How to Cook Oyster Mushrooms: Methods & Recipes to Try at Home

How to Cook Oyster Mushrooms: Methods & Recipes to Try at Home

Discover how to cook oyster mushrooms and you will be able to add this tasty gourmet mushroom to a variety of dishes. We share recipes in this article, too

The diverse oyster mushroom comes in many shapes, sizes, and colors. It can be an extremely beautiful mushroom coming in grey, blue, yellow, and pink, but also has a GREAT taste. The common name oyster covers a wide range of species which allows it to have such diversity. Several oysters grow wild here in Massachusetts but tend to get bugs in them when growing outside. If you are interested in how to cook oyster mushrooms, then you’ve come to the right place.  This oyster mushroom is sweeter and has a more subtle taste than shiitake mushrooms. The caps are the most desirable part and the stems should be chopped finely. Where the stems come together at the base of the mushrooms should be discarded. Pink and yellow oyster mushrooms have a much shorter shelf life, so be sure to use these within four days of purchasing them. 

How to cook oyster mushrooms: Keeping it simple

Cooking oyster mushrooms can be a simple task. To begin, brush off any dirt that may be on the oyster mushrooms. Cut the oysters into the size you prefer for your meal. Use a sauce pan or pot. Coat the pan with oil or butter and put it over medium heat. Add your oyster mushrooms. Stir the mushrooms frequently while over the heat, helping them to avoid sticking to the pan in the process. Cook for 5-10 minutes until the mushrooms are lightly browned. You can season the mushrooms with some salt or pepper during the cooking process as well for some added flavor. Here are a few of my favorite oyster mushroom recipes for those interested in how to cook oyster mushrooms as part of a delicious meal:

Mixed Mushroom Ragu

Ingredients: 
  • 4 TBSP extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ LB oyster mushrooms chopped
  • ½ LB shiitake mushrooms destemmed and chopped
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 3 cloves chopped garlic
  • 1 25-OZ jar tomato puree
  • 2 sprigs fresh oregano
  • 2 Sprigs Fresh thyme
  • 1 bunch basil chopped
  • ¼ CUP heavy cream (optional)
  • Salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flake to taste
Cooking Method:   
  1. Heat oil medium-high in a heavy bottom, medium sized saucepot; sear mushrooms until lightly browned.       
  2. Add onions and garlic; sweat until translucent.
  3. Add tomato puree and, oregano, and thyme; simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.         
  4. Add cream (optional). Remove from heat and add basil; season with salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flake to taste.
  5. Serve over pasta or eggplant parmesan.

Grilled Honey Oyster Mushrooms

Ingredients: 
  • 1 LB oyster mushrooms left in clusters
  • ¼ CUP soy sauce
  • 3 TBSP honey
  • 2 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1 TSP grated ginger
  • Pepper to taste
Cooking Method:
  1. Turn on grill and heat grill pan.
  2. Combine, soy sauce, honey, garlic ginger and pepper. Marinate mushrooms for 15 minutes.
  3. Grill mushrooms on both sides until slightly charred; serve immediately.

Tempura Oyster Mushrooms

This last recipe comes from the mushroom lovers at the Mycological Society of San Francisco. Here is the recipe they recommend: Ingredients:
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup very cold water
  • 2/3 cup pastry flour
  • 1/3 cup cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • Salt
  • 1 pound oyster mushrooms, cut or torn into large pieces
  • Oil for deep-frying
Cooking Method: First, you slightly beat the egg in a mixing bowl. Add the cold water, flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. This will make a thin batter. Also, using pastry flour will aid in making a light batter. Dip the oyster mushrooms into this batter. Heat the oil to 375º F and deep-fry the mushrooms until golden brown. Drain the mushrooms on paper towels and serve immediately.

Remember! A few tips to keep in mind when cooking oyster mushrooms

  • This mushroom is sweeter and has a more subtle flavor than shiitake. 
  • The caps are the most desirable part.
  • The stems can be chopped finely and cooked.
  • Oyster mushrooms are amazing with fried eggs, omelettes, or in pasta dishes. 

You can grow your own oyster mushrooms at home for freshest, most-local edibles around

If you are interested in growing mushrooms oysters are a great one to start as they grow on a wide range of materials and grow very quickly.  We offer a range of oyster mushroom growing kits and spawn that you can use at home or in your garden. The spawn and kits we provide are professional quality, as they have been used in commercial mushroom farms throughout the northeast. Our kits are great for growing up to two pounds of fresh mushrooms. The kits come ready to fruit and will begin producing mushrooms 10-14 days after you cut holes in the package and start misting them daily with a spray bottle.  The oyster mushroom strains we provide as kit, sawdust spawn, grain spawn, and plug spawn include the blue oyster, pink oyster, yellow oyster, and the king trumpet. Check out all of our mushroom kit options now!
Back to blog