I think I stumbled on some chicken of the woods last weekend when getting my bow stand ready. Never harvested the stuff before, but wouldn't mind giving it a try. What threw me for a loop was the bright yellow underside. But from what I've read, there's not much else out there for look alikes. Can anyone tell me from the pics if thats what this is? Seemed to be a pretty good sized cluster. I saw this on Saturday 9/5, will it still be ok to harvest on Friday 9/11? Rainy and cool (40s and 50s) this week.

How do you like to cook it up?

Looks tough and to far gone

X2

That’s it. We had our first one last week. Did taste like chicken. We cut in smaller pieces, rolled in egg, flour with salt, pepper and paprika and fried. A word of caution. I had a problem with digestion so don’t eat a big lot first time. Look very closely for worm holes and worms. Had to cut around and remove them.

Yeah, if it's not already too tough, it'll be shot by the 11rh. Also, make sure it's NOT growing on conifers, like hemlock. I looked around proven grounds last week, but didn't find any.

If they are tender simply fry in butter, if they are a bit tough fry in butter then cook them in a soup.

I Originally found this growing last week...the second pict was from yesterday. I looked it up and believe it is “chicken of the woods” but not going to be eating it without someone with experience putting eyes on it in person. Interesting how it changed over the week.

Sorry, sideways pict. It was growing on a black cherry tree.

That is definetly 100% chicken of the woods or sulfur shelf 100% edible

My favorite! I chicken fry them. Good eats.

When they start getting that faded orange color, they're not really worth picking. When fresh and brightly colored, they're pretty good eating. Sauteed in butter is good, but I like them best cut in 1/2" chunks, coated in flour and fried. Just like anything else, a little flour and frying makes them better.

Yuk

I've eaten Sulphur Shelf for decades. I will only pick it if it is moist enough to actually squeeze water out of it. I use it in casserole, pickled, or just fried in butter. I agree that the stuff pictured is past prime. If you slice it off, it will come back if the conditions are right. You can then get some juicy and fresh.

You're missing out if you don't eat them when they are fresh like that.

My advice: Never attend anyone's first annual wild mushroom feed. Always wait for their second one!

Trim off the growing tips when they are a little more mature and they still are good fare.

Thanks for the info guys. I almost picked it last Saturday when I found it, but didn't have enough cell signal to look it up and verify what it was. Sounds like I need to keep looking for some fresher stuff. I'll try cutting it off and see if it regrow yet this year.

I’ve never had on regrow at all. They just rot away.

They sometimes come back in the same location the next year. Three years in a row on the ones I pictured. Until yesterday it was too dry for them this year. I'll look for them there in a few days though.

have really gotten into the mushroom hunting this year.

Have picked gallons and gallons of chicken, chanterelle, and recently black trumpet. have like two gallons of trumpet in the fridge right now lol.

Always remember. Every mushroom is edible, some only once...