Wood ear mushrooms need to be rehydrated, cleaned and trimmed before they are ready to be used in your favorite recipes. Once wood ear mushrooms have been taken out of their packaging, they should be soaked in warm water for at least 20 minutes. Make sure they are fully submerged in the water.
Whether you're eating a low-carb diet or just love mushrooms, these hearty recipes will hit the spot. From Easy Stuffed Mushrooms to Slow-Cooker Mushroom Soup, there is something for everyone. All of these recipes clock in at under 15 grams of carbohydrate and they also deliver vegetables, protein and healthy fats for a well-rounded meal or snack.
If you are looking for wood ear mushroom substitutes among common mushroom types, try dried (!) oyster mushrooms or shiitake mushrooms. They are quite hard and meaty, but rehydrating their dried form will give you an even closer match to the above jelly fungi than using fresh ones.
Wood ear mushrooms, also scientifically referred to as Auricularia auricula-judae, are soft mushrooms with ear-like folds that grow up to 4 inches in diameter. The bark of elder trees and shrubs are where these fungi are most often found and are used in cooking to add texture and absorb flavors.