Surviving Minnesota!

[Cebarmlds]

Ralphie, how do you do chicken of the woods? If they have bugs like gnat little things, soak in salt water? then fry? Maybe Bogtown has posted this? how do you cook them?

 

[duluthralphie]

If the chicken has bugs, I throw it...

 

[BantyChooks]

If the chicken has bugs, I throw it...

I read that out of context and couldn't figure out what on earth you meant for a minute.

Chickens with lice get hurled across the coop? How does that help? Oh wait....

 

[Cebarmlds]

If the chicken has bugs, I throw it...

Like gnats crawling on it?

OK

 

[Cebarmlds]

Is this a bad time of year for chicken of the woods? is spring better?

 

[duluthralphie]

Is this a bad time of year for chicken of the woods? is spring better?

No, this is the best time for Chicken...I had to leave my recliner to type this on a real keyboard..
By buggy, I mean, wormy or has tunnels in the meat of the chicken.

Not a gnat crawling across the surface.

When picking chicken, you want the edges to be soft but not water logged. You might have to trim the dried edges if they are crispy or rough...

Also the base or stalk of the chicken tends to get a little old and tough. Just keep trying until you get what you like.

Chicken is not my favorite mushroom, but it is better than many others. I like to slice it think and fry it in butter and onion. I have also used it in a wild rice mixture. Boil the chicken first for that, then use the meat as you would chicken (the bird).

Also the fried slices are really good in scrambled eggs. It actually has the taste of chicken in eggs.

I dry a lot of chicken for winter use, it lasts forever.

The only thing I would advise against is making "Chicken Jerky" with it. I have a full tupperware container of it. You are welcome to all of it..

It was a complete failure.


I am not sure what others do. With my extremely limited mushrooming experience, I just look for ways to fix them online. Some of the books I have, have recipes but they seem long and complicated. That is not for me..

Good luck!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

As Ralphie has said there is a happy medium for chicken of the woods. I'm not a fan of the juicy water logged. The texture is not right. Dried out a bit is good and also takes the texture of chicken meat. Just outer rings too. Lobster mushrooms are better. Chanterelles ---thee best...
If you see mini tunnels there is larvae running through them-gross. Definitely throw away.

 

[Cebarmlds]

Thank you for the explanation and sorry you had to get out of the recliner .

 

[Bogtown Chick]

8 containers of frozen peaches done tonight.

They are so good.

 

[Cebarmlds]

As Ralphie has said there is a happy medium for chicken of the woods. I'm not a fan of the juicy water logged. The texture is not right. Dried out a bit is good and also takes the texture of chicken meat. Just outer rings too. Lobster mushrooms are better. Chanterelles ---thee best...
If you see mini tunnels there is larvae running through them-gross. Definitely throw away.

Tunnels. I will look out for those. Thank you.
I don't know if we have chanterelles in the area. I will need to research this stuff.