Author: Maria Alfano
I know what you’re thinking oyster mushroom benefits…say what! Yes, oyster mushrooms have some amazing benefits that you never thought of before. And they are also very tasty. Unlike their cousins the button mushrooms, oysters have flavor. Heck, even my husband who hates mushrooms, really enjoyed these and he is not the biggest fan of mushrooms.
Scientists will tell you that oyster mushrooms are not mushrooms at all, they are bacteria growing on trees. Whatever! No bacteria that I am aware of ever tasted so good. These mushrooms are amazing and so easy to use in everyday meals that you will wonder why you never tried them before.
Grow kits for mushrooms are very popular and they sure beat the cost of buying shrooms that you have no idea how they were grown. These grow kits are cultivated by farmers who believe in organic. They take the time to create their own mixtures of clean materials in which you can easily grow and harvest your own mushrooms within less than a week. No green thumb is needed. The kits do all the work. You simply add water. They provide 2 to 3 harvests per grow kit which makes the price so much more reasonable than buying by the pound at the local supermarket. I found my grow kit on Instagram from @northermushroomco
Here are the different growth stages from the kit that sat on my kitchen counter under the window for a week. The more light they get, the brighter the color. It was so easy to manage and so amazing to watch the process unfold before my very eyes. I cut the bag where “X” marked the spot. A single spritz of water is needed every morning. Watch them grow. Bear in mind, I took these out of the box they came in so I can show you the steps I took during this process.
Stage 1
Cut the bag where X marked the spot. Spritz daily with water. The moisture provides the best environment for growth.
Stage 2
Watch them start spouting. They will make their way out of the opening very quickly – usually within a day or 2
Stage 3
Growth happens literally overnight. Once the stalk peaks through, they will grow in record time. Keep spritzing daily with water.
Stage 4
Harvest the fully grown mushrooms by snapping the stalk with your fingers. Start the process over to get your next batch
6 Important Yellow Oyster Mushrooms Benefits + Recipe
Did you know there are over 40 different species of oyster mushrooms? They have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Maybe this is why scientists think of them as bacteria rather than a mushroom. The reality is they are delicious and these mushrooms’ benefits are wonderful. These are the most popular.
King Oyster – the granddaddy of them all. This is the biggest in the oyster family and is commonly found in the Middle East, Asia, and northern Africa.
Pearl Oyster – the most common species found in North America and is white in color.
Phoenix Oyster – this is a smaller version of the pearl.
Blue Oyster – has a pretty blue cap with a texture and flavor similar to the pearl.
Golden or Yellow Oyster – bright yellow color with a citrusy flavor that can sometimes be better. They have a short shelf life so you need to use them soon after purchasing them from your local grocer.
Storing oyster mushrooms in the fridge will keep them fresh for up to 7 days. Some people store them in plastic containers but I find that creates too much moisture and they will spoil faster. Store them in a paper bag to have them last a little longer. The smaller ones will dehydrate a little but that is not a problem. They will rehydrate once you start cooking. It’s better to have dehydrated mushrooms than moldy unusable ones.
Oyster Mushrooms Benefits
Nutrients – 1 cup of oyster mushrooms contains 12 essential nutrients including 2 grams of fiber, 3 grams of protein, 12% of the daily recommended intake of iron, niacin, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B5, and vitamin D.
Antioxidants – contain an amino acid called ergothioneine that has been proven to lower inflammatory markers. They help reduce liver damage from toxic chemicals. And, they protect cells from damage.
Beta-Glucans – found in bacteria like oyster mushrooms. They help prevent the body from absorbing the cholesterol found in foods being digested in your stomach and passing through the intestines. Your gut is the gatekeeper of your health. Oyster mushrooms give your gut more of the good bacteria it needs to keep you going!
Stabilize blood sugar levels – because mushrooms are high in fiber and vitamin D they help increase insulin sensitivity which is the cause of most issues with diabetes. Studies have shown that eating 150 grams of cooked oyster mushrooms for 7 days can decrease blood sugar levels by up to 20%
Strong bones – vitamin D and magnesium help to keep bones strong. Check out the post below on vitamin D and bone density.
Heart-healthy – high in fiber that is needed to help reduce cardiovascular disease. By reducing the amount of LDL cholesterol, they are also helping your heart pump freely leveling your blood pressure.
Ways To Put These Mushrooms Benefits To Use
Oyster mushrooms are so versatile you can use them in just about anything.
– Stir fry
– In breakfast dishes with eggs
– On Pizza
– In soups
– On pasta
– With steak
– As a side dish on their own or with other veggies
How to Clean Oyster Mushrooms
These are the easiest mushrooms to clean. All you need is water and a paper towel. Moisten the paper towel and squeeze out any extra water. wipe the top and bottom of the mushroom caps. Remove the bottom half of the stem and discard it. The stems are quite rubbery and not very tasty.
Yellow Oyster Mushroom Riced Cauliflower Risotto
This original recipe is the easiest one you will ever make and you will absolutely love it. It is the perfect alternative to the traditional Italian risotto made from arborio rice – all the flavor and none of the carbs. Serve it with steak, bbq spare ribs, or chicken. Or, make it a main dish with a nice Ceasar salad on the side a slice of bruschetta. You can serve 2 people with this recipe. Note the rich yellow color will fade once they are heated in the cooking process. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 1-2 lbs of yellow oyster mushrooms cut into large pieces (they will shrink in the cooking process)
- 3-4 tablespoons of salted butter
- 1 bag of frozen riced cauliflower (you can find it at Costco)
- 2-3 garlic scapes – fragrant less pungent flavor than garlic bulbs. Buy these at most grocery stores. Mine came right out of my garden.
- salt to taste – use only if the salted butter did not give enough salty goodness to the dish
- black pepper (optional)
- 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese
The four main ingredients:
Frozen riced cauliflower from Costco. It comes with 4 individual packages. One of the packages is all you need for this recipe to serve 2 people
Garlic Scapes – 2-3 stalks are all you need. Garlic scapes are edible so you can add them back into your dish along with the sauteed yellow oyster mushrooms if you like. 
Yellow Oyster Mushrooms 1-2 lbs are all you need. Use 1 lb if you prefer not to have your risotto overrun by oyster mushrooms and 2 lbs for a richer rice dish
Salted butter 3-4 tablespoons are melted into a skillet to sautee both the scapes and the mushrooms
Directions:
- Cut the scapes into 1″ pieces
- Place scapes and butter into a skillet
- Over low heat melt the butter while the scapes infuse it with flavor
- Stir frequently to avoid burning both the scapes and the butter. Once the scapes start to turn brown at the edges, remove the skillet from the heat and discard the scapes
- Avoid the butter from getting too dark. You want it to be a light golden color
- Add the cut mushrooms and sautee for 3 or 4 minutes on low heat. Stir frequently to avoid sticking and burning
- Remove the mushrooms from the pan and set them aside
- Leave that buttery goodness in the skillet
- Add the frozen riced cauliflower to the pan. This will infuse the rice with those same wonderful flavors
- Cook covered on medium heat until the water is almost completely evaporated.
- Put the sauteed mushrooms back in the pan for another minute to heat them through
- Remove from the flame
- Add the parmesan cheese and stir well
- Ready to serve
If you are in the market for a new skillet, this one from Amazon is a really good one.
This recipe is perfect for vegetarians and meat lovers alike. It’s great for both keto and paleo lifestyles. Make it vegan by replacing the butter and cheese with non-dairy options.
You can also replace the frozen riced cauliflower with fresh cauliflower you rice yourself by using the large holes on a box grater. Cook the rice until it is tender.
Tell us what you think of this recipe and let us know how you use oyster mushrooms in your meal planning.
This post was all about the yellow oyster mushrooms’ benefits and an easy-to-make recipe.