Learn when to harvest golden oyster mushrooms (AKA yellow oyster mushrooms or Pleurotus citrinopileatus)! I’ll also give you details on how to grow golden oyster mushrooms with a kit, recipes, shelf life and storage, plus more in this ultimate guide. With an easy spray & grow oyster mushroom kit, I had ready-to-cook fresh mushrooms in only one week! Mushroom kits are the perfect gift for budding mycologists, and there’s no worry about accidentally picking look-alikes in the wild.

When to Harvest Golden Oyster Mushrooms 

The North Spore Spray & Grow Kit Guide says it may take up to two weeks to see baby mushrooms. However, I started seeing growth in only two days. The mushroom pins (AKA baby mushrooms) were fully developed by day 4. 

How do you know when golden oyster mushrooms are ready to pick?

Golden oyster mushrooms should be ready to pick about 2-5 days after you first see the oyster mushroom pins. It’s advised to harvest oyster mushrooms before the caps flatten and become concave. 

For me, the total oyster mushroom growing time was 7 days from when I first cut the plastic. If your home is cooler or less humid, the oyster mushrooms could take 2.5 weeks or more. 

How big can golden oyster mushrooms get? 

According to Specialty Produce, the caps of golden oyster mushrooms range from 0.8-2.4 inches (2-6cm) in diameter, while the stems range from 0.8-2 inches (2-5cm). Though they can get bigger than this, this is the optimal size range for picking. 

What happens if you wait too long to harvest oyster mushrooms? 

If you wait too long to pick oyster mushrooms, they can go bad. They may become slimy, develop an off odor, or even develop mold. 

When to Use a Mushroom Grow Tent 

If your golden oyster mushrooms growing conditions are too dry, the mushrooms may die. To keep them moist, you can make a humidity tent with a plastic bag. Cut ½-inch (2.54 cm) holes all over the bag- mushrooms need lots of fresh air to grow! 

Drape the bag over the mushroom grow kit and mist the inside of the bag with water often. You can remove the bag (but keep misting the mushrooms) when the pins form. 

Another reason to use a humidity tent is if the mushroom block arrives broken. Press it back together as best you can and use the humidity tent to help keep it moist. 

How to Harvest Golden Oyster Mushrooms 

To harvest oyster mushrooms, simply take a knife and cut the large clusters of golden yellow mushrooms free from the substrate. You can also break them off with your fingers, but I found it easiest to use a knife. 

After harvesting golden oyster mushrooms, keep caring for the fruiting block by spraying with water. You may get additional mushroom harvests! 

How many times can you harvest golden oyster mushrooms?

The number of golden oyster mushroom flushes you get depends on the kit. About two weeks after my first golden oyster mushroom harvest, my second flush was ready. Though it was smaller than the first flush, it was nice that my kit continued producing.  

Several mushroom kits I’ve tried in the past only produced one mushroom harvest. 

Oyster Mushroom Storage 

Oyster mushrooms have a relatively short shelf life, so it’s best to harvest when ready to eat! If you do pick oyster mushrooms ahead of time, store them (unwashed) in a small paper bag in the refrigerator. They should stay fresh for 5-7 days in the main part of the fridge (not the vegetable drawer). 

How to Grow Oyster Mushrooms 

A mushroom kit makes mushroom cultivation easy and is perfect for beginners! Inside the box is a bag with the fruiting block, an amended sawdust block (the growing medium) colonized with mushroom mycelium. 

Instructions should come with the kit. For this kit, you remove the perforated rectangle from one of the long sides of the mushroom kit. I used a box cutter to remove it easier (a sharp knife or scissors also work) and cut a large “X” into the plastic underneath. 

Next, fill a spray bottle with water and spritz the plastic where you cut the X. Put the box in indirect sunlight at a room temperature of 65-80F (18-27C) and continue to mist it with water at least twice per day. That’s it! 

I misted the oyster mushroom substrate every morning and evening. If you live in a drier climate, you may need to mist them more often. Keeping them in a humid part of your house will encourage growth. 

One advantage of growing mushrooms is that you can choose from a variety of edible mushrooms you can’t find in stores. These unusual mushroom varieties include the blue oyster mushroom, golden oyster mushroom, pink oyster mushroom, and pearl oyster mushroom. 

For more advanced gardeners, you can buy sawdust spawn kits and mushroom plug spawn. These can be used for growing oyster mushrooms in garden beds, in straw, or making mushroom logs. (It’s much safer than foraging wild mushrooms!) 

One disadvantage of the oyster mushroom log kit is that you need to soak it for 24 hours before you can begin growing. With a spray and grow oyster mushroom kit, no soaking is required.  

How to increase oyster mushroom yield?

The growing environment is the most important thing you can control to increase mushroom yield. Make sure your oyster mushrooms have enough humidity and air to grow. In general, mushrooms don’t like dry environments and those with high carbon dioxide levels. 

Some oyster mushroom kits may offer a higher yield than others. My North Spore Golden Oyster Mushroom Spray & Grow Kit yielded a whopping 13.5 ounces of mushrooms! 

Do mushrooms need sunlight?

Unlike plants, golden oyster mushrooms don’t have chlorophyll and can be grown in low light (including indirect light). The mushroom fruiting bodies can become misshapen if grown in complete darkness. 

Why do mushrooms prefer the dark?

Keeping mushrooms out of direct light helps preserve the moisture they need to reproduce. However, that doesn’t mean that mushrooms should be kept in the dark. Some mushrooms grow best with indirect light. 

Oyster Mushroom Recipes 

What to do with oyster mushrooms? Pan-fried oyster mushrooms cooked in butter or olive oil with garlic and herbs are delicious! I like to throw in some white wine and heavy cream when I’m feeling indulgent. (Yum!) 

Here are a few more ways to use oyster mushrooms: 

• Oyster Mushroom Air Fryer Jerky 
• High Calorie Pasta (a delicious use for homegrown gourmet mushrooms!) 
• Tempeh Bolognese Sauce 

You can also put these mushrooms on pizza or try them in a stir-fry! 

Can you eat golden mushrooms raw?

No, you should cook golden oyster mushrooms before enjoying for the best flavor. It’s a good idea to start with a small amount if it’s the first time you’re trying golden oyster mushrooms. 

What do yellow oyster mushrooms taste like?

Golden oyster mushrooms have a complex flavor that some describe as sweet and nutty with a hint of citrus and pleasing texture. That said, keep in mind that taste is subjective, and others may find them slightly bitter. 

Golden Oyster Mushroom Benefits 

Mushroom kits are a great fit for people with a variety of dietary needs. Mushrooms align with most special diets: vegan, keto, low carb, gluten free, Paleo, dairy free, and so on. Here are some other nutritional benefits of golden oyster mushrooms: 

• Increases vegetable intake: Though mushrooms are technically fungi, they count as veggies on the MyPlate. When you eat more mushrooms, you’re getting some vegetable food group foods in. 
• B vitamins: Though mushrooms are grouped with veggies, they provide a lot of B vitamins, similar to meat and grains. Oyster mushrooms are an excellent source of riboflavin and niacin. They also provide some thiamin, vitamin B5, and folate. 
• Vitamin D: Depending on how your oyster mushrooms were grown, they may provide a natural source of vitamin D. There are very few natural food sources of vitamin D, so this is a wonderful benefit of eating mushrooms. (Particularly for those of us in the north who don’t get enough vitamin D from sunlight.) 
• Very low calorie: Per Cronometer, 100 grams of oyster mushrooms only provides 33 calories. Mushrooms are a delicious addition to high volume, low calorie meals that are packed with fiber. Don’t forget about mushrooms if you want to lose weight! 
• Essential minerals: I talked about vitamins above, but oyster mushrooms are also a good source of certain minerals, such as potassium and phosphorus. Make them a part of your heart-healthy diet! 

Watch them grow!

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