Chicken Of The Woods On Conifer - Toxic?

[@LearnYourLand]

If you're interested in learning how to identify 100 trees, check out my newest online course Trees In All Seasons. Registration is open till Monday, May 22: courses.learnyourland.com/trees-in-all-seasons

[@grob420]

​@@Z-Uniteverywhere u can man. Legal or not 😉 just try not to get caught. I did but they just warned us to get out.

[@chuckbailey6835]

Adam can you do some more videos on how you use or cook your edibles? Thanks

[@johntrevestal912]

Hey Adam, congrats on putting together what looks to be an awesome course. Well worth the money for some, but way too expensive for me. Perhaps, as a suggestion, offer the course in the future with the option to study by region...making it more affordable because it's maybe 30 trees or less... Peace man

[@Morrisbraga-jm9lc]

Psilocybin and psychedelics in general are just amazing. Saved my life honestly from addiction and depression. 6 years totally clean. Much respect to mother nature the great magic shrooms

[@ErnestoHorner88]

Hey mates! Can you help with the source? Really need 😢

[@DonnDenisse]

Yes sure of Pedroshrooms

[@canerbakar-jv2si]

I'm so very happy for you mate, Psilocybin is absolutely amazing, the way it shows you things, the way it teaches you things. I can not believe our world and our people shows less interest about it's helpfulness to humanity. It's love. The mushrooms heals people by showing the truth, it would be so beneficial for so many people, especially politicians and the rich who have lost their way and every other persons out there.

[@LouisaDellert-r9i]

Where do I reach this dude? If possible can I find him on Google

[@Mathhew-y6b]

Yes he's Pedroshrooms. I know few friends who no longer suffer ptsd and anxiety with the help of shrooms. Never had to take shrooms after then.

[@Vastafari34]

Do you think you could find another animal to do a short story on like that time you documented the Pileated Woodpecker? That was a FANTASTIC experience.

[@timfrost9452]

RT

[@grob420]

Nice pfp bro

[@missshroom5512]

Hi guys! Michigan here🌎☀️💙….I’m so glad you uploaded this😁

[@zackk2640]

This is my current favorite channel.

[@Dreggz1312]

I actually started this rumor to keep other people from eating my chickens

[@dougzirkle5951]

Actually, if you think about it, since both the sulphur-shelf & the hemlock aren’t poisonous singly, then it should follow that the fungi using the conifer as its growing medium would not be toxic either. It just comes down to whether an individual has an existing allergy to either to begin with. Thanks for covering this!

[@weekendwarrior5303]

I concur with the sentiment that the problem may lay within people not fulling cooking COW. It's easy to cut it in large portions unlike most other mushrooms. And if you're not keen on thoroughly cooking your mushrooms to begin with, it's very easy to eat raw COW. My personal experience was that it ran right through me, but no other discomforts.

[@neonemptiness8152]

Apart from diorea it was great 🤷🏼

[@timsullivan4566]

I don't see how it would have been possible for you to have provided a clearer explanation. Thanks for the service you provide 😍

[@SMR3663]

Your videos are great . Not to dry not over dramatic. And yes I'm a Pennsylvanian so your is relatable for me .

[@kbjerke]

Makes a lot of sense, Adam! Thanks! I hope to go foraging further than my back yard soon!

[@monicamacneille3372]

Super helpful! I've passed up on some incredible chicken mushrooms on conifers in the past and wondered about this.

[@alana8567]

Thanks, Adam! Informative and concise as always. I find most of what you have to share is helpful over here in Michigan, so thanks for keeping these videos coming!

[@notmyworld44]

The Cincinnatus variety of this fungus occurs in the area in which I live (northwest Arkansas), and I have encountered it several times. The common name of Chicken Mushroom is well deserved, because when battered and "chicken fried" (southern style) it tastes remarkably similar to chicken breast meat. It has nearly the same texture, and is remarkably filling and satisfying! I've never tried it prepared any other way, but I should have. Every time I have encountered this fungus it was growing on the ground near the base of an oak tree.

[@tactfulredneck3937]

This is my favorite KZbin channel I'm obsessed 😍

[@chrisblevins5143]

This was a fantastic video Adam! I've heard from many, many people about conifer chicken of the woods being toxic. But I've always said exactly what you stated, it depends on the person!

[@robbutler7281]

A brilliant video on a common topic (CotW). Adam, you are a treasure!

[@Eelbackwards]

Thank you Adam! I have foraged, harvested, and eaten Sulphureus multiples of times with no ill effects. I have even dehydrated it, then added it to food dishes and soups. For comparison, I have dehydrated Pheasant Back which tastes somewhat pickled afterward when eaten.

[@obiwanda]

This is so awesome to see, good information from a popular channel. This will go a long way towards dispelling the constant onslaught of folksy myths and misinformation in the foraging community

[@mikeh2520]

In my experience, I had a good meal of COTW foraged in New Jersey but the next time I found some and cooked them I was met with itchy lips and a mouth that started to swell. A good indicator to stop eating at once. A woman eating the same food had no such symptoms. Somebody in my mycology club suggested that it may have been growing on a tree that I have an allergy to and offered Hemlock as a possible one. I had no idea what tree I had taken them from. For me this mushroom isn't worth the possible trouble. I know that I should be aware of what the actual trees are that I find mushrooms on but I am still learning my tree identification. Thanks for the interesting videos!

[@shineyrocks390]

Outstanding I just ate Giant puffball mushrooms today for the first time. No negative effects as of right now. They were delicious!

[@shannontaylor1849]

Excellent information presented, edited, and narrated especially well. World class. I greatly value your contribution to the cosmos friend.

[@ildiko1vt]

Excellent Adam! Thank you for the clarification that so many people misunderstand.

[@SandiHooper]

Another great video-looking forward to following you this season. Happy hunting!

[@johntrevestal912]

Excellent video! Your proficiency and willingness to share knowledge is helpful and inspiring. Now we need to get you out here to Northern California to help us better understand the chicken of the woods out here and also the boletes! The chicken of the woods we found on Mount Shasta growing on a downed conifer of some type was edible for most of us in a group of about 12 but 2 or 3 people I think experienced stomach problems for a day.

[@fungoidal]

A good common name distinction for cincinnatus and sulphureus is to call cincinnatus "White-Pored Chicken of the Woods".

[@timfrost9452]

I'm excited to find my first Chicken of the Woods hopefully this year! Adam, have you done videos on how to cook mushrooms, make tinctures etc? Im getting more into foraging and would love to have some quality videos to learn from. You always do such a great job on yours that I think it would be very well received! Keep on with the great content!

[@DannaGesellchen]

His course on mushrooms covers all of this.

[@pooter98]

Many years ago a friend gave me some chicken of the woods from NY. We sauted them in butter and they were ok but a little tougher than id like. My husband spent the next 7 or so hours in a state that i can only describe as screaming while violently vomiting. He now has trouble eating a lot of mushrooms and I dont blame him. Ive always wondered what that was about until i saw your video today. It was easy to spot them as your 3rd example!

[@SpaceMulva]

I just eat all the coral and chickens raw on my hikes. Still not dead. Zero fucks.

[@manuelsousa5507]

Here in RI I love the Hen of the Woods. Yesterday I picked wild asparagus! I love your videos

[@barb8190]

Always enjoy watching and learning. Thanks for. your videos

[@Woodlandbill]

Excellent information as usual, I found it very helpful thank you

[@gyandevi3361]

Such sage advice and practical wisdom! So grateful for your videos, newsletters, and classes. Especially love your videos which have given me great joy during times of struggle. The pandemic and serious illness has kept me off the mountain or foraging in the fields. -- Vermont herbalist

[@RNG-999]

Love your videos, Adam. Always a treat when you upload.

[@aedleathers]

Great information, Dr. H.! You're a great teacher!

[@jasonanders7003]

I just watched your garlic mustard video. Your content is excellent. Best of luck to your future endeavors.

[@francinebacone1455]

I always cherish your uploads! Thanks always! :)

[@flowercook3142]

So interesting as always! Especially finding out there are 3 varieties of chickens!

[@timothybrown7779]

You’ve been gone a long time!! Happy to see you back.

[@donnacovel4460]

Adam,I've learned so much from your videos. Thank you for your knowledge.From NW Pa. Happy foraging☮️

[@thecarlislehomestead]

As always, good information. Thank you from North Idaho.

[@gigistrus490]

Respect and admire your sharing of information. Thank you for the education.

[@sapelesteve]

Excellent video & great info on those mushrooms Adam! Hope that all is well. 👍👍🍄🍄

[@tbonky]

Really great info Adam! We love Chicken of the Woods. Important to know some have reactions to them.

[@baharavi]

Very helpful and informative video. I foraged and cooked some chicken of the woods last year for the first time, of the first variety I believe. They were delicious and my stomach had no issues. I hope to return to the spot and find them again this year.

[@gloriacoffey4651]

Appreciate the video and the beautiful mushrooms you found

[@joshuarush5762]

Another Excellent opportunity to learn

[@lisahamm6225]

Hi Adam. I remember being with my mycology group In Ligonier and finding chicken of the woods on a cherry tree. The mushroom gurus in the group wouldn’t even harvest it from the cherry tree. I’ve eaten plenty of these guys too. I can eat a very few at a time. Too much doesn’t agree with me. As always thanks for the excellent video.

[@obiwanda]

you'd be surprised (or perhaps unsurprised) to find out how many "mushroom gurus" spread misinformation

[@southpark159753]

Came back after a not seeing your vids pop up in the algorithm for a bit, you got me into mushroom hunting again and love your work and energy. One note i have is your videos are looking a little compressed, id check video resolution settings on your camera and video compression settings in the video editing program you use.

[@lorenal6137]

I don't think it's extreme to suggest you take proper steps to ensure your health and well-being. I think it is very responsible and ethical. Love your channel Adam!!! Thank you for such rich content!!!

[@Vastafari34]

What a treat, two videos so close to each other !

[@rancidcrawfish]

Glad you mentioned that common things like morels don't agree with everyone. I can only eat them in small amounts, otherwise I'll be nauseous for hours. Same with the conifer chicken of the woods

[@jimketchum3169]

Thanks a million, bud! These videos are always excellent to the nth degree! Is there a hen of the woods video anywhere we can find? I know where there's hundreds of them on downed birch trees, but never dared to eat them, not knowing what to do once they're off the tree.

[@katen1228]

We only find one in the fall ( I am susceptible to poison ivy and oak so I do go much into the timber) but we’ve sauté with veggies but we’ve also dehydrated some of it to add to soups and other items if we want it later winter season.

[@jimketchum3169]

@@katen1228 Thanks, Kate. Never thought of dehydrating them. There may be thousands in this wood lot they cut over the last 5 years or so. Acres of 2"-4" trees just left to rot and they were COVERED with these things last I was there (yep, in the fall). Wonder if I could just put in food grade 5 gallon buckets or should I vacuum seal them? Guess the indians didn't have vacuum sealers back in the day and they preserved them for later, right? Guess now I need to watch a YT on how to saute, lol.

[@katen1228]

@@jimketchum3169 , we’ll dang lucky you. From what I’ve found they come up in the same area, year after year. (I’m in East central Iowa). And normally when I’ve dehydrate them, I put them in glass jars ( just because I think the seal a meal bag: if things are left too long have a funny after taste). Then I vacuum seal the jars. But I’m guessing that if they’re dried out enough they’d be fine. ( you don’t even need to rehydrate then if your adding them to soup or stews since they’ll soak up the water/stock, but we usually rehydrate them first. We’ve done oyster mushrooms also but I don’t care for the taste of those. We’re looking to find puff balls, but haven’t found any in the few years we’ve look.

[@shalacarter6658]

@@jimketchum3169 I have dehydrated Sulphur Shelf by cutting it into pieces and stringing them, than hanging them. You can also grind them when dried and put in food.

[@jimketchum3169]

@@katen1228 Thanks again, Kate. All good info. We have massive puffballs here too, but they're weird (obviously). They never seem to migrate on the wind far from the original after they dry and release about 3 trillion spores. Also weird that you can have, say, a dozen in the same 10 feet or so, and at the end of the season they can be as small as a pea or as big as a basketball, growing 3 feet away from the other. ??? And guess I'd have to watch a YT to see how cook those weirdo's too. I'm in Maine, btw.

[@shainekinson1751]

Excellent video! Thank you for making us smarter by sharing your knowledge. This was a great subject to cover!

[@quitemountainwoman1592]

Thank you 🙏

[@alexlovesfungi]

Another great video. Thanks Adam!

[@danielknisell7018]

Awesome content! Glad I stumbled upon your channel.

[@rewildingus]

You’ve given what I believe to be a pretty accurate description of why some people may get gastric upset after eating chicken of the woods. I’ve experienced with chicken of the woods to see if the age of fungi has an impact and have eaten chicken of the woods at various stages of development and did have mild gastric upset after eating chicken of the woods when it had become slightly aged and crumbly..

[@AOKUrbanHomestead1]

You are amazing, have enjoyed learning from you for years

[@glynnphillips9703]

Thank you Adam ✨️ Your show is awesome

[@Silvertip1958]

I found Chicken of the woods growing on a princess tree on my land. It was delicious!

[@kathylincoln8917]

Thank you for all your knowledge 🙂

[@summerbreeze1955]

Thank you love your vids. Haven't come across c. o. w . in ages I am in the UK, but it is a fave of mine. Luv n light x

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

My first thought was, the hemlock tree itself is edible, specifically the inner bark is a common forage edible and the needles can be used to make tea. The chicken of the woods mushroom is edible. Therefore the chicken mushroom growing on it should still be edible, barring any allergies or attempts to eat it raw.

[@okopnik]

Ditto on the conifer CoW experience. I once found a dead one that had over 40 lbs (!) of L. conifericola on it; between me and my gf and picking only the most tender parts of it, we eventually got through the whole thing. Not a bellyache in the entire lot.

[@paulfollo8172]

Another great video! Thanks for sharing. 👍

[@maverick1740]

I think I found one of these at Todd Nature Reserve in western pa along the green trail.

[@devoidreality7252]

Curious, the laetiporus sulphureus I’m used to gathering in the Oregon coastal forests, grow on fir. Douglas fir is the predominant conifer tree there. I recently moved to the NH/VT Upper Valley and this is a good insight for my future mushroom collecting. Thank you.

[@SuperCameronMan]

Thanks for informative and very useful video, Adam!

[@DavinStewart]

Hey Adam, loved the video and appreciate the clear, concise information as always! Well done and happy to see your subscriber list growing! Here's an idea ... for your 500K subscriber celebration, could you tell us how to grow morels? ;-)

[@frankmacleod2565]

I've been eating sulfureus for years, from whatever trees it grows from. Lots of ones sprout from eucalyptus in central and southern California, I find them mainly on oaks up north here but occasionally on pine trees. None have had any effect on me and I've fed them to a lot of other people with no effect.

[@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork]

Thanks for clarifying Adam!

[@Ragani108]

What a great video! (I hadn't realized COW came out of as early as May!) Thank you for all your awesome mushroom videos- I really appreciate your info and perspectives (and I now carry a bag for trash too when I forage for mushrooms 😊). Thank you!!

[@Vastafari34]

I love your videos dude!

[@frankmacleod2565]

Might I also recommend battering them with tempura batter and frying like a katsu cutlet, they come out wonderful.

[@jizzaymz]

Another great video Adam! ✌🏼

[@SusanAnnePowerOfTruth]

Helpful info from you *as always!* here in New Hampshire. Thank you!

[@rlcwallpapers]

Here in the Canadian Pacific Northwest, I have found them in the city trees, specific trees are Cherry but the ones that don't produce fruit, their leaves are redish. I have found lots last year and really love them. Most likely are the Cincinnatus type I think.

[@edmondndrecaj4377]

I found some today here in jersey went for hike with my dog and I plan on cooking some soon as I get home this would be a first

[@nora-_-]

Last year, we found over 50# of hen of the woods❤

[@katen1228]

WOW! 💕💕💕💕

[@danstone8783]

Have you ever eaten the bulbs like sacks on the back end of the columbine flower? When we were kids my dad showed us that, called them jingle bells. It is a small treat but very sweet and lovely flavor. I wonder if there is anything harmful about eating that?

[@chezmoi42]

You can always google any plant you are curious about. Yes, columbine flowers are edible, but everything else - leaves, stems, roots, seeds - are toxic.

[@shalacarter6658]

I love to eat the backs of lilacs.

[@danstone8783]

@@chezmoi42 Yes I know I can do an internet search. Or I can being the topic up here and maybe Adam will do a video on it and other people can learn who may have never heard of such a thing.

[@chezmoi42]

@@danstone8783 Do you understand why I recommend that, though? I constantly encounter people asking questions in comment sections that can be so easily answered, and I want to encourage them to use their own means to develop a network of knowledge (and to distinguish reliable sources), rather than waiting to be spoon fed by one overworked YT site. Of course we'd all like Adam to do videos on a lot of subjects close to our hearts, but he is only one person, and wants to cover subjects with a fairly broad appeal, to satisfy the more urgent needs of his public for information like this. He is also not the only one making videos on edible plants, so it's helpful to know a variety of them to get the widest range of information, since the subjects vary so much around the country. From Green Deane to Sergei Boutenko to Blanche Cybele Derby and beyond, there are people covering subjects that may apply to your area and your needs while we await the perfect video on your question from Adam.

[@KAFKUBA]

Thank you. I've eaten them without issue. And great tip about alcohol...i have issues with all mushrooms and alcohol intestinally speaking

[@SammeLagom]

Very good video! I look forward to next season here in Sweden I will go out and search for these and try them out.

[@arthadellaanderson4983]

Love your info. Long time subscriber

[@sludgeypop]

Wow good to know. I've been warned off of cotw from conifers for so many years. I'd really like to get my hands on some just to try it now lol

[@wesh388]

Extremely helpful, thank you very much!

[@jakefrechette3224]

Not sure if you're a fan of the High Republic Star Wars books but a lesson from Into the Dark came to mind when hearing this unfortunate news. A padawon is asked why nobody can cross the kyber bridge alone; the answer being that when you cross it you are following all the jedi who have crossed it before you and therefor you were never alone. It may sound like gibberish but that lesson I think applies to us all. You are not alone. Movie recommendation: The princess bride!

[@steezydan8543]

I cultivated what I thought was an orange coloured Oyster Mushroom. Cooked one tiny guy and ate it, tasted pretty good. About 5 minutes later I get this terrible taste in my mouth and start salivating uncontrollably. I had eaten a False Oyster that's FULL of sulfur and my mouth tasted like butt for a couple of hours and I kept burping. Got my sulfur supplement for the decade, TMDWU

[@fourshore502]

didnt you smell the sulphur when you cooked it?

[@lilyw.719]

LOLOL. Well, I'm glad you lived. I hope you will be more careful.

[@Sheepdog1314]

so you know what butt tastes like? LOL

[@patrickbelongea6896]

Thanks, I learn so much from you.

[@nora-_-]

I get them growing on dead stumps

[@matthewb8229]

Here on the west coast, specifically, the south central area, there is quite a debate about finding laetiporus varieties on Eucalyptus trees. Some are adamant they are toxic, others say cooking it well (as per usual consumption practices) renders it edible.

[@GeorgeCoggins]

if your ever near or in scranton PA id love to go on a foraging expedition

[@tarajoyce3598]

Love your channel!

[@MetatronsWing]

Thank you always love your videos😁💙💙

[@LeafyK]

I found L. cincinattus and was so worried that I was misidentifying it because the whitish border didn’t match “chicken of the woods” photos online. Luckily, my optimistic parents had no negative effects after eating it against my advice.

[@CampingforCool41]

The good news is that there really aren’t any poisonous mushroom lookalikes to chicken of the woods that have its key characteristics like the pores and growth pattern.

[@iasimov5960]

I harvested about five pounds of L. cincinnatus yesterday. It's in the freeze drier today.

[@101DEIAN]

What part of PA are you in? I just got my first ever chicken today in Stroudsburg and wound up on your video to confirm it was the right one. Thank you for making these videos.

[@LearnYourLand]

Western Pennsylvania, north of Pittsburgh.

[@goodun2974]

Sulfuratus is common here in Southern New England; Cincinnatus less so. I'd really love to see some cooking lessons and recipes for these fungi. I tried basic sautéing with peppers and onions but the mushrooms were still a little chewy and somewhat bland. Can they be tried and reconstituted? Or frozen? Is the texture any different afterwards? What is the best way to cook them to get them to absorb flavor from the other items added?

[@kallisto9166]

I believe you are supposed to boil then fry them. Without that boiling stage they remain too hard.

[@alana8567]

I've been doing a lot of experimenting with mushrooms lately, so I thought I'd share some tips I've learned. Polypores get tough when they are overcooked or too old. Most dry well and can be powdered in a coffee grinder for soup stock despite age. If you want a good sautée, it helps to harvest them when they are tender and slice them thinly. If you can drag a knife through it with the same ease as butter or cream cheese, cook it. Otherwise, powder it for soup stock. Gill mushrooms work well in soups, stir fries, or sautées. If you get a mushroom species that shreds easily, like Lions Mane, you can cover it in BBQ sauce and use it in place of pulled meat. If it's merry, but does not shred, like portobello, try simmering it in soup stock or wine, butter, and herbs. It, too, will make a great meat substitute. You can also grill them. Sweet mushrooms, like dryad saddle (pheasants back), work well with sweet and sour or teriyaki. Whereas earthy tasting mushrooms are better with savory flavors. So, if you want the most out of your mushroom, think about the base texture and flavor of that mushroom. Mushrooms behave like a protein in dishes, rather than a vegetable, surprisingly often. Go for the complement rather than flavor absorption.

[@goodun2974]

@@alana8567 , thanks, I appreciate that! Any experience with shrimp of the woods? I found a bunch of them last fall; I tried battering and deep-frying them as some folks on KZbin do but wasn't impressed with the results (the batter is on the edge of burning before the fungus has a chance to cook).

[@chezmoi42]

@@kallisto9166 If you find them too hard, then you have waited too long to harvest them. When they are fresh, they are quite tender and can be broken apart easily. No reason to boil them, unless you are making a stew. I sliced mine thin, then sautéed them gently in butter until they had a nice crispy texture, like thick cut bacon. They made a nice last-minute addition to a sort of stir fry, and I ate the rest as snacks, almost like chips.

[@nickwhite2569]

Deep fry them just like you would fried chicken. Seasoned properly, it tastes EXACTLY like fried chicken. I've had people think I was completely lying to them and playing a joke. They thought I had fed them actual chicken and refused to believe it was a mushroom.

[@NathanYospe]

Anecdotally... three out of five of a group that had eaten Laetiporus sulphureus many times before, got stomach cramps after eating a relatively conservative serving harvested from a eucalyptus stump. I was unaffected, as was one other person, but the other three were in distress for several hours.

[@colingeer479]

In the UK, COW is sometimes found growing on Yew trees and they WILL be poisonous because most parts of the Yew tree are poisonous. I'm not sure if the UK varieties are the same as in the US or if you guys have yew trees as commonly as we do but it's something to be taken into consideration for sure.

[@knurlgnar24]

We have Yew in the USA but they don't typically grow like trees, more like lower bushes. Good info. My sister sometimes eats Yew berries even though I've mentioned they're poisonous. I guess it hasn't bothered her yet.

[@hsqueen5907]

Long time no see, thanks for video.👍