Laetiporus sulphureus – Chicken of the Woods

Laetiporus sulphureus can be found growing on living or dead hardwood trees from May-November.

It has bright orange caps with yellow edges. Pores and flesh are both yellow. Spore print is white.

Chicken of the woods is considered a choice edible when it is found young and tender. At this point, the mushroom can be breaded and fried or baked like chicken nuggets, sliced thin and sautéed, or used in place of chicken in soups. When the mushroom is older and tougher, it is best used to make stock or dried and powdered for use as a flavoring.

Some people have sensitivities to chicken of the woods, so if it is your first time consuming the mushroom it is best to start with a small amount.

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Written by Amy Demers, founder of the Connecticut Foraging Club. To learn more about foraging in Connecticut, check out our upcoming classes.