Mushroom Atlas

Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinula edodes)

What this page covers: identification, cultivation, and nutrition facts for shiitake, sourced to USDA FoodData Central for nutrient values. It does not evaluate cooking methods beyond basic preparation notes or make health-outcome claims.
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Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is a brown, umbrella-capped mushroom almost always sold cultivated rather than wild-foraged in the US, with 34 calories and 2.24 g of protein per 100 g raw, per USDA FoodData Central.

Identification

Shiitake has a brown, umbrella-shaped cap, typically 2 to 4 inches across, with white gills on the underside and a tough, off-center stem that's usually trimmed off before cooking. In the wild it grows on dead hardwood logs in East Asia; nearly every shiitake sold in the US is cultivated on inoculated hardwood logs or sawdust blocks, not foraged, which is why it carries no widely reported dangerous lookalike the way wild-foraged species do.

Nutrition per 100 g, raw

Shiitake mushroom nutrition, per USDA FoodData Central
NutrientAmount per 100 g raw
Calories34 kcal
Protein2.24 g
Carbohydrate6.79 g
Fat0.49 g
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)~2 mg (about 30% of Daily Value)

Per USDA FoodData Central data, raw shiitake is low in calories and fat relative to its protein content, and it's a notable source of vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) at roughly 30% of the Daily Value per 100 g.

Cooking and handling

Shiitake is standardly cooked rather than eaten raw. Per case reports on shiitake dermatitis, raw or undercooked shiitake can trigger a toxic skin reaction to lentinan, a compound in the mushroom's cell wall, appearing about 48 hours after consumption as linear, whip-mark-like lesions that resolve within roughly 10 days. Lentinan is thermolabile and breaks down with heat, so thoroughly cooked shiitake doesn't carry the same reported risk.

For how shiitake compares to other edible species covered on this site, see the Edible Mushroom Guide. For research on shiitake, lentinan, and AHCC as functional supplements, see Shiitake Mushroom Benefits.

More Species Identification

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a shiitake mushroom look like?

A brown, umbrella-shaped cap, typically 2-4 inches across, with white gills on the underside. Wild shiitake grows on dead hardwood logs in East Asia; nearly all shiitake sold in the US is cultivated on inoculated logs or sawdust blocks rather than foraged.

Is shiitake safe to eat raw?

Raw or undercooked shiitake can trigger shiitake flagellate dermatitis, a toxic (not allergic) skin reaction to lentinan, a compound in the mushroom's cell wall, per case reports in the clinical literature. Lentinan breaks down with heat, so thoroughly cooked shiitake doesn't carry the same risk.

How many calories are in shiitake mushrooms?

34 calories per 100 g raw, per USDA FoodData Central, with 2.24 g protein, 6.79 g carbohydrate, and 0.49 g fat in the same serving.

Are there dangerous lookalikes for shiitake?

No widely reported dangerous lookalike, since shiitake is almost never foraged wild in the US and is instead bought cultivated. The identification risk that applies to wild-foraged gilled mushrooms generally doesn't apply the same way to a store-bought or home-cultivated log crop.

Sources