Oyster mushrooms are fungi from the species Pleurotus ostreatus. They are one of the most common types of cultivated mushrooms in the world and the most popular commercial mushroom grown in Uganda. Oyster mushrooms are also known as pearl oyster mushrooms or tree oyster mushrooms. They can be eaten fresh or dried. The mushrooms are dried for purposes of dehydrating them and increasing their life span.
Oyster mushrooms have a delicate texture and a mild, savoury flavour. Their caps grow too thin or broad sizes and can be found in white, grey, or tan colours. Oyster mushrooms take a little preparation time of 15 minutes; they can be cooked whole, chopped or shredded.
TIPS ON HOW TO COOK WITH OYSTER MUSHROOMS
Fresh oyster mushrooms should be cooked for 15 over low to moderate heat to avoid overcooking.
Oyster mushrooms act almost like sponges, soaking up any water they come into contact with. They should therefore not be left sitting in water, even when cleaning them
Cleaned mushrooms can be sautéed, stir-fried, braised, roasted, fried, or grilled. Use the mushrooms whole, sliced, or simply torn into appropriately sized pieces.
Dried oyster mushrooms don’t necessarily need to be soaked to be rehydrated, they can be added straight to the dish, and they will rehydrate by soaking up the liquid.
WHERE TO BUY OYSTER MUSHROOMS IN UGANDA
Oyster mushrooms are commercially available and cultivated in greenhouses all year round. Whole fresh mushrooms are packaged differently and sold in supermarkets in Uganda. They are also tied up in white polythene bags for street vending and roadside sales along Yusuf Lule Road, and Wandegeya traffic lights each is most often sold at Uganda Shilling 2000.
You can also buy oyster mushrooms at food markets in and around Kampala at the food markets; Nakasero Market, Kalerwe Market, numerous hotels and supermarkets for Farmers near Kampala. Mushroom porridge, coffee, juice and samosas are some mushroom value-added products that are delicious and in great demand in Uganda.
HOW TO STORE OYSTER MUSHROOMS
Water is a danger to oyster mushrooms and will cause them to go bad quickly. They should therefore be stored in a loose non-plastic paper bag. They will last up to 3-7 days in the fridge.
Dried and dehydrated preserved mushrooms should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. These can have a shelf life of up to one year. Cooked mushrooms will keep for up to three days in the refrigerator or can be frozen for up to three months.
GROWING OYSTER MUSHROOMS
Anyone can grow mushrooms if they wanted to. Oyster mushrooms can grow on a variety of substrates like hardwood, sawdust, rice husks, sugarcane peels, coffee husks, banana leaves, cotton, cardboard papers literally they can grow on almost anything.
Oyster mushrooms also grow very fast, with many oyster strains producing mushrooms in as little as 2 weeks.
ADVANTAGES OF GROWING OYSTER MUSHROOMS
They are fast-growing
They are beginner-friendly
They have good market opportunities
There are a lot of varieties available
It is easy to get spawns to grow them on
They produce mushrooms within a short time
SOME DISADVANTAGES OF GROWING OYSTERS
They need a lot of fresh air to grow well
They have a heavy spore load
They have a short shelf life
They are fragile hence need a lot of attention
NUTRITIONAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF OYSTER MUSHROOMS
Oyster mushrooms are very nutritious and have traditionally been associated with healing compounds and used to make medicines.
Oyster mushrooms are rich in healthy nutrients. They are loaded with fibre, vitamins, and minerals. They are low in carbohydrates making them a good choice for people with low carb dietary patterns
The table below shows the nutritional composition of one cup of oyster mushrooms.
Nutrient | % composition |
Calories: | 28 |
Carbs: | 5 grams |
Protein: | 3 grams |
Fat: | <1 gram |
Fibre: | 2 grams |
Niacin: | 27% of the Daily Value (DV) |
Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5): | 22% of the DV |
Folate: | 8% of the DV |
Choline: | 8% of the DV |
Potassium: | 8% of the DV |
Iron: | 6% of the DV |
Phosphorus: | 8% of the DV |
Zinc: | 6% of the DV |
2. Oyster mushrooms have antioxidants that reduce cellular damage to the body. They contain amino acid ergothioneine which has effect antioxidant effects.
read about the different types of cabbages and their uses next