Nutritious, delicious, and endlessly versatile, mushrooms are an easy way to make everyday meals more interesting, while also packing in essential nutrients. From delicate oysters to meaty portobellos, mushrooms bring a depth of flavour, texture, and umami richness to everything from simple soups to gourmet mains.
Along with being a nutritional powerhouse (see our last blog post), mushrooms are simple to prep and cook. In this blog post, we’ll look at how you can easily incorporate mushrooms into a busy lifestyle.
Choose the best mushrooms
Freshness is key when it comes to mushrooms. Look for firm, plump mushrooms with no signs of bruising or excessive moisture. The mushrooms that you will find in supermarkets across Ireland and the UK are farm-fresh and amazing quality.
Store and prepare mushrooms correctly
When storing mushrooms at home, ensure they are kept cool and dry. Storing your mushrooms in their original packaging and placing them in the main compartment in the fridge will also ensure they last a full week.
Tips for storing mushrooms:
- Avoid storing mushrooms in places that are too moist (such as the vegetable drawer in the fridge) as it will lead to your mushrooms spoiling quickly.
- Steep clear of storing mushrooms near foods with a strong odour. Mushrooms absorb aromas very easily, which can lead to them losing their freshness quickly.
- Handle mushrooms with care to avoid squishing and bruising them and they’ll keep for longer.
To wash or not to wash?
Mushrooms are delicate, so it’s best to treat them gently. They're grown in pasteurised compost so any dirt can be wiped off with a dry cloth, but if you’d prefer to wash them just give them a quick rinse under running water and don’t scrub! Always pat dry before cooking.
Flavour profile
Mushrooms pack a unique, savoury flavour which is known as ‘umami’ – a unique flavour that is different from sweet, salty, savoury and bitter. This taste profile can also be found in some meat and fish and adds depth and richness to the overall flavour of a dish.
Interestingly, the umami taste in mushrooms is attributed to a combination of compounds, including glutamate and 5′-nucleotides. (Sun et al. 2020)
Mushrooms complement a variety of ingredients, making them versatile in many cuisines, from Italian to Chinese to American. You can grill them, sauté them, or use them in a soup or a stew to add a delicious flavour to your meals. You can also shred them into your meals like risotto, omelette, or pasta sauces – a great option when cooking for fussy children or toddlers!
Cooking tips
Here are some quick and easy ways to cook your mushrooms:
- Sautéing: A hot pan, a splash of good-quality Irish butter or olive oil, and a pinch of salt are all you need to bring out their natural savoury richness. Try finishing with fresh herbs like thyme or parsley for an extra flavour boost.
- Roasting: Spread mushrooms on a baking tray, drizzle with oil, and roast at a high temperature until golden and slightly crisp at the edges – perfect for adding to grain bowls or pasta dishes.
- Grilling: Large mushrooms like portobellos take well to grilling, absorbing smoky flavours while developing a satisfying meaty texture. Ideal as a plant-based burger alternative!
- Slow Cooking: Adding mushrooms to slow-cooked stews, casseroles, or broths allows them to release their deep, umami notes, enriching the entire dish.
Easy ways to incorporate more mushrooms into your diet
If you’re looking to introduce more mushrooms into your meals, start small. Add finely chopped mushrooms to minced meat dishes like burgers or Bolognese for an extra layer of flavour and nutrition. Toss sautéed mushrooms through scrambled eggs or fold them into omelettes for a luxurious breakfast. Or simply top a slice of sourdough with garlic mushrooms for a quick but delicious lunch!
