The flavor and texture that mushrooms can add to your dish are just amazing. Do you love eating mushrooms? Then you most likely enjoy preparing and cooking them as well. If you want to expand your knowledge of the different kinds of mushrooms that you can use for your dish, this article can teach you a thing or two about it. Here are the common edible mushrooms that you can enjoy with your dish.
Morel Mushrooms
This type of mushroom is usually found in the woods, growing around dead trees. It’s enjoyable to forage for morel mushrooms, and they’re so tasty to eat. However, if you choose to buy them at the grocery store, know that they can be expensive.
If you want to save some money by foraging morel mushrooms on your own, you should be aware of the poisonous mushroom varieties that can look like the edible types. If you’re not sure about your foraging skills, then it’s best to buy your morel mushrooms for now.
Morel mushrooms are great because they’re full of nutrients, and they’re also known for having an earthy flavor. In preparing morels, you can saute them with olive oil and then add heavy cream or white wine.
White Button Mushrooms
When you think of mushrooms, you’re most likely imagining White Button mushrooms. They are more common than the other edible mushrooms featured here. You can easily find them in the grocery stores. Some people don’t like White Button mushrooms because they find it spongey and bland.
However, this is not because of the mushroom itself but how you prepare them. If you cook White Button mushrooms correctly, you’ll get to enjoy crisp, flavorful mushrooms packed with protein.
In preparing White Button mushrooms, rinse them quickly and then saute them with olive oil for a few seconds. You can then add them to your dish or enjoy them as is.
Cremini Mushrooms
This type of mushroom is the same species as the White Button mushrooms. The difference is that Cremini mushrooms have aged a bit more compared to the White Buttons. You can enjoy similar flavors, but with Cremini mushrooms, the texture is much firmer. You can add this mushroom in casseroles, soups, and stews.
Portabella Mushrooms
With Portabella mushrooms, it’s the same as White Buttons and Creminis. However, this mushroom is a fully-aged White Button mushroom. You can use Portabella mushrooms if you want to have a substitute for meat. You can grill, saute, add them to a stir fry, or in a pasta sauce. This mushroom is known for its meaty texture. It’s also rich in vitamin B and vitamin D.
Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms are known for being very nutritious. It even has antioxidants that can help fight cancer. This mushroom is available in most grocery stores, and you have the option between the dried ones or the fresh ones. If you’re going to use dried Shiitake mushrooms, then you can add them to a dish directly. Fresh Shiitake mushrooms need to be prepared first by removing their stems and then sauteing them before adding to the dish. This mushroom is great for soups and stir-fries.
Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
Lion’s Mane mushrooms are popular because of the many benefits that you can get from them. It can help keep your immune system strong, kill cancer cells, protect the brain, speed up the body’s recovery, and even has properties that can treat depression. You can use Lion’s Mane mushrooms in your dishes. It’s best to saute or bake them thoroughly because there can be some bitterness to the taste if they are undercooked.
Reishi Mushrooms
This mushroom is another common mushroom with plenty of benefits. If you’re having trouble sleeping, taking Reishi mushroom supplements can help. It can also strengthen your immune system, protect you from allergies, and keep your blood sugar level normal.
Usually, Reishi are in supplement mushrooms form. They can also be ground into mushroom powders form and then added to dishes or beverages.
Final Thoughts
These are just some of the common edible mushroom varieties that you can choose from. Now that you know that there are plenty of mushroom types, you can explore how you can use them to make your dishes healthier and tastier. Remember, when you’re not fully confident of your knowledge of mushroom foraging yet, it’s best to buy your mushrooms so you can be sure that you’re getting the edible ones and not the poisonous varieties.
