Lobster Mushrooms

[KP-Skagit]

What is the deal with lobster mushrooms? I have been picking chanterelles my whole life but have never taken a lobster. I hear people talk about getting them but haven't heard much on preparation etc.

Anyone have some first hand experience with them? If good to eat how do you prepare them?

I was in a chanterelle haunt of mine this past weekend and found a lobster for every chanterelle.

[Platensek-po]

I like them more than chanterelles. They are harder to process and be sure they have gone through the whole transformation to lobster. Dry sautéed and then cook how you like.

[Alchase]

I like them more than chanterelles. They are harder to process and be sure they have gone through the whole transformation to lobster. Dry sautéed and then cook how you like.

Could you provide a bit more detail on this process?
And how to tell if they have become “mature”?

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Found this huge one, but had no idea what it was.
There were a couple others, probably pick them tomorrow...

[Platensek-po]

Sure thing! Lobster mushrooms are actually from a fungus that grows on another mushroom. So you want to be sure that they are fully trabsformsd over into lobster shrooms. Make sure that the redness has expanded all over the cap and most of the stem.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

I found a bunch a couple days ago, but all but two were going bad. But I also got a Cauliflower, some angel wings, and 4 large grocery bags of Chantrelles.

[lokidog]

I found a bunch a couple days ago, but all but two were going bad. But I also got a Cauliflower, some angel wings, and 4 large grocery bags of Chantrelles.

Awesome harvest there.  I know where there were a lot of Angel Wings last year, are they good? Seems like not much to them?

[slavenoid]

Are Lobsters the only ones that color? If so I see those things everywhere. Never would have thought they were edible.

[Boss .300 winmag]

I found a bunch a couple days ago, but all but two were going bad. But I also got a Cauliflower, some angel wings, and 4 large grocery bags of Chantrelles.

What elevation, and foliage type area do you find the cauliflowers at?

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Less than 3oo ft on the Olympic Peninsula. Was in a stand of 30-40 year old fir.  Found one more but it was small so left it to grow.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

I found a bunch a couple days ago, but all but two were going bad. But I also got a Cauliflower, some angel wings, and 4 large grocery bags of Chantrelles.

Awesome harvest there.  I know where there were a lot of Angel Wings last year, are they good? Seems like not much to them?

Angel wings are very good eating. Haven't found a lot of them here in Washington, But I have a patch up in Alaska that is thick with them and they seem to get larger than the ones I've found in Washington. The ones up there get up to 5 inches in diameter and I don't think I ever found one over three inches down here.

[pianoman9701]

Wash them and dry. Cut off any soft spots and slice them about 1/4" thick and sauté. They also dry very well for use later in the year.

[KP-Skagit]

Thanks for the feedback!

[KP-Skagit]

We also got into some cauliflower mushrooms and have consistently in years passed. One year got one that was 25 pounds. 600 to 800 FT of elevation. This particular area is old growth Doug Fir.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

We also got into some cauliflower mushrooms and have consistently in years passed. One year got one that was 25 pounds. 600 to 800 FT of elevation. This particular area is old growth Doug Fir.

From what I've read, they have some sort of symbiotic relationship with firs and some other species. All the ones I've found have been growing near firs or old fir stumps.