO
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Joshua
When forging mushrooms, you have to keep in mind that Dwayne Johnson and Sandra Bullock are the species but look very different nonetheless. Best to be very careful when identifying mushrooms! I'm comfortable eating shaggy manes and giant puffballs i find in the wild but that's about it. But now I feel confident in eating chicken of the woods if I find it. Thanks Adam!
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When forging mushrooms, you have to keep in mind that Dwayne Johnson and Sandra Bullock are the species but look very different nonetheless. Best to be very careful when identifying mushrooms! I'm comfortable eating shaggy manes and giant puffballs i find in the wild but that's about it. But now I feel confident in eating chicken of the woods if I find it. Thanks Adam!
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Dicerson
I'm absolutely terrified of foraging in general. I can't handle the idea that so much as brushing up against something could be dangerous, I don't have trypophobia but having seen images of how molds and funguses operate at the microscopic level gave me nightmares.
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I'm absolutely terrified of foraging in general. I can't handle the idea that so much as brushing up against something could be dangerous, I don't have trypophobia but having seen images of how molds and funguses operate at the microscopic level gave me nightmares.
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Scruffopone
One of my favourite content creators on the internet, Atomic Shrimp, made a whole lot of foraging videos and got me really into mushroom foraging. I'm so happy that Adam, who is also one of the all time greats, also fell down the fungus foraging rabbit hole!
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One of my favourite content creators on the internet, Atomic Shrimp, made a whole lot of foraging videos and got me really into mushroom foraging. I'm so happy that Adam, who is also one of the all time greats, also fell down the fungus foraging rabbit hole!
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Pesku
If I could add to the video, make sure you use a foraging guide from the country you're in. If you're in the UK I recommend using Wild Food UK's resources. While some species of fungus can be found across the world, you only get to mistake a deadly mushroom once.
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If I could add to the video, make sure you use a foraging guide from the country you're in. If you're in the UK I recommend using Wild Food UK's resources. While some species of fungus can be found across the world, you only get to mistake a deadly mushroom once.
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Rafael
beefsteak fungus is delicious imo! if you fry thin slices in butter and dress it like you would a steak, you can actually make it taste like meat. Weirdly enough, the slight sourness kind of emulates the taste of the heme naturally present in red meat.
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beefsteak fungus is delicious imo! if you fry thin slices in butter and dress it like you would a steak, you can actually make it taste like meat. Weirdly enough, the slight sourness kind of emulates the taste of the heme naturally present in red meat.
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