Have you ever found yourself in teh produce aisle, looking at a pile of mushrooms, unsure which variety to adds to your stir-fry? My first attempt at using wild mushrooms from the market ended up with something chewy and flavorless. Not all mushrooms is alike and some do not take well to the same dish as others.
Enter the mushroom identification chart. With 12 mushroom varieties illustrated with descriptions of their look, flavor, and texture, along with the infographic above, identifying the perfect mushroom for any recipe will be second nature before you know it. Mushrooms have a flavor profile that will delight your taste buds.
Choose and Cook the Right Mushroom
Some varieties, such as button and cremini mushrooms, has a mild flavor and firm texture that make them ideal for recipes where they’re meant to blend in. As seen in the gallery above, button and cremini mushrooms are the small white and brown cap variety. Other mushrooms such as the portobello have a larger cap that is perfect for grilling.
These mushrooms have a robust flavor that takes on well to the grill. Knowing the flavor of different mushrooms and the recipe in which they work best ensures that you dont commit the cooking disaster of using the wrong mushroom for your recipe. Some mushrooms, such as button mushrooms, cook well for sauté.
According to the mushroom identification chart above, button mushrooms requires 3 to 4 minutes to sauté. Portobello mushrooms take 6 to 8 minutes to cook. Mushrooms such as porcini are firm and dense take well to longer cook times with higher heat.
Oyster mushrooms are softer and require much less cooking time to preserve the flavor of this variety. Knowing the cooking times for each variety of mushroom ensures that each dish comes out perfectly cooked to your satisfaction. Different mushrooms have different flavor profile.
For instance, button and cremini mushrooms is mild and neutral in flavor. Mushrooms such as portobello and shiitake are earthier in flavor and work well in soups. Chanterelles have a slightly fruity flavor that pair well with eggs.
These flavor variations are illustrated in the infographic above. Morel mushrooms are very strong in flavor and are considered a upscale mushroom variety to add to your cooking rotation. On the other end of the spectrum, button mushrooms are relatively inexpensive at $2 to $4 per pound and work well in most recipes.
For those who would like a mushroom with a stronger flavor, shiitake mushrooms are in the mid-range price at around the same cost per pound as button mushrooms. Certain mushrooms cook better in specific ways. For instance, maitake mushrooms roast well to develop their frilly edges.
King oyster mushrooms is best grilled to develop a scallop-like crust on the mushroom caps. Enoki mushrooms add crunch to dishes when eaten raw. Do not roast delicate varieties such as oyster mushrooms.
Adding mushrooms to a pan will release the water that they contain so ensure they have enough space to cook. The mushrooms meaty texture indicates that they should be patted dry before cooking. Mushrooms do not require alot of oil to sauté them.
Some mushrooms work well in certain dishes. For instance, cremini mushrooms work well in pasta and risotto dishes. Shiitake mushrooms work well in soups and stir-fry dishes.
Burgers and portobello mushrooms work well together as do stuffed mushrooms. Lion’s mane mushrooms that have a seafood flavor work well in recipes such as crab cakes due to their tender texture. Using the correct varieties of mushrooms in the correct dishes will elevate your cooking to something special.
New cooks can start with button mushrooms for pizza or use enoki mushrooms in a hot pot dish. Lastly, mushrooms have a shelf life and storage tips to extend that life. Store mushrooms in the refrigerator for up to five days as indicated in the table of fresh versus dried mushrooms.
However, oyster mushrooms will last for three to five days. Do not store mushrooms in plastic at the refrigerator as this will shorten there lifespan. Store mushrooms in a paper bag at the refrigerator or cook and freeze them for up to ten months.
Dried mushrooms has a longer shelf life and can last up to two years in an airtight container in a cool spot. Some dried mushroom varieties such as porcini mushrooms require approximately 25 to 30 minutes to rehydrate and have a much stronger flavor when cooked. Store dried mushrooms away from the kitchen sink as their flavor can be compromised by the water from the sink.
Save the rehydrated mushrooms for making stock as this liquid is considered liquid gold in the kitchen. Mushrooms have relatively low calories at around 34 calories per 100 gram. They contain 2.2 gram of protein per 100 grams.
Mushrooms contain dietary fiber that promotes good health of the digestive system. Some types of mushrooms, such as shiitake mushrooms, also contain vitamin D that is beneficial to those who consume these mushrooms especially during the winter months when sunlight exposure is limited. In general, mushrooms are a low-carbohydrate food and contain antioxidants that are beneficial to the body in reducing inflammation.
Keep in mind the pro tip banner above warns against cooking wild mushrooms unless you can identify them perfectly. While mushroom foraging might sound romantic, it is essential to use common cooking mushrooms from stores or verified varieties. That’s all there is to know about mushrooms and their varieties.
Use this information the next time you are at the grocery store and looking for mushrooms. Use the chart to find the perfect mushrooms for the recipe you are preparing at home. Add a few varieties to your kitchen’s pantry and start cooking with these healthy and beneficial kitchen stars.