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Other Activities => Other Adventures => Topic started by: KP-Skagit on October 07, 2019, 04:55:11 PM

Title: Lobster Mushrooms
Post by: KP-Skagit on October 07, 2019, 04:55:11 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Lobster Mushrooms
Post by: Platensek-po on October 07, 2019, 06:32:03 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Lobster Mushrooms
Post by: Alchase on October 07, 2019, 06:40:37 PM: Quote from: Platensek-po on October 07, 2019, 06:32:03 PM
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”?
Title: Re: Lobster Mushrooms
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on October 07, 2019, 08:58:19 PM: Found this huge one, but had no idea what it was.
There were a couple others, probably pick them tomorrow...
Title: Re: Lobster Mushrooms
Post by: Platensek-po on October 07, 2019, 09:48:19 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Lobster Mushrooms
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on October 07, 2019, 09:50:00 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Lobster Mushrooms
Post by: lokidog on October 07, 2019, 09:55:25 PM: Quote from: Sitka_Blacktail on October 07, 2019, 09:50:00 PM
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?
Title: Re: Lobster Mushrooms
Post by: slavenoid on October 07, 2019, 10:13:09 PM: Are Lobsters the only ones that color? If so I see those things everywhere. Never would have thought they were edible.
Title: Re: Lobster Mushrooms
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on October 07, 2019, 10:16:01 PM: Quote from: Sitka_Blacktail on October 07, 2019, 09:50:00 PM
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?
Title: Re: Lobster Mushrooms
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on October 07, 2019, 10:36:47 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Lobster Mushrooms
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on October 07, 2019, 10:39:55 PM: Quote from: lokidog on October 07, 2019, 09:55:25 PM
Quote from: Sitka_Blacktail on October 07, 2019, 09:50:00 PM
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.
Title: Re: Lobster Mushrooms
Post by: pianoman9701 on October 08, 2019, 06:22:43 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Lobster Mushrooms
Post by: KP-Skagit on October 08, 2019, 10:22:48 AM: Thanks for the feedback!
Title: Re: Lobster Mushrooms
Post by: KP-Skagit on October 08, 2019, 10:30:17 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Lobster Mushrooms
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on October 08, 2019, 05:08:14 PM: Quote from: KP-Skagit on October 08, 2019, 10:30:17 AM
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.
Title: Re: Lobster Mushrooms
Post by: GrampasGuns on October 15, 2019, 08:27:26 AM: Lobsters are a parasitized Russula mushroom.

They do not need to be completely red, they are sold white/orange/ many variations of colors but the important factor is that the mushroom is completely dense and not hollow.

Never take someones word for it, do your own confirmation but this is one of the best shroom' in the woods!