Objective To explore the impacts of diverse food processing environments on the antioxidant activity of polysaccharides and peptides derived from Auricularia auricula, and analyze the food functional characteristics of these polysaccharides and peptides. Methods Taking Auricularia auricula as the raw material, Auricularia auricula polysaccharides and peptides were prepared through enzymatic hydrolysis. Various conditions of different food additives, metal ions, high temperatures, pH and light intensity were simulated to assess the antioxidant stability, functional characteristics, and morphological features of Auricularia auricula polysaccharides and peptides. Results Exposure to light, strong acids and bases, as well as the presence of Na⁺, K⁺, and the sterilization method, had a minimal impact on the antioxidant activity of Auricularia auricula polysaccharides. However, the addition of Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, glucose and sucrose caused a decline in the antioxidant activity of Auricularia auricula polysaccharides. In contrast, the addition of erythritol, citric acid, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate enhanced the antioxidant activity of Auricularia auricula polysaccharides. Lighting, a pH range of 5-7, and the sterilization method had little effect on the antioxidant activity of Auricularia auricula peptides. The addition of Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, glucose and sucrose led to a decrease in the antioxidant activity of Auricularia auricula peptides, while the addition of Na⁺, K⁺, erythritol, citric acid, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate increased the antioxidant activity of Auricularia auricula peptides, with the highest antioxidant activity observed at 60 ℃. Auricularia auricula polysaccharide and polypeptide possessed general water-holding capacity and certain oil-holding capacity. Their foaming property, foam stability, emulsifying property and emulsifying stability increased in a dose-dependent manner. The freeze-dried powder became denatured and inactivated if it could not tolerate high temperatures. Conclusion The polysaccharides and peptides prepared from Auricularia auricula are suitable for use as emulsifiers, foaming agents, or functional ingredients in industries such as food, health products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, etc. This study can offer a theoretical basis for the deep processing of Auricularia auricula.