Learning How to Prepare Wood Ear Mushrooms is going to be one of the best new skills you learned this year. We also have 10 fabulous health reasons why you are just going to love this delicious medicinal black fungus.
What do Wood Ear Mushrooms Taste Like?
Wood Ear mushrooms are fun to eat and have this addictive crunchy jelly texture. They have this delicious mouth feel as they are smooth and have this little crunch when you bite into one. These crunchy black fungi are fabulous in many Chinese recipes like our Suan La Tang (酸辣汤) Hot and Sour Soup, Chinese Salads and stir fries, just to name a few. Be sure to give our Wood Ear Mushroom Vegan Stir Fry a try soon. It's is crunchy, spicy and easy to prepare Chinese recipe that is super healthy and delicious too. Wood Ear Mushrooms are very delicate in flavor with a little earthy flavor. They act just like tofu as they pick up any flavors you have going on in the dish. This makes them a delicious way to add texture to any dish you like.
Do you know why they are called Wood Ear Mushrooms?
They kind of look like an ear, maybe even a pig ear. What do you think?
Wood Ear mushrooms are small to medium size and grow in on the side both living and dead trees, cultivated bags of sawdust or wood. This fungus is native to Asia and grows in mountainous regions. You can find this delicious mushroom dried in Asian markets around the world. Fresh wood ear mushrooms can be found in Asia Markets too.
Did you know that Wood Ear Mushrooms go by many names like black fungus, cloud mushrooms, jelly ear, black wood ear, Jew’s Ear and many others?
Rehydrating Wood Ear Mushrooms
Unfortunately, you cannot eat the dried wood ear mushrooms right out of the package. They are hard like bone and need to be rehydrated. This cool looking black top and beige bottom mushroom will puff up to double its size when soak for about 15-20 minutes in warm water. Then, they turn into a dark brown slippery guy. Funny looking fellow, right. However," he" is so delicious.
Once you go through the steps of soaking, cleaning and trimming, they are ready for any dish you want to prepare. Grab a handful of dried wood ear mushroom. Warning these mushrooms enlarge 2-3 times from their dried state when constituted in hot water. First you soak in hot boiled water for about 15 minutes and then drain the water. Next wash wood ear rubbing both front and back really well between your fingers. They will feel slippery in your fingers. Trim off the hard stem with a knife or scissors. Slice or chop for your favorite recipe. Always add last to stir fry recipes as you want your wood ear mushrooms to keep their crunchy texture and not overcook or get mushy.
Wood Ear Mushrooms have Many Health Benefits (Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) benefits…
- High in iron – more iron than eating liver
- Lowers cholesterol
- Anti-thrombotic agent (inhibit platelet aggregation)– if you are on blood thinners, it is best to talk to your physician regarding any restrictions with this type of mushroom. Did you know that after childbirth, it is customary for Chinese Moms to make a soup with chicken, ginger, Chinese wine, red dates, and wood ear for their daughters that have just given birth? This soup is supposed to restore blood loss and to “disperse blood clots.” left in the womb.
- According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) wood ears are cooling (yin) and help provide moisture for the lungs and remove irritations.
- High in fiber.
- According to TCM can help nourish your blood, activate blood flow and detox your blood.
- Reduce the risk of cardio vascular events.
- According to TCM, Nourishes spleen stomach and lungs
- Prevent inflammation. Bring your immunity back to balance.
- Low in fat and sodium. For approximately 8 mushrooms, it is about 80 calories, has 0.3 grams of fat and 5.8 mg of sodium. However, duly noted that this particular mushroom is higher in carbs with about 20 grams of carbohydrate. ( We thought this was odd too. We have checked the carbohydrate count in several different nutrition platforms and it comes up pretty similar.) If anyone knows why, please feel free to let us know in the comment section below. However, at the end of the day if calories in are less than calories out- you know the end result.
Remembering the First Time We Tried Wood Ear Mushrooms
We will never forget the first time we tried a wood ear mushroom at a Chinese Restaurant in Hong Kong. Eating with a group at one of those business types of functions; where someone has done all the ordering and you are held victim to try everything and “respond like you like it”. Who else is familiar with this set up? Fear Factor is a real word and trust us we have been there. Out of the kitchen came the usual Chinese treats such as sea cucumbers, spicy chicken feet, century eggs and one absolutely delicious vegetarian dish.
The life saver of the day was this delicious vegetarian Chinese dish with these addictively crunchy wood ear mushrooms, fresh bamboo shoots, bok choy and a delicious light and savory sauce. We seriously could not get enough of this dish. Loved it! However, we methodically hid the century eggs, sea cucumbers and chicken feet under our rice. Shhh… don’t tell a soul.
The secrets to surviving a Chinese formal business dinner as a foreigner…
- No hands, no feet and no organs. Always a solid rule to go by in our books.
- Pijiu (beer) is always a GOOD IDEA. Maotai ( Baijiu) is generally speaking a BAD IDEA. Baijiu or Chinese alcohol made with fermented sorghum. We lovingly refer to as ring cleaner. It smells and tastes just like it. You can try it if you like but don’t tell us you were not warned.
- Periodically through the evening people will toast you or the group and encourage you take drink. Ganbei (Cheers!)
- Toasting will happen OFTEN. Pijiu is good and baijiu is bad. Always remember that! If you forget, we are going to be coming out with a liver recovery meal plan soon coming your way.
- It will be traditional that others will put scoops of Chinese food on your plate or on top of your rice bowl. Accept it graciously.
- Never take the last scoop of food from one of the shared plates.
- There are sometimes serving chopstick and personal chopsticks. Please use the serving chop sticks to take a little portion for yourself or to give to another person at your dinner party. Use your personal chop sticks to eat.
- Are you aware that you can ask for a new rice bowl at any time during the evening? Do you know how many slices of sea cucumber and chicken feet and other mystery items can be removed from your plate in an evening using this need a new bowl method. It is brilliant! This is a secret that most people do not know is available to them. You can thank us later.
- If your tea pot gets low on tea, just pop open the lid. This will alert the wait staff to refill your tea pot.
- If you are with a quiet group and a person fills your tea cup, please say thank you. If you are with a lively louder group and someone pours your tea, knock your fingers on the table lightly to thank them. Do you know why this tradition is in place? if you had to stop the conversation to say thank you ever time someone poured tea, it would be very disruptive.
- NEVER, EVER, EVER put your chopsticks sticking upright in your rice. Do you know that symbolized death? It completely freaks us out when we see food photographers sticking their chopsticks straight up in a bowl. It is perfectly fine to lay your chopsticks on the side of the bowl or on the table.
- Do not be shocked when there are no napkins at the table. Generally speaking there will be none and if they have it, it might be a box of tissues on the table.
- That also brings up a good point about the bathroom facilities. Bring your own tissues. You can never be sure that they will have any TP or paper towels.
- Have fun and try new things. Make new friends.
How to Prepare Wood Ear Mushrooms
Ingredients
- 1 cup Dried wood ear mushrooms
- Boiling water
enough to cover mushrooms in your bowl - Clean water to rinse
- Knife and cutting board
Instructions
- Add your boiling water to your dried wood ear mushrooms. It should be enough to cover the mushrooms and place a lid on to keep the mushrooms submerged. Soak mushrooms in hot water for at least 15 minutes or until pliable.
- Rinse the mushrooms one by one under the sink and massage under the water until clean.
- Pat dry
- Chop or thinly slice mushrooms for your recipe.
- Wood ear Mushrooms that are rehydrated are best used immediately for that meal only. You CANNOT store rehydrated wood ear mushrooms in water in the refrigerator overnight due to possible cross contamination. See Notes below for details.
- Dried wood ear mushrooms can be kept dry up to a year if stored in an air tight container or bag. Soaked and softened mushrooms need to be consumed immediately.
Bellzy says
I LOVE wood ear mushrooms and have wanted to incorporate them into my cooking for years but have been too afraid to try. This makes it sound so easy! I'm cooking Asian influenced meal next week for 40 people and this will be a PERFECT addition to the recipe. Thank you so much!
HWC Magazine says
Thank you. Delighted you found our instructions on how to prepare wood ear mushrooms helpful. You might also like our recipe for Wood Ear Mushroom Vegan Stir Fry as it is quick to make. Good luck with your gathering. Take Care
Mo says
HI There,
I fry the wild wood ear that I collect. Does frying loose the healing properties do you know?
Many Thanks!
HWC Magazine says
Hi there. Cooking preparations may either enhance or reduce the health aspects of wood ear mushrooms. Here is a study, that may help you "Impact of optimised cooking on the antioxidant activity in edible mushrooms". Stay well and take care.
Kate says
Great recipe and description!
I wanted to ask you about storing the mushrooms - I have been using these for batch cooking (braising mushrooms in broth + soy + mirin mixture) and then storing in the refrigerator for ~7 days or so. Reading your note about risk of spoilage and cross contamination, I am wondering if you know more about this? And whether it applies only to rehydrated mushrooms, or also to those that were cooked?
HWC Magazine says
Hi there Kate. Thanks so much for your question about How to prepare wood ear mushrooms. We love your idea of braising them in a broth, soy and mirin mixture. In order to stay safe, we suggest only soaking enough mushrooms for one meal and one meal only. Any wood ear mushroom leftovers whether cooked or soaked should be pitched after your meal. Do not store soaked or cooked wood ear mushrooms in the refrigerator. I am sorry but batch cooking with this particular mushroom is not advised. Cooking does not reduce spoilage due to cross contamination and we do not want you to get sick. You can read more about it from the Macau food and safety department - https://bit.ly/3b06MSH However, dried wood ear mushrooms if stored properly can last 6 months in a sealed container. Stay well and take care
Carla says
I think Ive had these as a sort of appetiser at a dimsum restaurant. They had a sort of light vinegar on them I think. Do you know what I mean? If so, I wonder how to make it like that -- or is this recipe the trick?
HWC Magazine says
Hi there Carla! Actually, in many traditional Chinese restaurants they serve very thin sliced wood ear mushrooms as part of a salad. I know exactly the recipe that you are thinking of. Will have to get busy and post the wood ear mushroom salad recipe soon.
Becky Shi says
This is very good explain for instruction
HWC Magazine says
Thanks so much Becky. We are delighted to hear that our instructions for How to Prepare Wood Ear Mushrooms were helpful. Did you have a chance to watch the video too?
Larry says
No more intimidation on using these -- in the Chinese food store they seem so exotic and scary.
I am going to try this. I seen a recipe somewhere where there was cucumber in it too. I think with Soy Sauce or similar.
HWC Magazine says
Hi there Larry. So glad this how to recipe was helpful for you. Sometimes, you may have had wood ear mushrooms in a salad with cucumbers as that is a very popular recipe. Be sure to try ourhttps://www.hwcmagazine.com/recipe/wood-ear-mushroom-vegan-stir-fry/. Take Care
Barb says
I love these but so hard to find here.
HWC Magazine says
Hi Barb! Did you know that you can order dried wood ear mushrooms on Amazon? They are even available for prime delivery. Stay well and take care
Cal says
Wow. More ideas for the Asian market.
HWC Magazine says
Thanks Cal! You can buy dried wood ear mushroom at an Asian market but also online from Amazon, online Walmart stores, whole foods stores and many others.
Kenny says
Video is a big help -- I guess I can get at the Oriental food store?
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Kenny! You kind wood ear mushrooms at Asian food markets and they are also available dried on Amazon. Take Care
Raul says
Lots of Oriental ideas here. Gonna come back.
Kev says
I had these in Chinatown - really good
HWC Magazine says
Thanks Kev. Don't you just love their addictive crunch. Be sure to try our Wood Ear Vegan Mushroom Stir Fry for a quick and easy meal. Take Care
Olivia says
I have them growing on a mulberry tree finally got the courage to harvest them this year, after realizing they are my favorite Ingredient in my favorite soup.
So thank you for the tips, still need a good recipe for the Soup.
HWC Magazine says
Glad you enjoyed the tips about how to prepare wood ear mushrooms. Have you tried our Hot and Sour Soup? We like to put the prepared wood ear mushrooms in just at the end of the cooking process so they keep their delicious crunchy texture. https://www.hwcmagazine.com/recipe/hot-and-sour-soup/. Also be sure to try our quick and easy Wood Ear Mushroom Vegan Stir fry for a quick and easy meal. https://www.hwcmagazine.com/recipe/wood-ear-mushroom-vegan-stir-fry/. Stay well and take care!
Doris Okray says
Very informative and to learn different cultural ways is completely amazing to me and very informative to teach my younger generation. I would love to learn how to make different soups with the wood fungus mushroom
.
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Doris for your comment. We think one of the best ways to submerge yourself in other cultures is not only in learning the language but also learning about their cuisines. Delighted to hear that you would like to learn how to make different soups with wood ear mushrooms, We will make sure to get some recipes about that out to you soon. In the meantime, be sure to check out our post for Suan La Tang (Chinese Hot and Sour Soup) https://www.hwcmagazine.com/recipe/hot-and-sour-soup/. We made this recipe with dried shiitake mushrooms but would also be delicious with wood ear mushrooms. Wishing you a lovely week ahead.