Sophie Bennett
Chicken of the Woods is a mushroom that is often sought after by foragers due to its distinctive appearance and edible qualities. It is also known as sulphur shelf mushroom, chicken mushroom, or chicken fungus. It is characterised by its bright orange and yellow colours, and its overlapping shelf-like growths, which can range from 2 to 10 inches in width and up to 10 inches in length. The underside of the mushroom has tiny pores, rather than gills, and is typically yellow to cream in colour. While there are no deadly look-alikes, it can be confused with other mushrooms such as the jack-o'-lantern mushroom and hen of the woods, especially by beginners. To identify Chicken of the Woods, one must consider the location, colour, and substrate (the type of tree it grows on).
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What You'll Learn
- Check the colour: Chicken of the Woods is typically bright orange, yellow or peach
- Examine the texture: It should be soft, tender and fleshy
- Look at the underside: It should have fine pores, not gills
- Identify the tree: It grows on dead or dying hardwood trees, especially oaks
- Check for gills: Chicken of the Woods lacks gills, unlike similar-looking mushrooms
Check the colour: Chicken of the Woods is typically bright orange, yellow or peach
Chicken of the Woods is typically bright orange, yellow or peach. However, there are variations in colour, even within the same species. Some have a deeper orange that's almost red, while others are a more uniform washed-out orange with little to no yellow, or perhaps cream instead. For example, the L. portentosus variety, which is particularly common in Australia, gets its common name, "white punk", from its creamy white colour with little to no orange.
Chicken of the Woods is often referred to as sulphur shelf due to its bright yellow and orange colour combination. The sulphur shelf has no real stem; instead, the caps grow in large brackets, or "shelves", that range from 2 to 10 inches across and can be up to 10 inches long. These brackets are roughly fan-shaped and may be smooth to lightly wrinkled, and oddly suede-like. They grow in an overlapping pattern, stacked one on top of the other, which means the fruiting body can be quite large. The outside cap colour ranges from bright whitish-yellow to bright whitish-orange. If you cut them open, the inside flesh will be soft and similarly coloured.
Chicken of the Woods is also known as chicken mushroom and is often confused with Hen of the Woods, which is also known as Maitake (Grifola frondosa). This is simply because they share a similar common name. However, they are not alike at all, except that they are both excellent edible mushrooms. Chicken of the Woods is typically bright orange, yellow or peach, while Hen of the Woods is grey or brown.
Chicken of the Woods is most likely to be found from August through October, but it can be found as early as May and as late as December, depending on where you live. It fruits throughout the summer and into the fall, but each specimen fruits on its own schedule. It is easily identifiable by its bright colour and large size. Although it can be found any time from early spring to late fall, the best time to find it in Southern Ohio is said to be September and October.
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Examine the texture: It should be soft, tender and fleshy
When examining the texture of chicken of the woods, there are a few key characteristics to look for to ensure it is not a fake or imitation product. The texture should be soft, tender, and fleshy, resembling the texture of cooked chicken when properly prepared. Here are some detailed indicators to look for:
The mushroom should have a supple and pliable texture, with a certain degree of give when pressed gently. It should not be overly firm or rubbery, as this may indicate that it is old or past its prime. Fresh chicken of the woods has a moist appearance and a slightly sticky texture, especially on the underside of the caps and branches. This stickiness is a key indicator of its freshness and authenticity.
Avoid specimens that appear dry, brittle, or woody. A dry texture can indicate age or improper storage conditions, which can affect both the quality and safety of the mushroom. The flesh should be easily torn or broken, indicating tenderness. Try tearing a small piece of the mushroom; it should come apart in a fibrous yet tender manner, similar to cooked chicken.
The overall texture of the mushroom should be uniform and consistent. Look for a relatively smooth surface, free from significant bumps or irregularities. However, do not confuse this with the natural ridges and folds that are characteristic of chicken of the woods. These ridges are part of its unique structure and should not be mistaken as signs of inferior texture.
It is important to note that the texture of chicken of the woods can vary slightly depending on the stage of maturity at which it is harvested. Younger specimens tend to have a more delicate and supple texture, while older ones may become slightly tougher and require longer cooking times to achieve the desired tenderness. However, even with older mushrooms, the fundamental characteristics of softness and fleshiness should still be present.
By carefully examining the texture and keeping these indicators in mind, you can confidently assess whether the chicken of the woods meets the expected standards of softness, tenderness, and fleshiness, ensuring a positive and safe culinary experience.
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Look at the underside: It should have fine pores, not gills
Chicken of the Woods mushrooms is a type of polypore mushroom, which means it has small pores on the underside, instead of gills. The underside will be a solid cream to yellow colour, and the top will be some shade of orange, sometimes with yellow colouring on the edges. The mushrooms tend to be very vibrant when young, and the colours fade as they age. The caps sport whitish to yellowish pores on the underside, not gills.
The jack-o’-lantern mushroom (Omphalotus olearius) is one mushroom that might be confused with chicken of the woods by beginning mushroom hunters. While this mushroom is orange and grows on decaying wood, it has very distinct gills on the underside. It will not have a smooth finely pored surface underneath. It is also bioluminescent and subtly glows in the dark. Jack O’ Lantern mushrooms will give you extreme digestive upset if you eat them, so it is important to distinguish between the two mushrooms.
The black staining polypore (Meripilus sumstinei) is another mushroom that looks similar to Chicken of the Woods. It has a yellow-orange colour on top and is often covered with blackish-brown stains. It has a black, fibrous stem that is not edible, whereas Chicken of the Woods has a tender, fleshy stem that is also edible.
The Cinnabar Polypore (Pycnoporus cinnabarinus) is another mushroom that might be mistaken for Chicken of the Woods due to its bright orange-red colour. However, it has more pronounced, larger pores than Chicken of the Woods, which has fine pores.
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Identify the tree: It grows on dead or dying hardwood trees, especially oaks
Chicken of the Woods mushrooms are saprophytes that feed on dead or injured trees, and they can cause brown rot as they digest cellulose but leave lignin intact. They are most commonly found on oaks, but can also be found on other hardwood trees such as beeches. Chicken of the Woods grows on dead or dying hardwood trees, especially oaks, and can be identified by its bright yellow and orange colours, with some variation in colour even within the same species. The caps of Chicken of the Woods mushrooms grow in large brackets, or "shelves", which range from 2 to 10 inches across (about 5 to 25 cm) and can be up to 10 inches long. These brackets are roughly fan-shaped and may be smooth or lightly wrinkled, and oddly suede-like. The sulphur shelf variety has no real stem, and the caps grow in an overlapping pattern, stacked one on top of the other. Thus, the fruiting body can be quite large. The outside cap colour ranges from bright whitish-yellow to bright whitish-orange, and the inside flesh is soft and similarly coloured.
Chicken of the Woods mushrooms are often confused with Hen of the Woods mushrooms (Grifola frondosa), simply because they share a similar common name. However, they are not alike at all, except that they are both excellent edible mushrooms. The Hen of the Woods variety is gray or brown, while Chicken of the Woods is orange, peach, or yellowish. Chicken of the Woods is also sometimes called Chicken of the Forest, or even "chicken fungus".
Chicken of the Woods is also often confused with the jack-o'-lantern mushroom (Omphalotus olearius), which is orange and grows on decaying wood. However, the jack-o'-lantern mushroom has distinct gills on its underside, while Chicken of the Woods lacks gills and has a fleshy, tender stem and fine pores on its underside. The jack-o'-lantern mushroom is also bioluminescent and subtly glows in the dark, while Chicken of the Woods does not have this property. Another mushroom that resembles Chicken of the Woods is the hairy stereum (Stereum hirsutum), also called the false turkey tail mushroom, which is often found growing on dead trees and logs and has a dark orange-brown colour. It is not toxic, but it is not edible either. To distinguish it from Chicken of the Woods, look for its hairy cap and lack of pores, as Chicken of the Woods has a smooth cap and tiny pores along its underside.
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Check for gills: Chicken of the Woods lacks gills, unlike similar-looking mushrooms
Chicken of the Woods (COTW) mushrooms are easily distinguishable from other similar-looking mushrooms by their lack of gills. COTW mushrooms are a type of polypore, meaning they disperse spores through small pores (holes) on the underside of their caps. These pores are whitish to yellowish in colour. In contrast, mushrooms with gills, such as the Jack O'Lantern mushroom (Omphalotus illudens or Omphalotus olearius), are highly poisonous and can cause severe gastrointestinal issues and nervous system damage. Therefore, it is important to check for the presence or absence of gills when identifying COTW mushrooms.
COTW mushrooms have a distinctive appearance, with bright orange to yellow caps and a soft, tender, fleshy stem. They are often found growing on dead or dying hardwood trees, particularly oak, but also cherry, pear, poplar, willow, locust, and beech. They can be identified by their smooth caps and tiny pores on the underside, as well as their earthy fragrance. The texture of young COTW mushrooms is very pliable, while the texture of older mushrooms becomes denser and tougher with maturity.
When distinguishing COTW mushrooms from similar-looking species, it is important to consider both visual and contextual cues. In addition to checking for gills, one should examine the colour, texture, and growth habitat of the mushroom. For example, the Cinnabar Polypore (Pycnoporus cinnabarinus) has a brighter red-orange colour and a corky texture, whereas COTW mushrooms are typically bright yellow to orange with a meaty texture. Additionally, Cinnabar Polypore is often found on smaller branches or twigs, while COTW mushrooms grow on larger dead or dying trees.
Another look-alike mushroom is the Hairy Stereum (Stereum hirsutum) or False Turkey Tail mushroom, which has a dark orange-brown colour and a hairy cap. It is often found growing on dead trees and logs, but it is not toxic or edible. To differentiate it from COTW mushrooms, look for its hairy cap and lack of pores, as COTW mushrooms have a smooth cap and tiny pores. The Black Staining Polypore (Meripilus sumstinei) is another similar-looking mushroom that grows on coniferous trees. It has a yellow-orange colour on top, often with blackish-brown stains, and a black, fibrous stem. While not deadly, consuming this mushroom can cause digestive discomfort.
It is important to note that while COTW mushrooms are considered safe for consumption, proper identification is crucial to avoid mistaking them for poisonous look-alikes. If you are ever in doubt, it is recommended to seek assistance from an experienced forager or mushroom expert.
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Frequently asked questions
Chicken of the Woods is a polypore mushroom, meaning it has small pores on the underside instead of gills. It has a bright yellow and orange colour and a smooth texture with wavy edges. It is generally found on dead trees or logs, and never grows on the ground.
Some common look-alikes include the Jack-o'-Lantern mushroom, which has gills on the underside, and the Velvet Top fungus, which has ridges on the underside and a brown velvety texture on top. Hen of the Woods mushrooms are also sometimes confused with Chicken of the Woods due to their similar names, but they are brown to gray in colour.
While there are no deadly look-alikes, it is important to be cautious when foraging for mushrooms. The Jack-o'-Lantern mushroom, for example, can cause extreme digestive upset if consumed. It is also recommended to cook Chicken of the Woods mushrooms before eating to avoid potential gastric distress.
