Blue oyster mushrooms are basically regular oyster mushrooms that have some minor variations in color. Blue oysters, compared to brown (or regular) oyster mushrooms have larger clusters and more delicate caps. Blue oyster mushrooms turn gray as they age so don’t be surprised to see gray colored blue oyster mushrooms.
Blue Oyster Mushroom Trivia
- Unlike other oyster mushrooms, the blue oyster mushrooms require a lot of fresh air to fruit productively.
- Blue oyster mushrooms also have one of the highest spore loads of any oyster mushroom variety.
- Blue is just one of the variants of oyster mushrooms. They can come in blue, brown, white, gray, and pink.
- The blue oyster mushroom is one of the most popular mushrooms for home growers because of their ease to grow and beautiful color.
- Madisonville is known as the mushroom capital of Texas.
Blue Oyster Mushroom Buying Guide
Blue oyster mushrooms aren’t available in many supermarkets but they can occasionally be found in specialty stores and farmers’ markets.
The best place to purchase blue oyster mushrooms would be to purchase from the producers themselves. Since these mushrooms are easily grown, you can find many home-based producers that can supply you with freshly harvested blue oyster mushrooms no matter what time of the year it is.
It is also possible to find wild blue in farmers’ markets as they are pretty common in the wild and is one of the favorite types of mushrooms that are picked by mushroom hunters. Unless you have proper training in mushroom identification, it’s best to just buy them from experienced mushroom hunters to avoid the risk of picking poisonous varieties as some deadly varieties look almost like oyster mushrooms.
Blue Oyster Mushroom Production & Farming in Texas
Texas is home to several small-scale mushroom producers as well as large-scale mushroom growers that sell their mushrooms not only in Texas but all around the country as well. Texas is also home to a number of mycological clubs that are dedicated to educating potential wild mushroom hunters on how to properly identify mushrooms.
Wild Blue oyster mushrooms are fairly common in farmers’ markets during the cooler seasons as that’s when these mushrooms thrive. You can also find blue oyster mushrooms and a host of other mushrooms in October at the annual mushroom festival in Madisonville.
It’s very easy to find blue oyster mushrooms in Texas, a quick search on Facebook, Etsy, or even Google can point the way to your nearest mushroom producer. You can also check out our listings here in TRF under the “mushroom” entry and you’d be surprised to see the number of local producers offering various mushroom types, including blue oyster mushrooms.
Packaging:
In Texas, mushrooms are typically packed in paper bags and biodegradable clamshell boxes since they don’t need to travel too far before they reach the consumer tables. For blue oyster mushrooms that are shipped across the country, they’re usually packed in plastic trays with special breathable cling films that allow the mushrooms to breathe while retaining their freshness.
Enjoying Blue Oyster Mushrooms
Blue oyster mushrooms are much more delicate than other varieties. For us, the best way to consume these would be with a quick sauté or stir-fry to just cook the mushrooms while still retaining its delicate flavors and freshness.
That being said, there’s nothing stopping you from using the blue oyster mushroom as a meat substitute since they have a very meaty taste to them. They are also great for stews and braises as an extender or even as the star of the dish.
Storage:
Blue oyster mushrooms are some of the hardiest mushrooms when it comes to storage life. They can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks.
To prepare for storage, clean the surface with a soft and dry brush to remove any dirt and contaminants. Store mushrooms in a partially open plastic box so that they can breathe.
For longer-term storage, blue oyster mushrooms can be dried. To dry them, tear them apart into manageable slices and stick them in a dehydrator. If you don’t have a dehydrator, you can stick them in a 175F oven for 2 hours and air dry them on a rack for 3 to 5 days or until totally dry.
Garlic Butter Blue Oyster Mushrooms:
This is one of our favorite blue oyster mushrooms, and the best thing about it is that the dish can be prepared in a few minutes with minimum preparation and effort.
Ingredients:
Blue Oyster Mushrooms, 12 ounces, sliced into equally sized pieces
Butter, 2 tablespoons
Oil, 1 tablespoon
Minced Garlic, 3 cloves
Salt and pepper to taste
Step 1:
Heat a medium to heavy skillet until hot.
Step 2:
Add the oil to the pan and lay out the mushrooms in a single layer. Allow to brown on one side for two minutes.
Step 3:
Add the butter and garlic and stir everything together.
Step 4:
Once the garlic has browned, remove everything, and transfer to a serving dish.
Step 5:
Garnish with chopped parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste.
