Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus)

If you find a specimen of Chicken of the Woods, and wish to harvest it, don’t tell yourself you’ll come back later to get it. By the time you return, someone else will have beaten you to it. That’s been my general experience. All the same, I love finding this cheerful bracket fungus on oaks and occasional other hardwoods. It’s brilliant colouration and thick, fleshy body make it distinctive. It has a mild and pleasant taste and texture, frying well and taking other flavours willingly, a bit like chicken. Caution must be taken however, as some people get stomach upset after eating it. Additionally, the brackets will be toxic if found growing on toxic wood.

What it looks like

Chicken of the Woods can be found in late Spring through to autumn, growing on many hardwood species, typically on mature trees. It is creamy yellow and velvety on its upper side when young, with orange bands. The bracket initially has a swollen look to it, being very thick and fleshy, growing in tiers as a cluster. The bracket then spreads, fading in colour but maintaining an impressive bulk before drying and shrivelling. The underside is of similar colour to the top, with fine pores.

Uses

An edible favourite, harvest the more delicate flesh towards the edge of the brackets, as the body of the brackets closer to the base tend to be woodier. As with any mushroom or other edible, take care to remove only a portion so as to maintain the presence of the mushroom in its habitat. Check, also, that you are certain that it is Chicken of the Woods, and that it is growing on a non-toxic wood. Finally, check for the presence of burrowing insects and other critters, as these brackets can host a variety of life you may not find appetising.