Golden Oysters (Pleurotus citrinopileatus) are a tropical strain that thrive in warmer temperatures and tend to fruit in summer months. They produce beautiful clusters of bright yellow caps that are a favorite at farmers' markets.

When cooked, golden oyster mushrooms have a mild nutty flavor and aroma that pairs well with most dishes. Oyster mushrooms are great for beginners because they colonize quickly and are reliable producers. 

Note: Aside from being kiln dried, our wooden dowels are not treated in any other way. 

Ideal project size: Plug spawn is ideal for smaller projects of 1-10 logs, though some log cultivators will use them for larger projects. 

Inoculation: On Logs - Prefers Log, Stump, and Totem methods. Colonization is fast and should start producing in 4-12 months. Golden Oyster is a tropical species and prefers to fruit in the summer months. They also prefer softer hardwoods such as poplar and aspen.

Difficulty: Beginner

Golden Oysters are a great mushroom for beginners. They are reliable producers during the warmer months and can be produced commercially.

Cooking: Golden Oysters can easily replace button mushrooms in most recipes and pair well with many cuisines and flavors. Like all Oyster mushrooms, they retain water and may develop a viscous texture when undercooked. If you prefer a firm or dryer texture, continue to cook Golden Oysters until their liquid has reduced and cooked off and they begin to brown. Golden Oyster mushrooms develop a cashew-like flavor when cooked to a slightly crispy texture. 

Properties: The Golden Oyster mushroom has a high protein content, several B vitamins, and all the essential amino acids (Marley, 2009). Its medicinal benefits include promoting anti-tumor activity and lowering high cholesterol. Oyster mushroom fruiting bodies and distillations have been shown to reduce tumor size in several studies on mice, rats, and hamsters (Hobbs, 1995). Additionally, Oyster mushrooms have been used in the Czech Republic as the main ingredient in a dietary supplement used to treat high cholesterol (Hobbs, 1995). Studies in animals have shown that a diet of Oyster mushrooms reduced the development of plaque in major arteries (Bobek et al., 1995).