About
Pleurotus eryngii, commonly known as the King Oyster Mushroom, King Trumpet, or Eryngii, is the largest species in the Pleurotus genus. Renowned for its thick, meaty stem and small cap, this gourmet mushroom is cultivated worldwide and prized in Asian and European cuisine for its umami flavor and exceptional texture, often compared to abalone or scallops when cooked.
History
Native to the Mediterranean, Middle East, and parts of Asia, King Oyster mushrooms have been used in traditional cooking and cultivated for centuries. They became commercially important in the late 20th century due to their long shelf life, ease of cultivation, and versatility in vegetarian and vegan dishes.
Although not historically prominent in traditional medicine, modern studies show that P. eryngii has antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, and immune-enhancing properties, making it a valuable functional food.
Overview
The mushroom has a thick, cylindrical stem and a small, tan to brown cap. It grows naturally on the roots of herbaceous plants like Eryngium, but is commonly cultivated on substrates like sawdust or grain. Unlike other oysters, its stem is fully edible and desirable.
It has a dense, chewy texture and mild nutty flavor that intensifies when roasted, grilled, or pan-seared. It is often used in stir-fries, sliced into steaks, or braised. Nutritionally, it is rich in protein, B vitamins, potassium, and ergothioneine, an antioxidant linked to cellular protection.
Flavors
Mild
Mild flavor with a slight sweetness
Textures
Firm
Firm texture when cooked, similar to abalone
Fragrances
Gentle
Mild aroma, not particularly distinctive
Physical Characteristics
Caps:
Tan to brown, smooth, convex to flat
Gills:
White, decurrent
Helps With
Heart Health
May help to improve heart health.
Diabetes
May help to improve blood sugar control.
Digestion
May help to improve digestion.
Medicinal Chemistry
Similar Species
Species: Omphalotus olearius
Edibility: slightly toxic
Key Differences: the Jack O'Lantern mushroom has a bright orange color, compared to the white to tan color of the King Oyster mushroom. Furthermore, the gills of the Jack O'Lantern mushroom are bioluminescent and can glow in the dark, a feature not present in the King Oyster mushroom. It's crucial to note that while the King Oyster mushroom is edible and highly prized, the Jack O'Lantern mushroom is poisonous and can cause severe gastrointestinal distress if consumed.
Species: Omphalotus olearius
Edibility: slightly toxic
Nutrition Facts
Mushroom Ratings
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References
Exploring the Phytochemical Compositions, Antioxidant Activity, and Nutritional Potentials of Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms
The relationship between mycelial growth and fruit body’s yield of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.) collected from southern Vietnam
Isolation, Phenotypic and Molecular Characterization of the Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus spp. and Evaluation of Its Efficacy in Producing the Antibiotic Pleurotin
Carposome productivity of Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus eryngii growing on agro-industrial residues enriched with nitrogen, calcium salts and oils
In Silico Characterization of the Physicochemical and Biological Properties of the Pink (Pleurotus djamor var. salmoneostramineus) Oyster Mushroom Chromoprotein
Graded levels of dietary pink oyster mushroom, Pleurotus djamor meal, affects growth, feed efficiency, lipase activity and fiber content in final whole body of Nile tilapia fingerlings, Oreochromis niloticus
Identification of the Antidepressant Function of the Edible Mushroom Pleurotus eryngii
Enhanced growth and yield of oyster mushroom by growth-promoting bacteria Glutamicibacter arilaitensis MRC119
Production and partial characterization of the exopolysaccharide from Pleurotus sajor caju
Mushroom-based cosmeceutical ingredients: Microencapsulation and in vitro release profile
This review provides a bibliometric analysis of the recent literature on biological activities, highlights trends in the field, and highlights the countries and journals with the highest contribution. It also discusses the nutritional value of the total content of phenolic and other phytochemicals in some species of mushrooms.
2024
Pleurotus spp. is one of the most important cultivated mushrooms in the world. The relationship between mycelial growth and production yield of Pleurotus strains collected from southern Viet Nam was determined.Total 10 of both wild and cultivated strains including 6 phoenix and 4 oyster strains were used in this study. The mycelial growth rate was conducted by 4 models such as the acreage of mycelial colonies on potato dextrose agar, the dried weight of mycelia in potato dextrose broth, the area of mycelial colonies on sawdust plates and the depth of mycelial colonies on sawdust testubes. The volume of mycelial colonies was estimated based on the area of mycelial colonies and their depth on sawdust plates.
2023
This study suggests that Pleurotus eryngii var. ferulae shows promising results in the production of the antibiotic pleurotin, especially when grown on media supplemented with crushed sunflower seeds and wheat bran.
2023
This study investigates the use of agro-industrial residues supplemented with various sources of oils, nitrogen, and calcium salts as novel substrates in solid-state fermentation for the cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus eryngii mushrooms.
2023
This study provides a detailed analysis of the physicochemical and biological properties of the chromoprotein found in Pleurotus djamor.
2023
This study investigates the effects of different levels of Pleurotus djamor meal in the diet of Nile tilapia fingerlings on growth, feed efficiency, lipase activity, and fiber content.
2023
Pleurotus eryngii produces various functional molecules that mediate physiological functions in humans. Recently, we observed that P. eryngii produces molecules that have antidepressant functions. An ethanol extract of the fruiting body of P. eryngii was obtained, and the extract was purified by XAD-16 resin using an open column system. The ethanol eluate was separated by HPLC, and the fraction with an antidepressant function was identified.
2021
Promotion of mushroom growth by means of biological agents replacing chemicals is an emerging and highly demanded issue in the sector of mushroom cropping. The present study was aimed to search for a novel bacterium potentially able to enhance mushroom growth and yield. A total of 2165 bacterial isolates purified from different samples were scrutinized through various growth-promoting attributes.
2021
Microbial exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are very important because they are used in biotechnological applications in different industrial areas. The aim of the study was to determine the best EPS producer Pleurotus sp., to optimize EPS production and to perform partial purification and characterization of the produced EPS.
2019
Mushrooms can be used as a source of cosmeceutical ingredients. Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus ostreatus ethanolic extracts present important bioactive properties, but with some compounds showing easy oxidation and degradation. In the present work, microencapsulation by atomization/coagulation technique was used to protect the extracts. The obtained microspheres were characterised in terms of morphology, particle size distribution and encapsulation efficiency.
2018