Your Guide To Mushrooms & How To Cook Them

Mushrooms are magical, edible fungus that come in all shapes and sizes. I’m not even exaggerating; there really are thousands of varieties! Each has its own unique appearance and flavour profile, from the tiny enoki clusters to the large, capped portobello mushrooms. Like many plant foods, mushrooms are free of fats, low in calories, yet high in fibre, vitamins, and minerals. They’re also versatile, which is why I’d recommend trying lots of recipes and ways of cooking different mushrooms before you commit to being a mushroom hater for life!

Each type of mushroom has its individual strengths in terms of nutrition; for example, shiitake can help with heart health and lower cholesterol, whereas porcini can fight inflammation. 

Most edible mushrooms contain a good amount of B vitamins and antioxidants, which can keep your immune system strong and healthy. They’re one of the few foods that contain vitamin D, which is important for absorbing calcium and phosphorus. Mushrooms are also often rich sources of potassium, which is known to help lower blood pressure. 

Mushrooms are so packed full of health benefits that they can be used medicinally, too. Dried, medicinal mushrooms can be found in health stores and include varieties such as chaga, reishi and maitake. There are even supplements that contain mushrooms. 

Veganism hugely changed the way I cooked mushrooms. When I was a meat-eater, I hated their rubbery and soggy texture. However, veganism taught me how to prepare and cook plant foods to bring out their best possible flavour and texture. There’s a huge difference between a sad-looking, watery white button mushroom and a crispy, meaty king oyster mushroom!

There are many ways to cook mushrooms; you can saute them, deep fry them, bake them, boil them in soups, the list goes on. However, it isn’t hard to get it wrong. So here are some common mistakes when cooking mushrooms and how to fix them:

If you’re new to cooking mushrooms, it might be best to start with the most simple varieties that are also easily accessible and easy to prepare.

Whenever you’re in the mood for a meaty texture and umami flavour, you can’t go wrong with mushrooms. All mushrooms have their strengths, and the following are particularly great for taking on a meat-like form.