Chicken of the woods White-Pored (Laetiporus cincinnatus)
Grow your own edible and medicinal Chicken of the woods White-Pored mushrooms with liquid culture syringes!
Laetiporus cincinnatus has been named chicken of the woods for it has a taste and texture similar to chicken. Cincinnatus refers to Cincinnati, Ohio where it was first discovered. It grows in the hardwood forests of eastern North America and is considered a delicacy. There exists several different types of Laetiporus mushrooms that are spread throughout North America and Europe. It is rich in polysaccharides, which the body uses as a primary source of energy. Currently being studied for its medicinal benefits, it has shown promise to be a great health booster!
- Anti-cancer*
- Antibacterial*
- Anti-inflammatory*
- Antioxidant
Laetiporus cincinnatus differs from Laetiporus sulphureus with its white pores instead of yellow. It also grows on the ground in rosette like structures at the base of a tree, almost always oak. Its fruit body is a golden-yellow color that turns pale beige or grey as it ages. The whole fruiting body is usually edible as long as it is cooked. As its name suggests, it is a great alternative to chicken for vegetarian meals.
OutGrow® is proud to present a full line of edible and medicinal mushroom cultures. Economically priced so that everyone can enjoy the wonderful hobby and benefits of mushroom cultivation. Our cultures are made by experts and are 100% clean and viable.
The liquid culture syringes are between 10 and 12cc and are ready to inject to your substrate of choice such as sterilized rye berries.
*This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
How to Identify Laetiporus cincinnatus
Laetiporus cincinnatus is easy to identify, with a bright orange in color that can be spotted from afar. They tend to grow at the base of dead trees, especially hardwood trees like cherry, beech, and oak trees.
Their smooth, slightly wrinkled caps grow as small shelves on top of one another and are typically large, ranging from 2-10 inches in size. They can grow as tall as one meter. The bright color of the body becomes pale towards the edges. When they're still young, their caps are distinctively orange in color; however, as they mature, the color fades.
One unique feature of this species of mushroom is that they don’t have a stem. The caps grow directly from dead or dying deciduous trees.
Chicken of the woods are polypore mushrooms, which means they produce thousands of tiny pores. When you look at its underside, you will notice a white pore surface or print, with colors ranging from yellow to white.
They can also be found growing under coniferous trees – but these should be avoided. The ones growing on conifers will absorb some of their oils and toxins that may cause illness. The Laetiporus cincinnatus mushroom can grow anywhere in North America and Europe as long as the conditions for its growth fit.
Their peak growing months are summer through fall, and they thrive in the rain. So, expect to find them in warm areas that experience regular downpours.
Mushrooms That Look Like Laetiporus cincinnatus
There are three common edible species of chicken of the woods: Laetiporus cincinnatus, Laetiporus sulphureus, and Laetiporus conifericola. These three species are very similar but may differ slightly on where they like to grow, as well as their distinguishing features. For example, Laetiporus cincinnatus mushrooms have bright pores and are typically white, whereas Laetiporus sulphureus mushrooms have yellowish pores. Another difference is, Laetiporus sulphureus is more yellow in contrast to Laetiporus cincinnatus’s bright orange color with yellowish edges. Laetiporus conifericola, on the other hand, is a more dull shade of orange.
Jack-O-Lantern mushrooms look similar to chicken of the woods. They're also a member of the polypore family, are orange in color, have large caps, and grow on dead hardwood trees. However, they are very poisonous. In order to tell the difference, you can look on the underside of the cap; you will see gills, and they may also have stems. Chicken of the woods have neither gills nor stems.
There is also the velvet top fungus which differs from the chicken of the woods with its velvety texture and brownish coloration on the top surface.
Preparing Chicken of the Woods
Harvest the mushrooms, leaving about an inch from the host tree. Clean them in running water to remove any dirt, bugs, leaves, or tree debris on them before allowing them to dry.
The simplest way to prepare chicken of the woods is sautéeing them in butter. Heat the butter over medium heat, break the mushrooms into sizable pieces, place them in the butter oil, and cook for about five minutes. Add your ingredients and cook for another five minutes. For a richer taste, pour in white wine and continue cooking for five more minutes. Afterward, stir in lemon juice and chopped parsley. Serve.
