Home Grown Oyster Mushroom

September 25, 2012

Home Grown Oyster Mushroom

Oyster Mushroom (平菇) is named after its flat shape which resembling an oyster shell. These large mushrooms are cream in colour is frequently used in Asian cuisine for adding into soup or stir-fry with meat and other accompany vegetables. These mushrooms are a good source of niacin and it also supply folate and dietary fibre.

About one and half month ago, I was introduced to join a home grown mushrooms group in facebook known as "Myceliapolis - Mushroom City" (more details; website and facebook) where we could purchased mushroom logs and grow our own mushrooms at home. Andy (the group owner) and most of the group members are very helpful as everyone always upload photos of their mushrooms growing stages to share with the rest of the new members, while Andy on the other hand would try his best to answer all our questions and queries regarding the mushroom logs.

STEPS ON OUR HOMEGROWN OYSTER MUSHROOMS

You would see cotton-like material which is known as "mycelia" which is the primary structure of the fungi.

As you can see from the photo above, it takes a few days for the "pinheads" to develop from the mycelia.

A close-up view of the "pinheads". Once the pinheads develop, it's best to water them at least 4 - 5 times a day.

At this stage, the pinhead would need cooler environment with good air circulation for them to grow.

After a day or two, the pinheads grew bigger into petal shapes and at this stage they would grow very fast within the next 24 hours. So in order to ensure the growing of the mushroom, mist or spray water droplets on it at least one or every two hours.

Our "full-grown" Oyster Mushrooms which takes about 5 days to develop from the pinheads.

The total weight of the oyster mushrooms that we harvested was around 150g and I have used them to cook some simple dishes which are shown below.

RECIPES USING HOMEGROWN MUSHROOMS

For a quick dish you could stir-fry garlic, ginger, beef/chicken strips together with oyster mushrooms then season with salt or a dash of soy sauce. Or you can add them into Asian soups at the end of cooking and served. Below are some simple dishes that I have tried using our home grown Oyster Mushrooms.

* All related Photos and Recipes of Home Grown Oyster Mushrooms are ©Copyright by Ellena Guan of Cuisine Paradise. All rights reserved. Product merchants or anyone related are "Prohibited" from using my work (photographs, content and recipes) for commercial purposes without my written consent.

RECIPES!!!! (Coming Soon)