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Beefsteak fungus (Fistulina hepatica), whole fruiting body
Jiří Berkovec · CC BY-SA 3.0
Edible species

Beefsteak fungus

Fistulina hepatica · Fistulinaceae

The beefsteak fungus (Fistulina hepatica), sığır dili in Turkish, is an edible bracket fungus on oak and sweet chestnut trunks, tongue- or liver-shaped, with flesh that is marbled like raw meat and oozes red juice when cut; never eat it without certain identification.

Last updated: Prepared by the Poros Mantar editorial team4 sources checkedReport a correction

FamilyFistulinaceae
SeasonAug–Nov
Spore printPale pinkish brown
Cap width10–25 cm
Records in Turkey23 records
CultivationWild only
StatusEdible species

The beefsteak fungus (Fistulina hepatica), sığır dili in Turkish, is an edible bracket fungus on oak and sweet chestnut trunks, tongue- or liver-shaped, with flesh that is marbled like raw meat and oozes red juice when cut; never eat it without certain identification. Its upper surface is red-brown and sticky, and the underside has small tubes that are separate from one another. It tastes slightly sour. It causes a brown rot that darkens oak timber.

Also called: ox tongue, beefsteak polypore, poor man's beefsteak Turkish: Sığır dili

Beefsteak fungus (Fistulina hepatica), in its natural habitat

How to recognise it

Beefsteak fungus, part by part

No ring or volva Spore print: Pale pinkish brown Faint; sour taste. Cut flesh is marbled red and white like meat and oozes red juice.

Beefsteak fungus (Fistulina hepatica), cap seen from above
Cap10–25 cm; a tongue-, liver- or fan-shaped bracket; upper surface red-brown, sticky and rough when young.
Beefsteak fungus (Fistulina hepatica), pores under the cap, seen from below
PoresCream to pale pink; small tubes that stand separate from each other, turning reddish when touched.
StemShort, thick and lateral, or absent.

When and where

Aug–Nov

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Augin season
  9. Sepin season
  10. Octin season
  11. Novin season
  12. Dec

The beefsteak fungus fruits from late summer to mid autumn. In Turkey, GBIF records run from August to November and peak in October.

Type Edible

In season AugustSeptemberOctoberNovember

Colour RedBrown

Regions Black Sea RegionCentral Anatolia RegionMarmara RegionDüzceTekirdağAnkaraKocaeliBoluYalovaIstanbulKırklareli

Where does beefsteak fungus grow?

The beefsteak fungus grows singly on the trunks of old or wounded oak and sweet chestnut trees, often low down, and sometimes on stumps.

Where is beefsteak fungus found in Turkey?

The beefsteak fungus is recorded in Turkey; its 22 Turkish GBIF records come from İstanbul, Düzce, Kırklareli, Yalova, Ankara and Bolu.

Which months

  1. Jan0
  2. Feb0
  3. Mar0
  4. Apr0
  5. May0
  6. Jun0
  7. Jul0
  8. Aug0
  9. Sep7
  10. Oct15
  11. Nov1
  12. Dec0

beefsteak fungus map of Turkey: all provinces and months →

8 provinces, 23 observations (GBIF, iNaturalist); months from observation dates. Record density also reflects where observers work.

Latest beefsteak fungus observations

On "illustrative" cards the image is a photo of the species; the observation photo cannot be shown here because of its licence, but can be seen at the source.

Beefsteak fungus (Fistulina hepatica), in its natural habitat
In its habitat

Look-alikes

What could it be confused with?

Beefsteak fungus can be mistaken for the species below. Each card shows the look-alike and how it differs from Beefsteak fungus.

Beefsteak fungus (Fistulina hepatica), whole fruiting body
This species Beefsteak fungus
Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus), whole fruiting body Edible species

not Beefsteak fungus

Chicken of the woods Laetiporus sulphureus

Grows in bright yellow-orange tiers and does not ooze red juice; can cause illness if eaten raw or undercooked.

Shaggy bracket (Inonotus hispidus) Inedible

not Beefsteak fungus

Shaggy bracket Inonotus hispidus

Thickly hairy on top, turning from rusty brown to black; its flesh is not marbled and it is inedible.

Ganoderma brackets (Ganoderma spp.) Inedible

not Beefsteak fungus

Ganoderma brackets Ganoderma spp.

Woody hard with a varnished look and a white pore surface; the flesh is not juicy.

How to cook and eat beefsteak fungus

Safety first. Never eat the beefsteak fungus without certain identification, and cook only young, fresh specimens. Its tannins make it sour and astringent.

How to prepare it

Use only young, fresh specimens. Soak older ones overnight, as their juice can upset the stomach.

How to cook it

Eat it cooked; it tastes sour and astringent, with a texture reminiscent of raw meat.

Source: Wikipedia.

How to store beefsteak fungus

Fresh · fridge3–7 daysKeep fresh beefsteak fungus unwashed in a paper bag in the fridge; delicate species are at the short end. Source
FrozenA few monthsFreeze beefsteak fungus cooked, not raw: sauté and cool them first. Source
DriedA few months – 1 yearKeep dried beefsteak fungus in an airtight jar in a cool, dry, dark place. Source

How to store mushrooms: the full guide →

Grow it, buy it

Beefsteak fungus price list

Beefsteak fungus price list
ProductUsMarket (sourced, dated)
Fresh beefsteak fungusMade to order · ask—
Dried beefsteak fungusMade to order · ask—

We make our beefsteak fungus products in small batches, to order; send a request and we email you the price and delivery date. The market column shows prices seen on other sellers' pages on the date given; they are not our prices and may have changed.

Mushroom grow kits →

Frequently asked questions

Is the beefsteak fungus edible?

Yes, the beefsteak fungus is edible, but never eat it without certain identification. Only young, fresh specimens are eaten cooked; it tastes sour and astringent, and some people slice it thinly into salads.

How do you recognise a beefsteak fungus?

It is a red-brown, tongue- or liver-shaped bracket on oak or sweet chestnut trunks. Cut, its flesh is marbled like raw meat and oozes red juice, and the tubes underneath stand separate from one another.

Why is it called beefsteak or ox tongue?

The names come from its tongue shape and from the way its cut flesh looks red, juicy and marbled like raw meat.

Where and when does it grow?

It grows from late summer to mid autumn on old oak and sweet chestnut trunks. In Turkey most records come from İstanbul, with others from Düzce, Kırklareli, Yalova, Ankara and Bolu.

What can be mistaken for a beefsteak fungus?

It is most often confused with chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus), the shaggy bracket (Inonotus hispidus) and Ganoderma species. None of these has juicy, marbled flesh that oozes red.

Does the beefsteak fungus harm trees?

It causes a slow brown rot in oak and chestnut wood. The rot darkens the timber, and this brown oak is sought after by furniture makers.

Is the beef steak mushroom the same as the beefsteak fungus?

Yes. Beef steak mushroom and beefsteak fungus both mean Fistulina hepatica, the red tongue-shaped bracket on oak and chestnut, sığır dili in Turkish.

Which mushroom tastes like steak?

The beefsteak fungus is named for its look rather than its taste: it is red and juicy like raw meat, but tastes slightly sour. Mushrooms people call meaty when cooked are king oyster, portobello, maitake, chicken of the woods and lion's mane.

Is beefsteak fungus edible?

Yes, beefsteak fungus is an edible species. Eat a wild one only after an expert has identified it with certainty. Never eat the beefsteak fungus without certain identification, and cook only young, fresh specimens. Its tannins make it sour and astringent.

When is beefsteak fungus season in Turkey?

In our calendar, beefsteak fungus season runs Aug–Nov. The beefsteak fungus fruits from late summer to mid autumn. In Turkey, GBIF records run from August to November and peak in October.

Where does beefsteak fungus grow?

The beefsteak fungus grows singly on the trunks of old or wounded oak and sweet chestnut trees, often low down, and sometimes on stumps.

Where is beefsteak fungus found in Turkey?

The beefsteak fungus is recorded in Turkey; its 22 Turkish GBIF records come from İstanbul, Düzce, Kırklareli, Yalova, Ankara and Bolu.

What can beefsteak fungus be confused with?

Beefsteak fungus can be confused with chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus, edible species), shaggy bracket (Inonotus hispidus, inedible) and ganoderma brackets (Ganoderma spp., inedible). Look-alikes are compared on this page.

What is beefsteak fungus called in Turkish?

In Turkish, beefsteak fungus (Fistulina hepatica) is called Sığır dili.

Related species

All species → · Identify by photo →

Sources

  1. Ribeiro ve ark. (2007), Food and Chemical Toxicology: Fistulina hepatica fenolik bileşikleri pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. Wikipedia (EN): Fistulina hepatica en.wikipedia.org
  3. First Nature: Fistulina hepatica first-nature.com
All sources (4)
  1. GBIF: Türkiye kayıtları gbif.org
Photo credits (10)