Why Did a Mushroom Grow on Happys Head Again

Maitake means "dancing mushroom" in Japanese. Stories say this name arose when people would discover this mushroom in the wild, and become and so happy they'd start to dance!

What are maitake mushrooms (hen of the woods?) Maitake are a polypore bracket mucus that grows at the base of oak trees and other hardwoods in temperate forests from Baronial to Nov. They are highly valued for both their medicinal effects and their culinary uses.

In this commodity, I'll explain what maitake mushrooms are, how to identify them, and how to forage for them or try to abound them yourself. As well every bit how to eat them and what their many purported health benefits are.

What Are Maitake Mushrooms?

The Latin name for maitake mushrooms is Grifola frondosa. You might also hear them go by several other names including hen of the woods, sheep'southward head, ram's head, the signorina mushroom, dancing mushroom, male monarch of the mushrooms, kumotake (deject mushroom,) and more.

They're one of the most popular mushrooms in Japan and Mainland china for both their delicious taste and reported medicinal qualities. Scientists are however researching the possible wellness benefits of this mushroom.

The potential for it to inhibit the growth of some types of cancers looks promising, just not yet thoroughly tested. In Chinese medicine, they're also used to treat diabetes and hypertension.

Maitake is a polypore fungus. That ways information technology doesn't accept gills like many other types of mushrooms. Instead, it has small pores that it uses to release its spores.

They are a bracket mucus that tends to grow on and around woods, particularly oak trees. Simply they likewise like to grow near maple and elm trees as well.

Maitake mushrooms grow big and can commonly weigh 20 pounds (9 kilograms.) Although they get every bit large as 50 pounds (23 kilograms.)

Because of their dull dark-brown color, they can be hard to see, especially in the fall when the ground is covered with leaves.

Maitake mushrooms take been popular in Asia for thousands of years. But it'south only really been for the by couple of decades that they've started to really abound in popularity in North America and Europe.

Simply now that people around the globe are learning about their delicious taste and health benefits, they aren't likely to be forgotten about any fourth dimension soon!

How To Identify Maitake Mushrooms

These bracket fungi are relatively brusk-lived. They have a pleasant aroma at first, simply develop a terrible odour once they're fully mature.

Maitake mushrooms abound in clusters of flattened brown caps with white edges. The name "hen of the forest" comes from the fact that the cluster of mushrooms somewhat resembles the ruffled feathers of a sitting hen.

Larger maitake mushrooms turn a lighter tan brown or greyness color equally they mature.

From underneath, maitake mushrooms have stems that branch out and resemble the structure of a piece of broccoli or cauliflower. Especially if you lot cut them into a cross-section.

Maitake clusters can be as modest as 4 inches (10 cm) across, or as big every bit 36 inches (100 cm) or more than. Each cap can be between iii/4s of an inch (2 cm) and 3 inches (8 cm) across, and about a quarter-inch in thickness.

Maitake are most commonly found around the base of oak tree stumps, or at the base of dead or dying trees. They are most commonly institute in Nippon, Prc, and the northeastern United States and Canada.

But they as well grow in parts of Europe where the climate is right, as well as occasionally in the southeastern and northwestern parts of the United states.

Depending on weather weather condition, maitake can abound from early autumn all the way into late November.

Maitake mushrooms have no gills, but leave a white spore print.

They are best picked young while they are tender, as they can go woody and bitter when they're more mature. The flesh inside should be white and firm. They take an earthy and spicy flavor and a woodsy scent.

In that location aren't many lookalike mushrooms that you could confuse with maitake. Almost that you may misfile them with are also edible every bit well, and then it'due south not every bit big of a concern compared to some other species.

Some similar mushrooms include chicken of the woods (laetiporus sulphureus) which has a more yellowy orange color. Or meripilus giganteus which will stain blackness when bruised, but is also edible.

• You can learn more of how to identify edible mushrooms from toadstools in my Toadstools vs. Mushroom guide.

Tin You Forage For Maitake Mushrooms?

You can start foraging for maitake mushrooms in mid to late August, all the way into November.

Bring a pocket-sized knife with you to easily cut and harvest maitake mushrooms. Their stems grow thick, then it's easier to cut than try to pull off the tree.

Otherwise, you lot gamble dissentious them. Ordinarily, the thickest office of the stem is as well one-time and tough to eat, so you may only want to harvest and keep the upper fronds.

Outside of Red china or Japan, you'll have the best luck finding maitake mushrooms in the northeastern Us.

But they tin can pop up near anywhere with a temperate woods climate. So keep an heart out the next time that y'all go for a hike in the fall.

Maitake mushrooms don't tend to abound on open up footing. They tend to be constitute at the base of trees where there'due south lots of dead leaves and other organic matter to aid shade them from sunlight.

So they tin exist a bit tricky to observe, especially since their brownish colour will really cause them to blend in. Luckily their big size and the wavy blueprint volition requite you lot something distinct to look for.

Maitake grows best in clammy conditions, then become out looking for them a couple of days after heavy rain.

Oak savannahs are an platonic location for maitake mushrooms to grow, and then try to find a forest in your expanse with lots of oak trees to maximize your chances.

Hen of the woods will grow dorsum in the aforementioned spot every year. And then y'all might want to note the location of any mushrooms that you lot harvest, so you can return over again next autumn.

How To Grow Maitake Mushrooms

If you really enjoy maitake mushrooms, you lot can endeavor to cultivate them at home. But usually, they won't grow also at dwelling compared to in the wild.

You lot should besides wait to wait a while for the mycelium to mature before you will get a practiced yield.

Yous tin maximize your chances of success by trying to recreate the natural growing weather condition of maitake mushrooms every bit best you can.

You lot don't necessarily demand to have a full-grown oak tree in your thou to get in work, but endeavour your all-time to emulate how they'd normally grow.

If yous've ever grown shiitake mushrooms before, then the procedure should seem quite familiar to you.

Start off by getting an oak log that's at least 3 anxiety long and 6 inches wide. Soak information technology in cold water for at least 6 hours.

Then use a five/16ths drill flake to drill holes all along the log, drilling about i.5 inches deep. Endeavor to infinite them so that you can get about 30 holes on the log.

Using dowels to inoculate your log is best. Yous tin endeavour growing your own starter spawn from wild maitake and creating your own dowels.

Use 1-inch long oak dowels if you do. Merely usually, it's easier to but buy pre-inoculated maitake dowels online.

Once you've hammered your dowels into your log, yous'll want to use cheese wax to seal information technology shut. Nearly 100 grams or a quarter pound of wax should exist enough to seal your whole log.

Paint the melted wax over the dowel holes using a pastry brush, making sure to completely seal it. The wax volition aid keep competing fungi and bacteria out of your log, likewise as insects.

At present your log but needs to sit outdoors in a clammy area for six months or more. Keep your log elevated off the ground to help reduce the risk of mold and other fungi from colonizing the log.

Even placing information technology upwardly on a couple of bricks will help. You volition need to water your log to keep it moist at all times. Usually watering every two weeks is enough, simply you can do more if y'all notice your log getting dry out.

After 6 months, you'll start to notice mushroom pins beginning to abound around where y'all placed the dowel. That's your sign that your log is ready to be shocked into starting to grow.

Soak your log in ice water for a full 24 hours to help really kickstart the growing process. This will trick your mushrooms into thinking it'southward jump when you remove them from the water ice water.

So prop your log up somewhere shady and permit the maitake abound.

Maitake grows slower than many other types of mushrooms. Afterward your first harvest, y'all might need to wait for 6 weeks or more for the mushroom clusters to regrow.

Information technology can accept a couple of years for the log to fully mature and start giving a good crop.

• Read my Ultimate guide of How to grow mushrooms before you start.

Can You Consume Maitake Mushrooms? What Do They Taste Like?

Maitake mushrooms are sought-after by chefs because of their bawdy aroma and gustation, their unique texture, and their sheer versatility.

Most cooks agree that they're best when sauteed, only there are many ways you can cook them. They can as well be roasted, dried, or deep-fried for a more than satisfying crunch and chewy texture.

You can even dehydrate slices of maitake and consume them similar tater chips. Or crush the dried mushrooms into a powder to add to meals or smoothies purely for their health benefits.

Some people are allergic to maitake, even if they can eat all other types of mushrooms without whatsoever problems.

And so the first time you consume it, I would recommend trying a pocket-sized portion and then waiting for an hour or more to see if y'all have any kind of adverse reaction to them.

Cleaning Maitake Mushrooms

Since maitake grows in clusters among lots of debris, they require more cleaning than most other types of mushrooms. There are lots of crevices where dirt and twigs can become wedged.

Kickoff by picking off any obvious larger pieces of leaves, sticks, or other organic thing that might be on the mushrooms. Then use a soft brush like a toothbrush to wipe away any more than stubborn soil from the mushroom.

Most of the older parts of the mushroom near the base volition be too tough and woody to consume, then it needs to be cutting off with a sharp knife and discarded.

You'll also want to remove any pieces that look moldy, hobbling, or afflicted past insects and throw them away too.

Like other types of mushrooms, yous desire to avoid soaking maitake since they'll get mushy and soggy from absorbing also much water.

Instead, y'all tin can utilize a damp newspaper towel to wipe each piece of mushroom after you lot've brushed them off. That will assist to remove any residual dirt that'due south nevertheless left backside.

Storing and Preserving Maitake Mushrooms

Since maitake mushrooms are only bachelor in the fall, you'll find large amounts of them but one time a yr. So you will demand a mode to preserve any actress mushrooms for the balance of the year.

Maitake don't take gills similar near mushrooms, so they tend to store ameliorate and not absorb as much h2o when stored, which is helpful.

Maitake freezes well either raw, boiled, or sauteed. Cut them into pieces and individually freeze them on a cookie canvas, then put them in an airtight handbag. They'll retain their freshness in the freezer for nearly vi months.

You can too dehydrate them by slicing them thinly and placing them in a food dehydrator until they're brittle and break in half easily. Drying will toll you some of the maitake's diet and flavor, nevertheless.

The Health Benefits of Eating Maitake Mushrooms

Studies have shown that maitake mushrooms slow downwardly the growth of some types of tumors, particularly breast cancer. They also help to boost the immune organization to help the body meliorate fight off bacteria and viruses.

They can besides aid to control diabetes past reducing blood glucose levels and helping to prevent insulin resistance.

Maitake mushrooms incorporate a number of beneficial compounds like beta-glucans, potassium, fiber, and amino acids. Only in particular, they incorporate loftier doses of vitamin D (good for your nervous arrangement and bone development) and antioxidants.

Maitake has a cumulative consequence, and they need to be consumed for weeks or months earlier you tin expect to detect a significant comeback.

Eating freshly cooked maitake mushrooms will provide you with the most health benefits. But for people who dislike the gustation or texture, it tin exist taken in its dried form in capsules.

Dosage volition depend on what you're taking it for, so contact your physician before starting to consume maitake mushrooms as a supplement regularly.

Don't stop taking any of your current prescription medicine without talking to your dr. commencement, even if symptoms seem to meliorate while consuming maitake mushrooms.

Avoid taking maitake mushrooms within 2 weeks of surgery, if you're significant or breastfeeding, or if y'all have any bleeding disorders.

If you're ownership maitake supplements, buy from reputable suppliers who grow the mushrooms organically and sell 100% extract with no added fillers.

Pair your maitake supplements with vitamin C to help increase the absorption charge per unit of beneficial compounds found in the mushroom.

There have been some limited studies to suggest that maitake may assistance with lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure, as well as outset some of the side-furnishings of chemotherapy, but non enough research has been done to fully dorsum these claims yet.

Why Are Maitake Mushrooms Expensive?

Maitake mushrooms aren't ordinarily institute in supermarkets, and cost more than than more common varieties like button mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, or shiitake.

I pound of dried maitake or a canteen of high-quality maitake extract supplements tin can toll $60 or more than. But why?

In that location's a high demand for maitake mushrooms from a variety of dissimilar industries, which can drive up the cost.

Health supplement companies are very interested in buying them and extracting their polysaccharides, while chefs effectually the world desire to use them in their cuisine.

Some maitake is harvested from the wild, which is more labor-intensive. It'due south more than difficult to farm than other varieties of mushrooms.

It also takes longer to grow, so even for farmers in that location's a longer turnaround time betwixt when a log is inoculated and when they actually accept fully mature maitake to harvest.

Determination

Maitake are a mushroom that is highly regarded for both its taste and health benefits.

These mushrooms are easy to identify, and most similar lookalike mushrooms are also edible, so foraging for them doesn't pose a high gamble.

Notwithstanding, you should still check with an expert and don't swallow whatsoever mushrooms that you tin't 100% positively place.

Maitake abound wild around the base of oak trees and other hardwoods in the autumn.

They tin can be found generally in the northeastern United States, simply also show up throughout North America, Europe, and Asia every bit long equally the climate supports them.

Y'all can attempt growing your ain maitake mushrooms at dwelling using an oak log and some inoculated dowels. Although they take more effort and much longer to grow than other varieties like oyster mushrooms.

If you desire to learn more most types of mushrooms and how to abound them, read my manufactures below:

• A Complete Guide To Oyster Mushrooms
• Complete Guide To Chanterelle Mushrooms
• Complete Guide To Cremini Mushrooms
• Complete Guide To Morel Mushrooms
• Puffball Mushrooms: The Ultimate Guide

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Source: https://grocycle.com/maitake-mushrooms-guide/

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