How To Prepare and Cook Mushrooms

Some of us may not know how to clean mushrooms before even jumping to the cooking, this happens when you’re new to this.

So, here’s a complete guide on mushroom preparation: 

1. Clean the Mushrooms

Clean mushrooms by removing dirt and other materials from them. Since mushrooms are somewhat spongy, placing them in water makes them soggy.

Just gently wipe its surface with a damp, not wet cloth or a soft brush. This is good for mushrooms before they are cooked since drier mushrooms will brown better in the pan.

If there is excess dirt, or you cannot wipe them completely off, then all you need to do is rapidly rinse the mushrooms under the cold running water; at once pat dry with a paper towel.

Other ways of washing mushrooms involve soaking them in cold water and then cleaning them.

2. Trim the Mushrooms

Clean and slice the mushrooms. Most mushrooms will want you to trim the ends off of the stems, especially if the stems are woody or dried out.

Some varieties of mushrooms, like portobellos, have extremely large stems which might as well be pre-sliced entirely, depending on the recipe.

3. Slice and Chop the Mushrooms

Mushrooms can go halved, quartered, sliced, or chopped, all of which depends on the cooking method.

Avoid making small cuts because mushrooms will shrink in size when cooking. Cut them into similar-sized pieces for even cooking.

If there’s a healthy way to cook mushrooms, then it surely is sauteing. It asks for a small amount of oil and there you have a bowl of flavorful mushrooms ready.

Here’s how to make sauteed mushrooms: 

Mushroom Ingredients

• Mushrooms: 1 pound or 450g
• Oil or butter: 2 tablespoons
• Salt: 1 teaspoon
• Black pepper: 1/2 teaspoon
• Garlic: 2-3 cloves, minced
• Dried thyme: 1-2 teaspoon
• Soy sauce: 1 tablespoon (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: Heat the Skillet

Here, we’ll skip the preparation part as this is already discussed in the previous block.

So, let’s begin the steps. Heating skillet ensures the even cooking so start by placing the skillet on the stove. Adjust the heat to high flame.

If you have a non-stick pan use that it doesn’t let the mushrooms stick to the pan. That way the cooking thing becomes easier. 

Step 2: Add the Oil or Butter

After a minute the skillet should be ready for oiling. Bring oil and pour it into the skillet, use any vegetable oil that is accessible.

As for a more buttery and creamy flavor, opt for butter. So, this choice depends on you as both liquids provide moisture to the mushrooms. 

Step 3: Add the Garlic

Once oil becomes more liquid and bubbles stop appearing, move toward the next ingredient.

Look for the measurements above and initiate to add minced garlic cloves. Stir minced garlic frequently until it turns golden. 

If desired, you can include crushed ginger and chopped onions. For more flavorings, mix in some chopped bell peppers that way mushrooms taste even better. 

Step 4: Saute the Mushrooms

It’s time to toss those prepared mushrooms into the skillet. Initially, move the mushrooms using a spatula for a few seconds or until combined with other ingredients.

Then, let the mushrooms sit in the pan for a minute and again continue stirring frequently. This way mushrooms get evenly cooked and develop that perfect brown texture. 

After 2-3 minutes of stirring, feed the mushrooms with salt, black pepper, and soy sauce (optional) then combine them until blended well. Saute the mushrooms for 7-10 minutes. 

Step 5: Sprinkle Aromatics

Aromatics give a pleasing fragrance to the mushrooms so it can’t be missed out. Feel free to use any dried herbs or you can use fresh ones, it depends on you. 

After you add herbs, toss the mushrooms nicely as it ensures a proper blending of herbs and brings more flavors to the dish. 

Step 6: Check for the Doneness

This one is almost a final step. Before removing the skillet from the stove, check the doneness of the mushrooms and the touch of seasonings.

Normally, well-cooked mushrooms become softer and change the color into a dark one. Let’s suppose a white one will turn into a dark brown one.

Instead of relying on color, test the softness of mushrooms. Just take a piece and chew if it feels softer without any firmness then know the mushroom is ready. 

Step 7: Cool and Serve 

And we’re done sauteing the mushrooms, turn off the stove and remove the mushrooms from the skillet to a plate.

Leaving mushrooms in that skillet leads to extra cooking which might make them dry and overcooked. So, transfer cooked mushrooms to a plate after turning off the gas. 

Cooling them is a good idea as it allows you to enjoy flavors to the fullest. Once cooled, serve the mushrooms with your favorite dish and have a blast of earthy flavors. 

Note: You can follow the above steps to make pan-fried mushrooms. The steps are the same, you just need to add a bit of extra oil to fry the mushrooms, that’s all. The rest is up to you, customize the seasonings as per your choice. 

Mushrooms are indeed versatile so the recipes are not limited to one. There are various ways to cook mushrooms from roasting, and boiling, to grilling and more. Pick a method that best fits your convenience and serve a plate of delightful mushrooms. 

Grilling is a fun way to cook the mushrooms. You get to enjoy the smokey and crispiness but also allows you to experience a different way of cooking. Doesn’t that sound exciting? So. let’s learn how to cook grilled mushrooms: 

Mushroom Ingredients

• Mushrooms: 1 pound
• Oil or butter: 2 tablespoons
• Balsamic Vinegar: 1 tablespoon
• Garlic: 2 cloves, minced
• Dried thyme or rosemary: 1 teaspoon
• Salt: 1 teaspoon
• Black pepper: 1/2 teaspoon

Instructions  

• A preheated grill ensures even cooking and also ready the mushrooms a bit quicker than normal time so, preheat the grill to medium or high heat. 
• If you have not prepared the mushrooms before, now it is time to do that. Clean the impurities and trim the bottom ends, then cut them into desired shapes or use whole. 
• Prepare a marinade mix. It is easy. Go get a sanitized bowl and add olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, black pepper, and dried herbs into that bowl. Mix together those ingredients which results in a well blended liquidy paste. 
• Time to combine mushrooms and marinade paste: put chopped mushrooms into the sauce and toss in such a manner that they are coated well with the sauce.
• Each mushroom piece should be covered with the marinade. Letting them stay like that for 15-30 minutes is a good idea for proper absorption of seasonings into the mushrooms. 
• Let’s grill those marinated mushrooms. First, drain the mushrooms and put them on the grill to cook for 4-6 minutes on each side or until they become tender. Nicely cooked mushrooms have artistic grill marks. 
• Soon after the one side gets done, flip the mushrooms to the other side and cook that side also for another 4-6 minutes. Cool the grilled mushrooms for 1-2 minutes and enjoy!

This one is an easy way to cook mushrooms. Own an oven? Then, try this mushroom roasting recipe, it is worth the effort. Here’s how to roast mushrooms: 

Mushroom Ingredients

• Mushrooms: 1 pound
• Oil or butter: 2 tablespoons
• Garlic powder: 1 teaspoon
• Dried oregano or rosemary: 1 teaspoon
• Salt: 1 teaspoon or adjust to taste
• Pepper: 1/2 teaspoon
• Grated Parmesan Cheese: 1 tablespoon (optional)

Instructions

• The first thing, preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) as it creates a heated environment, and mushrooms cook faster and nicely. 
• Preparing mushrooms is a must. So, look for the instructions on how to prepare mushrooms section. 
• Give a good mix to prepared mushrooms with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a dish. Also, add a hint of some dried oregano for a drooling fragrance. 
• Mix in those ingredients in a way that mushrooms are all coated with the seasonings. 
• Now, time to transfer those mushrooms on a baking sheet. Don’t just pile up the mushrooms. Instead, spread them in a single line. Top them with grated cheese if you like the dish to be a bit more cheesy. 
• Here comes the main part. Place the baking sheet inside the oven. What’s next? Allow the well-seasoned mushrooms to roast for 20-25 minutes. 
• As they reach halfway, switch the sides of the mushrooms and roast for the remaining time. That way they roast well and build a crisp and softer texture that meets your expectations. 
• When the suggested roasting time ends, mushrooms become golden brown in color which means they’re all set for serving. Just allow them to breathe normal air for 2-3 minutes and then eat them with the dishes of choice.

Looking for a more simple to cook mushrooms? Then, boil them! It’s a fact that boiling mushrooms are healthy to eat but they also create their own stock or broth in that process. And you can use that for flavoring in this or any dish you like.

So, let’s learn how to make boiled mushrooms: 

Mushroom Ingredients 

• Mushrooms: 1 pound
• Salt: 1 teaspoon or adjust to taste
• Butter or oil: 1-2 teaspoons

Instructions 

• Clean the mushrooms either with a soft brush or a brief rinse. Cut the mushrooms into your desired size.
• Add water to the pot, then let it boil. Add butter or oil to the water, adding some salt after your water starts boiling. Feel free to add any other seasoning for extra flavor.
• Now add the mushrooms to the already boiling mixture and let it cook for about 15 minutes. When the color starts to darken and they become tender, note that mushrooms have boiled nicely. 
• Turn off the stove and drain the mushrooms as soon as possible or they might become mushy due to continuous sitting in the hot water. Don’t discard the hot water rather save it for later use. 
• Once drained properly, spread them on a plate and let them take fresh air for a few minutes, then you can proceed to season the mushrooms and eat. 

You might mistake braising with boiling, both methods demand slightly different steps for cooking. Braising involves slow cooking first starting with searing and ending with slight liquid. So, let’s learn how to cook braised mushrooms: 

Mushroom Ingredients

• Mushrooms: 1 pound
• Oil or butter: 2 tablespoons
• Vegetable or Chicken Broth: 1 cup
• Dry White wine or water: 1/2 cup
• Garlic: 2-3 cloves, minced
• Fresh or dried thyme: 1-2 teaspoon
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

• Take out a large skillet or a Dutch oven and clean them out nicely in case of any dirt. Let the skillet sit on the stove and allow it to heat. Pour oil or butter into that skillet and wait until it simmers. 

• Add the prepared mushrooms to that skillet and cook for about 5-7 minutes, by this time they turn brown. Don’t forget to stir the mushrooms frequently as this leads to proper cooking. 

• Mix in minced garlic and dried thyme (fresh one will work too) into the pan-seared mushrooms and combine using a spatula this gives a good blend to the ingredients. Leave them to cook for an extra 1-2 minutes. 

• Pour in the broth and wine or water and simmer. Pull down the heat to low. Put the lid on and cook for 15-20 minutes. By that time, they become tender and the liquid reduces slightly.

• Season with salt and black pepper. Don’t hesitate to adjust the seasonings based on the taste. Serve the braised mushrooms with the cooking liquid as a flavorful sauce over meats or grains.

Knowing how to cook mushrooms is not enough for better results. Having the idea of the mushrooms take to get ready matters a lot here. Otherwise, the outcome doesn’t fulfill your expectations. 

The cooking time depends mostly on the method one has used. Here’s a brief guide for 1 pound of mushrooms (4-5 servings): 

For Sauteing

• Cooking time: 10-15 minutes

For Grilling

• Cooking time: 4-6 minutes each side

For Roasting

• Cooking time: 20-25 minutes

For Boiling

• Cooking time: 12-15 minutes

For Braising

• Pan searing: 5-7 minutes
• Simmering time: 15-20 minutes 

Note: Sometimes the amount of mushrooms also affects the cooking time so, extend the time if you don’t get that tender texture. But be careful not to overcook them.  

Having mushrooms in larger quantities and don’t know what to do? No worries! Storing them is the ultimate way. Look below for the guidance on storage: 

How to store mushrooms in the fridge?

Pop the raw mushrooms with the original package in the fridge for a week more shelf life. Or transfer them to a paper bag or plastic bag with tiny holes because they need to inhale some outer air to be fresh.

Otherwise, raw mushrooms get spoiled sooner if kept in a tightly sealed bag or container. 

Whereas cooked mushrooms need to go through the cooling process before going to the refrigerator. So, cool the cooked mushrooms fully and put them in an airtight container then pop in the fridge. It remains edible for up to 5-6 days. 

How to store mushrooms in the freezer? 

Raw mushrooms stay fresh for 9 months in freezers. Unpack the mushrooms, wash them, then pat dry with paper towels, next put them on a baking sheet or tray for flash-freezing.

When done, transfer them to a zip-top bag or airtight container and place them in the freeze.

As for the cooked ones, follow the refrigerating steps. Don’t overlook the internal temperature of the freezer. Otherwise, it might spoil the mushrooms sooner.

So, maintain a constant temperature at 0°F (-18°C).  It retains the freshness of the mushrooms for a longer time.

How to reheat frozen mushrooms?

Reheating frozen mushrooms is quite easy. All it takes is to heat the mushrooms for 4-5 minutes in a pan or oven.

Drizzle some broth or water to bring moisture as they might get dried during the reheating process. And they’re ready for serving.