Foraging For Dryad's Saddle | Pheasant Back Mushroom

Morel mushroom hunters are often greeted with this polypore species during the spring months. Known as Dryad's Saddle or Pheasant Back (Polyporus squamosus aka Cerioporus squamosus), this mushroom is edible during certain stages of its growing season. Check out the video to learn more!
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[@nordion84]

Adam I hope you get your own show on TV, I love your channel and your presentation style. It's also great to get deeper info, both on a scientific and cultural level. A very strong balance that I can't get enough of!

[@LearnYourLand]

Hey Bill, thanks for the kind words! Glad you're enjoying these videos.

[@dmithsmith5880]

Bill Brown Unfortunately to have a show this informative and helpful on mainstream tv would be swatted down in a heartbeat by big gov.. then It would be squashed beyond recognition before it even made it in the door.. This type of beneficial stuff is the governments enemy.

[@lc9594]

Be careful of you tube they are cracking down on any free thinkers!

[@kmgh17]

Completely agree ! Would love to watch it. Such amassing and important knowledge !

[@charronfamilyconnect]

Dryad's saddle is the consolation (2nd place) prize for not finding Morels, I have always been told. LOL!!

[@adrianjerry7555]

B Charron sums up my morel hunt in northern wisconsin yesterday :p

[@charronfamilyconnect]

Its sums up most peoples hunt. It took me 5 years afterall to find my first morels. :)

[@andrewmontgomery6315]

Yup exactly

[@animallover5626]

That’s exactly how mushroom hunting today went for me. lol 2nd place woohoo!

[@ladyofthewoods2448]

Makes me want to get out in the woods. When I’m in the woods I have no worries no neg thoughts it’s my favorite place 🍄🌱🌲🥀🌾🌳

[@bluedogsurvive6501]

Really like how you speak to us that don’t have a lot of knowledge on mushrooms, thank you👍

[@josephonesta6416]

Thanks to you, Adam. I just had a wonderfully tasty treat. It was the first time I've ever picked my own wild mushroom. I felt safe with this one. You are a star.

[@scottholliday9308]

Just to let you know. I watch all of your videos, and have learned a lot from them. Just want to say thank you for your knowledge.

[@gregkral4467]

dude, you are a beautiful soul, thank a lot for your vids, Love ya dude, please keep it up.

[@killslay]

I literaly just found one of these earlier today and took a picture to identify later, now this shows up on my recommended... I'm getting out my tinfoil hat

[@vixenred]

RJ aliens!

[@tashacherry1480]

These grow like craaazy across the street from my parents house. Like 1000 Of them! I'm sooo glad I found this channel ☺

[@ConstantChaos1]

I wonder what it is if it has gills lmao

[@user-pg7uj4bp4q]

same here but i was also typing identifying characteristics into Google. i told Google those things in confidence....

[@learningtolivewithhumans1859]

ahahah its just the KZbin AI she is a sneaky little bi%$%^ hhaha

[@ohsoloco5113]

Thank you so much for these videos. My son and I were out trying to find our first morels and i saw what I thought was dryad's saddle (from watching your videos). I came back home and watched this video again and was able to harvest my first wild mushrooms. My son is really good at spotting them, and we came home with an entire bag full.

[@TNOutdoorsFanatic]

These mushrooms have started popping up everywhere on my farm in East TN this week. Thanks to your videos I was able to identify it, and will give them a try.

[@robinconkel-hannan6629]

dryad's saddles do have a wonderful flavor even though I have found them all to be too tough to eat.. I dry then powder them to use in teas, soups, broths, omletes and just about everything.. The powder can also be sprinkled on salads, steaks, sandwiches, etc...

[@carliecastillo4445]

What does the tea taste like? Do you add anything to it?

[@JJLom777]

I've had that experience, too. Cut them into really thin slices. I find they're more edible that way.

[@Forevertrue]

Thank You! This is important information. Every state needs someone like you informing the natives of the local bounty.

[@Krantzofficial]

Love your videos buddy. Regarding when the Dryad Saddle is fully edible, I've found that just as long as the pores haven't started to open so the underside still looks 'smooth', the whole mushroom is still tender- I found a few this year that were 12 inches in width that were absolutely fine! Also to note - used as a substitute for meat in a chow mein and was delicious!

[@MrGreenotwo]

You're an amazing individual. Because of you I am capable of eating better then I ever have! I hope many more people find you and use the information you give away freely due to the valuable nature of what you say.

[@whitneymacdonald4396]

I just love your enthusiasm. It's 11:30 at night and I want to go run out in the woods and look for this right now after watching. Thanks for working so hard to learn your land and for sharing what you know.

[@tarnishedknight730]

It may be a little late but, Whitney if you're going to run out into the woods, at night, to look for mushrooms... at least put on a robe.

[@jeil5676]

You make the best wild mushroom video's I've seen.Very thorough and you include little tidbits that i haven't heard others mention. The video and sound is optimal also. Great work!

[@JayHughart]

My Neighbor has cancer. I stepped around her house and found 5 nice ones. I told her that medicine often is found closeby. You just confirmed what I suspected. Thanks for taking the time to make super informative and well done vids!

[@LearnYourLand]

You're welcome, Jay. And you're right... it seems that all the medicine we need is just a tree stump away.

[@AdeleHawkins-yh7tj]

This was the first wild mushroom I ever learned to identify! Even though its watermelon scent is unmistakable, I did get nervous eating these at first, but thankfully I have learned how to identify it and have found some later season dryad's saddle! Thanks for this video. I was so excited to see some fresh dryad's saddle in late August, even though this is more of a spring mushroom. It is so lucky that this mushroom has such a distinct scent, which makes it difficult to confuse with other wild mushrooms.

[@gmapeppy1268]

Thanks. My neighbor just gave me some today. Cooking them up right now. Thanks for the valuable information.

[@GunnerGibbons]

Thanks Adam, I did just harvest a large specimen today on a living tree not for eating but rather to make a tea. It was great to watch another fantastic video from you.

[@ZophiMichaels]

8:11 I actually found a quite large specimen today and the entire thing was moist and fresh, much larger than the ones you said were the maximum size you'd recommend. It tastes good too, eating some right now.

[@brendaweaver9645]

It is the consolation prize! I find these every year when i go out looking for morels and i found way more dryads this year so far than morels. I didnt know the medicinal or the nutritional value just that i love the way it tastes and smells so thanks for that Adam. This is probably my favorite mushroom to eat. This will be the 1st time i will be dehydrating the thicker ones. i didn't know you could do this so I'm excited about it. I have learned a lot of new things this year. Thanks again Adam!

[@LearnYourLand]

You're welcome, Brenda! I'm also happy to hear that this is probably your favorite mushroom to eat!

[@N-VAMusic]

Your explanation of the Latin name is very helpful. We'll the whole video really but I struggle with Latin names and often look for common names.

[@LearnYourLand]

I find it difficult to remember all the Latin names, though when I figure out what those words actually mean, recalling them becomes much easier! Thanks for watching.

[@janebooth9867]

I just found a whole bunch ... I love the woods.

[@hannahgrim6804]

Thank you so much for this! I found a dryad saddle while morel hunting this morning. now I’m sitting here binge watching your videos with a bowl of dryadcream sauce over noodles!

[@mattminium2411]

thanks again Adam. This year was the first I ever took notice to the dryads saddle. Maybe because there was so many of them. I told my morel hunting friends that I would have to look up what kind they were but before I got a chance you posted a video on them. you are so very informative and I always look forward to your videos. my friends and I say that we feel smarter listening to you talk. If only feelings counted.

[@LearnYourLand]

Hey thanks, Matt! Feelings count, for sure! Glad you found this video useful, and thanks so much for watching and commenting.

[@robinconkel-hannan6629]

When I first started foraging mushrooms, I passed up a fallen tree covered with hundreds of interesting mushrooms.. I didn't have my camera with me but I took a sample home.. Later I discovered that they were oysters but a diferent color from my field guide.. By the time I got back there, they were all ruined.. That was about 10 lbs of choice mushrooms.. Now, I take my camera everywhere I go.. When I see something I don't recognize, I take a shot and a sample for later identification.. Since I now have a smartphone, I also take it and can look-up the item as I look-at it..

[@queenieburgers50]

I foraged this and cooked it up for the first time today. I used avocado oil, sprinkled some salt on it, the mushroom had gotten a little dry and omg I loved it, tasted like bacon or jerky, really excellent flavor and not too chewy. I didn't smell cucumber or watermelon rind, it smelled like mushroom, any time I smell a mushroom, some smell stronger or better than others, but it's always mushroom. 🤷‍♀️ This has easily become one of my favorites quickly, have some old ones, going to dehydrate them, thank you so much for the idea, I didn't want them to go to waste. Morels grow by the same tree that dryad's saddle grows on? I didn't even look... lol awesome video!

[@tashacherry1480]

OMG thank you soo much I've seen these by the literately the 1000's across from my parents home. Have ALWAYS wondered if they're edible. Guess what's for lunch tomorrow☺

[@ursulamccarty3039]

I found this video while searching for information on preserving Morel mushrooms. I harvested quite a few Dryad's saddles with my morels and thanks to your information, was able to saute some for dinner and put some in the dehydrator. Thank you so much!

[@hannahjordan1515]

This year in England, I have found pheasant back and chicken of the woods. But unfortunately they were both too old to consume. But always a pleasure to recognise a potentially edible mushroom.

[@davidy4375]

Thanks so much Adam. I found a bunch of these mushrooms today, on a fallen sugar maple, while picking about 30 pounds of fiddleheads near Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada. It really caught my eye, like it was full of dark brown feathers, and there's really no new mushrooms growing here yet, so that seemed odd too. It's about 4-5" diameter, soft and very clean looking, so I figured it should be edible. Came to KZbin for more info and found your video first. Just subscribed to your channel yesterday and learning a ton of good stuff already. Going to go cut up some onions and Garlic now and fry some up.

[@rayfordwilkins5009]

Just found like 25 pounds of "Dryads Saddle," .......It was amazing! sauted with butter, olive oil, salt, and pepper, and it was better than I imagined. I think I enjoyed it more than "Chicken of the woods." Thank you for your shared knowledge 🙏

[@rjiggy07]

What I've learned from years of experience, You almost need to bring the skillet to the mushroom! They get tough with age after gathering, like hours, not days. Take your knife and cut into the margin, the edge, until you meet a little resistance, stop and do so again at another spot on the edge of the mushroom. You cut that margin off. Pheasant Back grows from the margin out. So you are taking the most recent growth. I find that large, newly flushed specimens are the easiest and give the most edible mushroom. Do not wash with water, just wipe off with damp paper towel, cut them up to your desired size and get them into a hot skillet with your favorite oil or butter. DO NOT PUT IN THE FRIDGE OVERNITE! that was my first mistake a long time ago. You cannot over cook mushrooms! But you should always cook mushrooms for at least 10 minutes to remove the Hydrazine, that all mushrooms contain. One of the best uses of Box Alder Trees, if not the only one..lol.., is that Pheasant Back can usually be found on the dead part, (all Box alder trees have a dead part). Find Box Alder and you will find Pheasant Back. Ps, I run across some information that states that this mushroom makes great homemade paper.. yep, they get tough! My Pheasant Backs flushed three times last season! Don't stop looking for them between the frosts!

[@Hizzownself]

Thanks!! Found some of those today on an ash that's distressed due to ash borers. Out of season, sure, but it's been a very strange start to autumn - mini-drought in our area, after a very hot summer. These guys sprouted up almost overnight after some rain. My first harvest of these and I'm pretty excited.

[@TheJerkMeister]

Nice I came across uncountable amounts of these the other day!

[@starlight_shala]

I found my first Morel and Dryad Saddle today! Only one of each but there's more rain to fall and sun to shine ☀️☀️☀️I love your videos and headband😉many thanks!

[@bouncerslabrealnature9143]

Love the Dryad saddles. 😉 Onions and Butter make them delicious 😋.

[@TW-il4vy]

You're simply awesome. I don't subscribe often, but I just did to your channel. Please keep up the great work!!!

[@watrgrl2]

Just found your channel. Very professionally done and great video work! I live in Oregon so i have some great mushroom picking territory. You really have a gift for teaching. I’m learning so much from you! Keep up the great work here! Obviously subscribed and liked ! I wish there were some way to give a special ‘like’ that would tell others “this is a very high quality education channel” id give you one of those if i could🍄🏆🥇🎖🏅5️⃣⭐️’s

[@jeffseaton5193]

You put out some very informative videos and I always enjoy them. Thanks Adam!

[@seanmcfall4829]

I love your videos man! I'd love to go foraging with you someday!

[@christihelsel]

Thank you Adam! Your videos are informative and delightful!

[@fungusenthusiast8249]

I found some dryad's saddle and morels today! First time, too. I was so excited.

[@steezydan8543]

The smell is definitely unique. It's so SWEET smelling, like you're inhaling sugar, It just rained yesterday and they got saturated full of water, so even the big ones were nice and supple

[@jayyoung5423]

That was a very good tutorial. As a new mushroom Hunter I found my first 2 smalls on a living maple tree in my yard...consulted 2 field guides and your video, they are without a doubt pheasant back, they were 10 feet up the tree where a large branch broke off many years ago. I really enjoyed your video, subbed.

[@LearnYourLand]

Thanks, Jay!

[@lp376]

Thank you so much for this video! It helped me correctly identify a beautiful dryads saddle specimen. And love your tips for preparation and cooking as well.

[@momkeithrafferty]

Before finding Adam's videos, I'd found one of these and thought "fairy's punchbowl." Thanks for all the great info, Adam!

[@all4180]

Never seen this mushroom before, until today. And found dozens, maybe hundreds! All on old dead or dying elm trees, as you suggested. Near a small river. Most were too old to eat, but picked a few younger ones to try out. Thanks for all the tips and information Adam!!

[@LearnYourLand]

Awesome! Glad you found some!

[@shannabolser9428]

Thanks for the very considerable amount of info on the Phesents back mushroom.

[@jimf1964]

I love learning about stuff like this, especially when I e seen it around all my life, and never knew. Your videos are amazing, your enthusiasm is obvious. Sometimes you're maybe a tad too enthusiastic and blast the info a little too much, too fast, but they're still the best out there.

[@clairetomkinson8470]

This was the most helpful and informative video I have seen in a while. I loved it! And I am positive I have found a dryad's saddle now. Thank you!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Great overview, very informative!

[@LearnYourLand]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@metalheadforager]

Just found some in my backyard! Thanks for the deeper insight and help of properly identifying.

[@billwilson4768]

Love this dude! Can't wait for his class at WCC college

[@Zippy1wood.]

Your awesome I don’t know how you remember all the scientific names but your pretty damn smart I’ve learned a lot from you thanks from Massachusetts’s!!!!!

[@Chiefchief4444]

An excellent video, as always. Thank you!

[@LearnYourLand]

You're welcome, and thank you!

[@gpvaneron1584]

another great video, glad you gave this one some proper attention. One of my favorite parts of watching your videos is realizing all the Latin names I've been butchering

[@newshaman7251]

I just found a huge cluster of Pheasant back the other day, 10 to 15 pounds from a single stem. It was 25 degrees outside and froze solid. I find variations year round in North Al. also just found about 20 lbs of oysters on the same tree.

[@MidnightsGleam]

This is the first video I’ve watched by you and I’m immediately subscribing!! Love your videos thank you so much!!

[@LearnYourLand]

Thanks, Jennifer!

[@leedavis6354]

I found this today when searching for morels and I am so excited to try it. Thank you for all your information I have learned so much from you

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

Another very good mushroom to look for on hikes around the woods.

[@thodinh4429]

Very good video, Adam:) Thank you so much, you really inspire people get into fungi world.

[@smileq1830]

Thanks Adam. I see a lot of them but I scare to try out, I learned a lot from you.

[@gm-wt9ei]

Best description I've ever herd. Amazing job. Subbed and liked

[@stephanieking4135]

I found this today and just had a feeling it was edible... soooo excited now! Ty for the info!

[@rerawho]

Today I found half a plastic grocery bag of these fine mushrooms. It was fun collecting them and were all pretty young specimens. I didn’t have time to prepare a dinner with them and hope they will fair well in the fridge until tomorrow night.

[@jennasanders2664]

I found one of these today and ate it for the first time! Thanks for making these videos, they are very informative and I love your passion for eating a natural diet straight from nature 💕

[@edpep43]

Thanks for posting this awesome video!!!

[@brandonlivingston5163]

Found some and used your video as one of many of my resources! Thanks. New sub!!

[@fsagar711]

You are doing a great job! God bless.

[@charronfamilyconnect]

Holy crap man, I wrote my comment even before I viewed your video, and it was funny to hear you use the same term about this mushroom being the consolation prize. LOL!!!

[@LearnYourLand]

Haha, we think alike!

[@leahstopher331]

I'm excited to look for these along with morels very soon here in Illinois. Thank you for the great video!

[@LearnYourLand]

Hope you have a successful mushroom season ahead of you!

[@leahstopher331]

Thank you!

[@deepwaters3335]

Thank you so much... I am teaching my self and you are so great... Im going to taste Dryad's Saddle and Old Man of the Woods tonight. Love your presentation.

[@ustickx]

Awesome level of detail on the fungi identification, composition and processing in this video so have a subscription!

[@LearnYourLand]

Thank you! Much appreciated!

[@stanpustylnik]

Adam, thanks for your videos. We just found this mushroom. Friend forwarded me this video as proof of mushroom specimen.

[@LearnYourLand]

Awesome, thanks for watching!

[@twinkie_doodle]

This is SUPER good to know! I harvest some Pheasants Back a few months ago and cooked it but I hated it lol, and now I know why. 1) I tried to bake the pieces with oil and peppers and onions to make fajitas....I guess the baking dried it out. 2) I harvested HUGE specimen, and used almost all of it. So I must've eaten some older, tougher pieces. This is super good to know and I'm excited to forage for these next year and try again!

[@lauravirgin8979]

Thanks so much … I love your videos ! You’ve taught me so much about mushroom hunting. Just found some dryads saddle today

[@blankx15]

You just earned a sub. Really great content. I wish you do harvest, cook and eat vids too.

[@gabib.1780]

Found them today and picked them for the 1st time 😊 love your channel!

[@kennethbutler1343]

I find these all season long: May-Oct in a Chicago suburb. Both new ones and the giant older ones.

[@m.m.7511]

Salem Ohio in the house... I am now a subscriber! I love your vids...Keep them coming! Please! Hope your morels did good this year...

[@robertj7891]

Super informative video! I'm just starting to get into wild mushroom foraging. I harvested my first dryad's saddle today and fried it in vegan butter and garlic. It was reaaaally tasty!

[@dickfleissner8257]

Thank you for posting.

[@chrislidbury8159]

Brilliant. It's the first fungi, I foraged and, ate.

[@HelenaMikas]

I live in Berlin Germany a city full of trees and forests This year early Sept I came across this over from my apartment .Took images and then identified .Yes it did smell of water melon...Have left mine and watched each day .Made a film yesterday Mainly of the shots in early day and now as it looks to be rotting .Great knowing it will come back next year My version looked like a plates in a rack so will call it the Dinner Service ..Posted a video yesterday Really enjoyed this , especially hearing it's good for the immune system ...👍

[@charlesfredrick4789]

Just had dryad saddle, fiddlehead fern, and ramps. With trout for breakfast. Yum!

[@williamhubel4643]

Excellent content, thanks for the post

[@LearnYourLand]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@JZjosh2468]

I saw some growing up in a tree the other day and I climbed it to get some. It was a wonderful experience.

[@pamelamoore7535]

Picked these today. My first mushroom foraging day after watching lots of your videos!! Sauteed up in butter with garlic over toast w a slice if gruyere cheese!!! Yummmmm!!!! Live your videos! So much great information!!!!!

[@rockcrazygal5166]

Great video, thx for posting!

[@LearnYourLand]

You're welcome, Cathy!

[@thaddeusmikolajczyk9055]

Another informative video I never harvested this mushroom never knew what it was I will now keep y eyes open for it.

[@LearnYourLand]

Awesome!

[@evanatkinson2415]

I’ve found it quite a few times but having eaten it yet. Just found some fairly fresh ones in our woods and going to give them a try. Always love your videos and one of my first references of learning more.

[@24dodgecummins1]

Just subscribed, definitely an awesome video look forward to more.. I'm from Central Pennsylvania

[@LearnYourLand]

Thank you!

[@poetryme7383]

Score:) Adam, you hit the nail on the head with this video. I just found my first fruitings of Dryad Saddle, and you're right, it's unmistakable... in September too, go figure.

[@LearnYourLand]

Awesome, glad you found some!

[@thofer23]

love the channel keep up the good work man

[@LearnYourLand]

Thank you, Tim! Glad you enjoy the videos.

[@wisconsinfarmer4742]

Found some pheasant back on a black cherry stump in the draw behind my cabin. Sauté with milkweed shoots, garlic mustard, soy sauce and a couple small leaves of poison ivy for my immunity booster. Keep up the good work.

[@wisconsinfarmer4742]

Oh, and stinging nettle too.

[@scottturner2529]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Always look forward to your explanations

[@LearnYourLand]

You're welcome, Scott. Thanks for watching!

[@forestgrace9513]

Excellent thank you ! Just found this mushroom today ..

[@LearnYourLand]

You're welcome!

[@jongon8677]

I'm so thankful for your information I love your work.

[@HugsandDrugs420]

Thank you! Found one of these in the forest and asked the internet what it could be. Thank you!