Lobster Mushroom – All You Need to Know | Instacart Guide to Fresh Produce

What are lobster mushrooms?

Lobster mushrooms do look like the crustacean, but contrary to popular belief, they aren’t mushrooms at all. These shrooms are the by-product of a parasitic fungus called Hypomyces lactifluorum. The fungus typically infects the Russula and Lactarius mushroom species and transforms them into warp-looking fungi with wavy caps split at the edges. Most notably, the host mushrooms turn from white to the vibrant reddish-orange hue that’s characteristic of cooked lobster, hence the term “lobster mushrooms.”

Before you recoil in horror, know that lobster mushrooms are safe for consumption. In their original state, Russula and Lactarius mushrooms aren’t palatable to most taste buds. It may be hard to believe, but the parasitic mold actually converts the shrooms into palatable fungi. Courtesy of the parasitic infection, lobster mushrooms have a meaty bite and sweet, slightly nutty undertones. Some even describe these shrooms as the perfect vegetarian substitute for lobster meat.

Where did lobster mushrooms originate from?

Lobster mushrooms come from the same regions where Russula and Lactarius mushrooms populate—under hemlock trees in the temperate forests of Northern America (including Canada). Outside of this region, lobster mushrooms can be found in England, too.

What is the nutritional value of lobster mushrooms?

Lobster mushrooms aren’t just a tasty addition to your sautééd, pan-fried, and braised recipes. They also contain:

• Carbohydrates
• Protein
• Iron
• Calcium

How are lobster mushrooms grown?

Unlike other types of mushrooms, lobster mushrooms are not commercially grown. Instead, mature lobster mushrooms are picked from the wild before being transported to farmers’ markets, specialty stores, and grocery stores. As such, these mushrooms are usually available in limited quantities during specific times of the year.

When are lobster mushrooms in season?

Lobster mushrooms are normally in season from late summer to early winter (although they may appear as early as mid-summer in certain parts of North America).

How do you pick lobster mushrooms at the grocery store?

Learning how to pick lobster mushrooms at the grocery store depends on whether you want them fresh or dried.

For fresh lobster mushrooms, you should choose those that have:

• A bright orange color
• A firm texture
• A slightly sweet, nutty fragrance
• Minimal blemishes or dark spots
• Hints of white flesh peeking through

If you’re looking for dried lobster mushrooms, these are usually prepackaged and come in dark orange to brown shades with creamy white flesh.

You can easily shop for lobster mushrooms via Instacart. After adding a product to your cart, use the “Instructions” option to share with your Instacart shopper specific preferences or directions on choosing top-quality mushrooms. Shop dried lobster mushrooms.

How to store lobster mushrooms

As mentioned earlier, lobster mushrooms are available fresh or dried. Due to its limited seasonality, most grocery stores usually sell dried lobster mushrooms throughout the year, which incidentally have a more intense seafood flavor.

To store fresh, raw lobster mushrooms, place them in dry paper bags before refrigerating. Doing so will help them last for a few days to a week. You can also freeze fresh, whole lobster mushrooms to extend their longevity for a few months. If you’ve cooked the mushrooms, they will keep for a day or two in the refrigerator. Meanwhile, dried lobster mushrooms last the longest—up to a year or more.

How to tell if lobster mushrooms are bad

Lobster mushrooms are delicate produce with a relatively short shelf life. Take note of these warning signs that indicate your shrooms have gone bad:

• Purple, dark brown, and/or black discolorations
• A mushy, spongy, or crumbly texture
• Pungent, fishy smell
• Slimy film or dampness

If your lobster mushrooms show any of the above signs, it’s time to dispose of them and replace them with new ones. Replenish your mushroom supply with Instacart.

What can I substitute for lobster mushrooms?

Fresh lobster mushrooms aren’t available year-round, which means you may sometimes have difficulty getting ahold of them. That said, you can always substitute them with the dried version, which works well for seafood dishes.

If you don’t have access to both fresh and dried mushrooms, you can try mushroom alternatives such as:

• Lion’s mane mushrooms: Just like lobster mushrooms, lion’s mane mushrooms taste similar to lobsters and crabs
• Shrimp of the woods: These mushrooms have a shrimp-like texture with a subtle mushroomy aroma
• King oyster mushrooms: These mushrooms have a meaty texture similar to that of lobster mushrooms, with a mild seafood flavor
• Porcini mushrooms: Porcinis also have a meaty texture, albeit accompanied by nutty undertones
• Chanterelle mushrooms: These light, fruity mushrooms are pale golden in color with wavy tops, making them close lookalikes of the lobster mushrooms
• Lobsters: Remember, lobster mushrooms are their vegetarian equivalent after all
• Shrimps: They give off a sweet seafood flavor characteristic of lobster mushrooms (vegetarians can opt for plant-based shrimps instead)

The bottom line is, it’s easy to swap lobster mushrooms for one of the above alternatives (especially since lobster mushrooms are hard to come by). Ready to stock up your kitchen? Open Instacart to check out our curated selection of fresh produce.

Lobster mushrooms: The vegan alternative to lobster meat

Vegans and vegetarians can rejoice over lobster mushrooms since they taste almost like real lobster meat. Of course, you don’t have to follow a plant-based diet to enjoy these shrooms, especially since they’re flavorful enough to be a crowd-pleaser.

If you’d like to try lobster mushrooms for yourself, use Instacart to find out which local stores carry them. We aim to deliver fresh produce near you in as short as 2 hours. Shop lobster mushrooms.

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