Chicken of the Woods

mushroom · edible · forest

Tastes like chicken. Chicken of the Woods gets its funny name because people say it tastes and feels like actual chicken meat when you cook it. It's one of the few wild mushrooms that reminds people of something totally different.

Grows on trees. These mushrooms pop up on dead or dying trees, especially oak and other hardwoods. They stack on top of each other in bright shelves that look almost like they're building stairs up the trunk.

Found worldwide. You can find Chicken of the Woods mushrooms on almost every continent, growing in forests and sometimes even in parks. Different types live in different parts of the world, but they all have that sunny yellow and orange look.

Not always safe. While Chicken of the Woods is edible, some people's stomachs don't like it, and certain species can make you sick. It's always best to have an expert identify it before eating any wild mushroom.

Bright colors. These mushrooms are hard to miss because they're one of the most colorful fungi in the forest, with bold yellows, oranges, and reds that stand out against brown tree bark.