Packed full of flavor and with an impressive nutrition profile to boot, oyster mushrooms should be a welcomed addition to a healthy nutrition regime. There are many types of oyster mushrooms, which vary slightly in their taste and nutrition content. We’ll focus mainly on king oyster mushrooms and their health benefits in this article. However, some of the studies cited may have been carried out on another variety of oyster mushroom. The preparation methods that we’ll highlight could be used for any type of mushroom.
The scientific name for king oyster mushrooms is Pleurotus Eryngii. They are also known as king trumpet mushrooms, French horn mushrooms, king brown mushrooms, boletus of the steppes, trumpet royal and ali’i oyster[i]! As its name might imply, the king oyster mushroom is the largest of all the oyster mushrooms. It grows naturally in the Middle East and North Africa. It is also grown commercially in a number of countries throughout Asia, as well as Italy, South Africa, Australia and the US[ii].
King Oyster Mushroom Nutrition
If we take a look at oyster mushrooms nutritional benefits[iii], here are some of the stand-out qualities:
- Very good source of riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and dietary fiber
- A good source of protein, thiamin, vitamin B6, folate, iron, magnesium, zinc and manganese
- Very low in saturated fat and cholesterol
- King oyster mushroom calories are only around 35 per 100g[iv]
Because king oyster mushrooms provide a decent source of protein, they’re a good addition to a vegan or vegetarian diet. They’re not a complete source of protein so be sure to include a variety of different protein sources in your eating plan if you are vegetarian or vegan. This will help ensure you’re getting all your essential amino acids.
King oyster mushrooms can also be considered a low-carb food. At around 5g per 100g they’re suitable for low carb diets such as paleo and keto.
Health Benefits of Oyster Mushrooms
Now that you’ve got a good idea about the nutritional content of king oyster mushrooms, let’s take a look at how that transfers over to benefits for health.
Anti-inflammatory properties
Studies on mice have identified anti-inflammatory properties of oyster mushrooms[v] [vi]. This suggests that they could be a useful inclusion as part of a diet focused on reducing inflammation. Conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and muscular pain are usually characteristic of misdirected inflammation[vii] and could all potentially benefit from a dietary regime that’s high in anti-inflammatory foods such as oyster mushrooms.
May aid in the lowering of cholesterol
Rats have also provided some insight into the potential for oyster mushrooms to help with lowering cholesterol[viii]. In one study, six week old rats with elevated cholesterol were supplemented with king oyster mushrooms. Their total cholesterol, triglycerides, “bad” cholesterol, total lipids and body weight all reduced with the intervention[ix]. These results offer promise for king oyster mushrooms as a cholesterol lowering substance to be used in the human diet.
Other potential health benefits of king oyster mushrooms
Animal studies have suggested that oyster mushrooms have a notable level of antioxidants[x] and could therefore help to keep body cells healthy. They may also have the potential to “boost” the immune system[xi] and help ward off sickness.
Anti-cancer properties are also being uncovered. A study investigating the effects of various types of mushrooms on the growth of breast and colon cancer cells highlighted favorable results with oyster mushrooms. When compared with the effects of portbella, enoki and shitake varieties, oyster mushrooms came out on top. They suppressed the growth of both breast and colon cancer cells more notably than the other varieties of mushrooms[xii].
There is plenty to love about king oyster mushrooms. Not only are they super healthy but they’re also very tasty. Time to get onto figuring out what to do with them!
Preparing Oyster Mushrooms
You can use king oyster mushrooms in the same way you’d use any other type of mushroom. They will enhance the flavor of a huge variety of dishes and can be very simple to prepare. When you’re selecting king oyster mushrooms, (or most other types of mushrooms) at the market, choose ones that don’t appear shriveled or slimy. This will help ensure you’re picking the ones that are in their prime for edible goodness.
When you’re ready to use your king oyster mushrooms, first cut the bottom off the stems. Some people throw the stem away or save it to use in stocks. However they’re also very usable in many dishes so can just as easily be used in most recipes, unless you’re going for a very specific culinary creation!
It’s a very good idea to give your oyster mushrooms a wash before cooking them. This will help remove dirt, dust and bacteria and it shouldn’t affect the cooking process or taste. If you simply rinse them and give them a light scrub if they need it, they’ll only take on a little bit of water. The flavors of the mushroom will still come alive when you cook them.
Oyster mushroom recipes
Here are some simple ideas for tasty and healthy oyster mushrooms:
- Make a vegetarian burger!
- They are a great addition to stir fries and pasta dishes because they cook so quickly and add such a tasty flavor. So throw them into the mix next time you’re making one of these dishes
- Heat a little olive oil in a pan and get ready for fast and delicious sauteed mushrooms. Add the mushrooms to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Cook on a medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes and then serve as a yummy side dish for any meal. They could also be served with poached eggs.
- Roast a tray of them in butter or ghee, your favorite liquid stock, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Make sure you’ve got enough liquid to cover the mushrooms. Cook at 425 degrees for 45 minutes, or until the liquid has been soaked up. Serve and enjoy!
What are your favorite ways to use these delicious and nutritious mushrooms? We’d love to know so please do leave a comment below!
[i] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleurotus_eryngii
[ii] http://medicalmushrooms.net/pleurotus-eryngii/
[iii] http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/3050/2
[iv] https://myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/generic-eryngii-king-oyster-mushroom-208471985
[v] https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3120742/
[vi] https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21575254
[vii] https://webmd.com/arthritis/about-inflammation#1
[viii] https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3749453/
[ix] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3730794/
[x] https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16914248
[xi] https://examine.com/supplements/king-oyster/
[xii] https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19020765
I have been eating mushrooms for a long time and I know King Oyster Mushrooms are one of them.
Didn’t know that they have a lot of health benefits. Great to find out!
Can king oyster mushrooms be frozen?
cook first. see previous message:)
Can raw mushrooms be frozen or do I have to cook them and then freeze???
Cooking for Freezing
Mushrooms should be cooked before freezing. There are two ways to accomplish this:
Sauteing: Heat the mushrooms in a frying pan with a small amount of butter or oil over high heat. Cook them for about five minutes, or until the mushrooms are fully cooked, and most of the liquid has evaporated.
Steaming: To minimize the darkening effect of steaming, soak the mushrooms in a solution of one teaspoon lemon juice or 1 1/2 teaspoons of citric acid to one pint of water for five minutes. Then steam following these recommended times:
Whole mushrooms: 5 minutes
Button mushrooms: 3 1/2 minutes
Quartered mushrooms: 3 1/2 minutes
Sliced mushrooms: 3 minutes
Flash Freeze for Best Taste
Allow the mushrooms to cool completely. Then spread them out on a cookie sheet and flash-freeze them. Once they’re completely frozen, use a spatula to lift the mushrooms from the cookie sheet. Then pack the mushrooms in freezer-safe containers or bags, leaving a half-inch of headspace for expansion, and return them to the freezer.
Squeeze out as much air as possible before you seal the containers. It will help to prevent freezer burn. Frozen mushrooms should be used within a year, though sooner is better.
They are rich in amino acids which will help you lose weight and build more muscle mass.
YEP!
I Love mushrooms and Oyster & King are now my favorites!! I wash them really well then season them lightly and roast in the oven on 350 for 30 minutes!! Nutritious and delicious!!
Oh yum! Sounds delish!
I stir fry mine with garlic, butter, onion, salt and pepper. I also add a little bit of mushroom seasoning and it makes it tastier….alternately, I stir fry it with soy sauce and vegetable oil with garlic and onions. Delicious either way.😋
YUM!
Great article! The sun is also a great source of Vitamin D, which regulates a lot of hormones, maintains our bones, and strengthens the immune system.