EatingWell Mushrooms

Okay, it’s true they’ve been around a long time. The kingdom of fungi predates us by a billion years and was largely responsible for prepping the planet for the emergence of plants and animals. But today mushrooms elicit the sort of celebrity typically enjoyed by someone like Taylor Swift or Timothée Chalamet. We’re fascinated—and perhaps a bit intimidated by them. And so the kingdom is under scrutiny as never before: for its medicinal uses, its ecological remedies and its psychotherapeutic properties. We’ve all seen headlines along the lines of MUSHROOMS CAN SAVE THE WORLD. Like morels after the first warm rains of spring, they’re the stars of books, movies and household kitsch. It is as food, however, that these odd ingredients, neither vegetable nor meat and yet seemingly both, are…

CHANTERELLE Ranging from vase-shaped to trumpet-shaped, golden chanterelles are some of the most widely available and prized wild mushrooms. Lab studies show that they contain several antioxidant compounds, including flavonoids, polyphenols and beta carotene. While more research is needed to highlight the specific benefits of chanterelles, the delicious blooms warrant a place on any table with their peppery taste and meaty texture. Wild mushrooms like these may be a challenge to find at the grocery—natural-foods stores and farmers markets may carry them, or you can order them online. Chanterelles are best enjoyed whole—they are bite-size, and it preserves their squeaky, bouncy texture. For a simple sauté, cook them in a pan with butter or olive oil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the water they release evaporates and the mushrooms…

Mushrooms are standout members of the fungi family that offer an earthy flavor when used in cooking, and they can make a great meat substitute. Plus, on top of tasting delicious, they pack anti-inflammatory properties and can boost your gut health. But not knowing how to clean and store mushrooms can make or break your experience in the kitchen: If you do it wrong, you’ll end up with dirty or slimy shrooms that definitely don’t taste good. Here’s how to make sure you’re cleaning and storing your mushrooms correctly, starting with how to select them at the store. How to Choose Mushrooms When shopping at your local farmers market or grocery store, make sure the mushrooms you choose look plump and are free of any dark spots. They should feel…

The ideal mushroom will feel dry and firm and have a smooth outer appearance. Next, check for dark spots. If each of the whole mushrooms in a package looks dark or there are dark spots popping up, it’s likely that the batch is past its prime. How to Tell If Mushrooms Have Gone Bad Thankfully, it usually won’t take a taste test! One of the obvious giveaways that mushrooms have gone bad is when their texture has changed from firm and plump to sticky and slimy. Similarly, if they are dried out or downright shriveled, it’s time to toss them. If the color of your mushrooms has noticeably changed, or if they have begun growing dark spots or fuzzy mold, they should be headed for the compost heap. Most mushrooms…

Mushrooms are a delicious addition to any recipe. Aside from providing some great health benefits, which include boosting gut health and supplying lots of potassium, mushrooms can be enjoyed both raw and cooked. One way that we love to cook with mushrooms is by drying them. Dried mushrooms provide a concentrated punch of umami flavor—plus, they can last a long time. How to Dry Mushrooms When you make dried mushrooms, you’re removing the moisture from the vegetable, so it turns into a dry, shriveled version. The following instructions explain how to dry mushrooms in the oven, but you could also use a food dehydrator if you don’t want to tie up your oven for hours. Food dehydrators come in a number of sizes and models, and many include accessories that…

Fresh mushrooms keep for up to a week in the refrigerator, but we all know how disappointing it is to discover your shrooms have turned soft and smelly. Before that happens, do yourself a favor and freeze them. Mushrooms can be frozen for nine to 12 months and used in a variety of cooked dishes. Read on for three ways to freeze mushrooms, plus how to thaw them and the best recipes for making the most of your mushroom stash. HOW TO FREEZE RAW MUSHROOMS Freezing raw mushrooms is super easy, but because they will retain so much water, they can turn quite mushy, which means they’ll be best used in dishes that are more about flavor than texture, such as soups, stews and casseroles. Start by chopping cleaned mushrooms…