{"id":12185,"date":"2022-10-28T02:01:27","date_gmt":"2022-10-28T07:01:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=12185"},"modified":"2022-10-30T15:17:06","modified_gmt":"2022-10-30T20:17:06","slug":"how-to-cook-wood-ear-mushrooms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/how-to-cook-wood-ear-mushrooms\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Cook Wood Ear Mushrooms?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Maybe you\u2019re looking to try something new, or maybe you just came home with a bumper crop from your latest foraging trip. Whatever the reason, you have found yourself the proud owner of a bunch of wood ear mushrooms<\/a>. What should you do with them? Keep reading! In this article, we\u2019ll talk about how to cook wood ear mushrooms, ending with a list of tasty recipes for you to try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cooking Wood Ear Mushrooms: The Prep Work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Cooking<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When cooking any kind of mushroom, there will be a bit of prep work to get them ready for cooking. This prep work will vary slightly depending on whether you\u2019re using fresh or dried mushrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selecting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In most parts of the world, dried wood ears are more readily available than fresh ones. They can be found in grocery stores and Asian markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are harvesting your own wood ears, obviously, they will be fresh unless you have dried them previously. You may also be able to buy fresh wood ears from time to time at local farmer\u2019s markets or specialty shops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of whether the mushrooms are fresh or dried, look them over to check their quality. You don\u2019t want mushrooms that are riddled with bug holes, have a strong smell or a slimy texture.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If using dried mushrooms, make sure they are in a sealed package and no moisture has gotten inside. They should be completely brittle and should snap between your fingers when you remove them from the package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With fresh mushrooms, it\u2019s best to use them on the day you buy them or within a couple of days after you harvest them. Fresh wood ears begin to go bad rather quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cleaning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re using dried mushrooms, there\u2019s a pretty good chance they were already cleaned before they were dehydrated. Simply give them a quick rinse under running water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re using fresh mushrooms, you can clean them by using a mushroom brush or damp cloth, by rinsing them under running water, or by dunking them in a bowl of clean water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind that all mushrooms, including wood ears, absorb water readily. Though wood ears don\u2019t absorb it as quickly as some other types of mushrooms, you\u2019ll want to be careful about how long you leave them underwater\u2013especially if you are dunking them.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the mushrooms don\u2019t look very dirty, using a mushroom brush may be the simplest way to clean them. Simply rub the brush over the surface of the mushroom, paying special attention to the folds and crevices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the mushrooms look especially dirty or you\u2019re concerned about getting them as clean as possible, rinse or dunk them. Remove them from the water as quickly as possible, placing them on towels or paper towels to drip-dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rehydrating<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This step only applies if you are using dehydrated wood ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your mushrooms are dried, they must be reconstituted before you can cook with them. Dried mushrooms are hard, brittle, and bone-like; if you throw them into your favorite recipe without reconstituting them first, they will take longer to cook and it may mess with their texture.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn how to rehydrate your wood ear mushrooms, check out the video below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=QR6s_YglCPk<\/a>