Having mushrooms in different dishes like salads, risotto and pizzas are favorite to many. But to know about what do mushrooms taste like will increase your chances to consume them.
And of course, after knowing the flavor you will be able to consume them in different ways as well in different recipes.
That’s why I bring this article to you to elaborate on different mushrooms taste as well as many other exciting facts about them. So, navigate this article if you want to know what do different mushrooms taste like?
What Do Mushrooms Taste like?
Mushrooms are common fungi, having a fleshy and spore-bearing fruiting bodies. The word mushroom may be derived from the French language word “mousseron”.
And usually grows over ground or you can adjust your own land to grow them in your own garden. An interesting fact about mushrooms is that all mushrooms are not edible.
This means that many mushrooms are poisonous to animals as well as to humans. But there is no need to worry about them because mushrooms are different in shape and size from one another.
Besides this mushrooms are very important for humanity as they have the ability to decompose dead organisms and even to timber. So that dead organisms re-fed to the soil to increase its nourishment.
Furthermore, we will discuss all the nutrients in this article, but for now, let’s move towards the taste of different mushrooms.
Before moving towards the main topic, let’s have a look on the following types of mushrooms:
- Button Mushrooms
- Cremini Mushrooms
- Portobello Mushrooms
- Oyster Mushrooms
- Chanterelle Mushrooms
- Porcini Mushrooms
- Hedgehog Mushrooms
- Morel Mushrooms
- Enoki Mushrooms
- Shiitake Mushrooms
- Maitake Mushrooms
- Reishi Mushrooms
- Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
- Beech Mushrooms
White Button Mushrooms:
White button mushrooms also known with different names like, cultivated mushrooms, table, champignon mushrooms, and also with button mushrooms. However, these mushrooms are the most commonly available mushrooms with cheap price in your near grocery store.
Moreover, these mushrooms have spongy round capes which made them look alike buttons and so that’s why called as also button mushrooms.
Read also: Can You Eat Raw Mushrooms?
Rather than this, these mushrooms are mild in taste with a lot of minerals and nutrients. But, having mild taste may not be exciting for many people. But if you want a mild meaty taste in your dish then it will be a good choice for you.
Not only this, you can eat these mushrooms without cooking, but keep in mind that after washing properly.
Crimini Mushrooms:
Crimini mushrooms are the elder version of white button mushrooms. And also known as with the following different names like,
- Cremino mushrooms,
- Swiss brown mushrooms
- Roman Brown Mushrooms
Moreover, these mushrooms are brown in color with slightly large in size as compared to white button mushrooms.
Being an elder version of white button mushrooms, these mushrooms are firmer in flavor. It means that they have meatier flavor as compared to white button mushrooms. Moreover, these mushrooms taste better in liquids like stews, soups etc.
Portobello Mushrooms:
Portobello mushrooms are the elder version of Crimini mushrooms. And, also have darker brown color than Crimini mushrooms. Actually, all these white button mushrooms, criminy mushrooms and Portobello mushrooms belong to the same family with just differences in age.
Being a mature version of white button mushrooms these mushrooms have the compact texture with a rich meaty flavor. And easily replace meat in your dish if you are a vegan.
Moreover, as a substitute for meat, you can easily use them in pasta, pizza, as well as in sauces. As they are large in size so their caps would be good substitute for bread or buns.
Shiitake Mushrooms:
Shiitake mushrooms are most commonly grow in Asian countries like China, Japan, and South Korea. That’s why they have a great impact in Asian cuisine. Moreover, these mushrooms are known as with following different names like,
- Black forest
- Black winter
- Brown oak
- Chinese black
- Black mushrooms
- Oriental Dark
- Forest mushrooms
- Golden oak
From the perspective of their shape they have a similar shape like white button mushrooms but their caps are not that mush round. Moreover, they have much flattened caps with dark brown color.
Now with respect to taste, these mushrooms have a mild woodsy, meaty, and salty taste. And would be a good choice to your sauces and soups dishes.
Oyster Mushrooms:
Sometimes you can find these mushrooms on the sides of trees that are located in the wild. However, nowadays these mushrooms include in most frequently edible mushrooms.
And cultivated on earth at very large scale. Also known as Pleurotus, tree oyster, angel’s wings, and abalone mushrooms.
According to their shape, these mushrooms have an open shape and grow in the form of bunches. Even in the sides of trees, these mushrooms grow in the shape of a bunch that contains many small, open oyster mushrooms. However, these mushrooms may available to you in white color, blue color, or brown color.
Moreover, these mushrooms are simple and easy to cook due to their thin nature. As well you can cook them more evenly as compared to other mushrooms.
These mushrooms have sweet and delicate taste which will be a good choice in stir-fry, grilling, etc.
Enoki Mushrooms:
Enoki mushrooms are also known as Futu mushrooms, winter mushrooms, winter fungus, gold mushrooms, or lily mushrooms.
However, these mushrooms available in a bunch form with long tails and small caps in white color. Moreover, you can eat them raw Enoki mushrooms with white, firm caps.
According to their taste, these mushrooms have meaty taste with crispy texture. That’s why these mushrooms are very common in Asian cooking as in sauces, salads, etc.
Chanterelle Mushrooms:
This type of mushrooms is very famous in European restaurants and also in the USA. However, these mushrooms are also known as yellow, golden, egg mushrooms because of their yellow, golden like color.
Read also: Fruits That Are Not Round
According to the perspective of their flavor they have not much meaty flavor instead they have very delicate texture as well as flavor. And moreover, they serve you better with butter and cream, hence you can use them in soups, pasta as well as in soufflés.
Porcini Mushrooms:
Porcini mushrooms have tick soft tails with flat brown to dark brown color top. However, sometimes it’s hard to find them but mostly you can find them in dry form in the market.
But don’t worry, you just have to soak them into the water before cooking and thus they will be reconstituted easily.
According to flavor, these mushrooms taste like meat as just Portobello. And with the perspective of texture these mushrooms have a creamy texture with manifest aroma.
These mushrooms are very popular in Italy and widely use in their cuisine very regularly. Moreover, these mushrooms will go better with sautéed, pasta, and in sauces as well.
Shimeji Mushrooms:
These mushrooms grow in bunches with light brown color, having small and large mushrooms in a bunch. Moreover, according to their shape they have thin tail with small round top.
With respect to taste, these mushrooms are not good with taste when you eat them raw. But will give you a nutty taste once you cook it. Despite of this, these mushrooms will go better with stews and sauces.
Morel Mushrooms:
These mushrooms are very hard to find because of the difficulties in cultivation. Because these mushrooms have a very small period of cultivation and cannot afford the roughness of weather. Moreover, these mushrooms are very tasty to eat, which also makes them expensive.
With respect to their looks, these mushrooms are hollow inside like a honey-comb look on their caps in an oval shape. And moreover, they can be of brown color to dark brown color.
However, the taste of these mushrooms similar to a meaty texture with an earthy and nutty taste. These mushrooms are commonly use in French cuisine.
Maitake Mushrooms:
These Maitake mushrooms, also known as dancing mushrooms and hen of the wood etc. Mostly these mushrooms are cultivated in the northeast of the United States and the Japan. But can wildly grow in the east of the Mississippi river in the month of August and September.
Moreover, these mushrooms taste like gamy and have an earthy odor. In addition, these mushrooms are very helpful for our mental and physical health.
According to their shapes, they also grow in the form of a bunch with a thin tail and thin brown caps which are turn outside.
Beech Mushrooms:
These mushrooms taste like sweet nuttiness with crunchy flavor after cooking. But it is suggested that do not eat them raw as they are bitter in taste.
However, these mushrooms have thick tails with a brown cap-like hut shape. Moreover, these mushrooms grow in the form of a bunch of 4 to 5 mushrooms. And in a bunch, their size and height may vary.
Hedgehog Mushrooms:
These mushrooms taste like meat and have a crunchy texture. However, these mushrooms are also known as sweet tooth due to their sweet taste. But these mushrooms can also bitter in taste if they are overly mature.
As having meat taste, these mushrooms will be a good alternative for vegans.
Mushrooms That Will Be Best Substitute of Meat for Vegetarians:
Here I want to explain in detail and also want to separate the specific types of those mushrooms that will be the best alternate of meat-like taste and proteins rich also for vegans.
So that without compromising on health you will get healthy mushrooms. Later I will surely discuss the healthy nature of mushrooms.
Okay, following is the list of mushrooms that have meat taste and also protein enrich:
- Portobello mushrooms, if you want a perfect mushroom to substitute meat then I would highly recommend this mushroom. Because these mushrooms not only have meat like taste but also protein enrich. And also provide you a healthy dose of protein to your body. However, you can replace meat in steaks etc. with this mushroom.
- Shiitake mushrooms, also have a woody, creamy, and meat-like taste and easily become a meat substitute for sauces and soups dishes.
- Crimini mushrooms also have a meaty taste. As they are the young version of Portobello mushrooms. But have a lighter meaty taste as compared to Portobello mushrooms. So they will also become a best substitute of meat in soups, chickens, sauces as well as in stews.
- White button mushrooms have a mild meaty taste with enriching in minerals. If you want just slight meat-like taste touch in your dishes, then it will be your best choice.
- If you want a substitute of crabs like taste in your dishes, then Chanterelle mushrooms would be a great substitute for you. However, these mushrooms are expensive and have a small range in cooking. So before using them in any dish you have to be well aware of their use.
- For wanting the substitute of fish taste in your cooking, Enoki mushrooms would be a good replacement. Not only this, you can replace them as meat in Ramen.
Cultivate Mushrooms at Your Home:
As mushrooms are an essential part of the food for many people. So growing food at your place wouldn’t be a bad idea. As with this, not only you get fresh mushrooms but also can get plenty of mushrooms.
Because mushrooms used to grow in the form of a bunch which contains several mushrooms at a time. As it is saying that a spore can grow a single mushroom but a mushroom can grow a number of mushrooms.
At first to grow any kind of mushrooms we have to spore. But most important part is the temperature and environment in which we have to grow mushrooms.
Keep in mind that mushrooms require quite cool, moist, humid, and as well as less sunlight for their growth. According to the perspective of temperature, mushrooms require 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. And usually the places like under the sink, basement at your home will be preferable for mushroom growth.
After Sporing, mushrooms will grow within few weeks. Moreover, if you live in a region were moisture in the air is less then keep your moisture 3 to 4 times a day. This can be achieved by spraying water on them.
Healthy Nature of Mushrooms:
Let’s discuss the healthy nature of mushrooms. As according to research mushrooms have good ability to prevent cancer in our body. Not only these mushrooms tend to strengthen our immune system to fight against different types of cancer.
Moreover, mushrooms are very helpful to control as well as reduce cholesterol in the body. And also help to keep the blood pressure of the body at a healthy point.
Let’s see which type of mushrooms are healthier for us.
Shiitake Mushrooms:
Shiitake mushrooms as a fungus have numerous health benefits. For example, these mushrooms tend to strengthen the immune system against several diseases like cancer.
Moreover, these mushrooms have high water content and lower in fats. Which surely makes them helpful during your weight loss journey.
Being enrich in proteins these mushrooms will also be your good meat substitute. Not only this, shiitakes are high in fiber content and thus provides you help indigestion.
Moreover, these mushrooms prove their selves to reduce hypertension and heart diseases as well as lung diseases.
Reishi Mushrooms:
Reishi mushroom is one of the best-known mushroom for health benefits. As this mushroom able to heal several diseases. For example, cancer, helps to strengthen the immune system, and help to treat infections.
Moreover, used to produce strong protection from bacterial diseases. With all of this, Reishi mushrooms help to lower the effects of bronchitis, arthritis, asthma, insomnia, neurasthenia, and many other heart diseases.
Lion’s Mane Serving:
These mushrooms usually grow on trunks and known due to their numerous benefits in medical field. As these mushrooms are best fighter against Senile dementia and vascular lesions of the brain.
Moreover, these mushrooms provide good protection to the stomach mucous membranes. And hence proves their selves beneficial in the treatment of ulcers, gastritis, and intestinal inflammations.
Moreover, according to research, these mushrooms helpful to reduce depression and anxiety. As well as, Lion’s Mane Mushrooms prove their selves as the natural anticancer food.
Maitake Mushrooms:
Maitake mushrooms are fungus and grow in clusters. These mushrooms have numerous medicinal benefits. As these mushrooms help to strengthen the immune system against the antidiabetic effect.
Enokitake Mushrooms (Enoki Mushrooms):
These mushrooms are good fighters against cancer. As according to research these mushrooms have a significant impact on the reduction of cervix cancer. Moreover, these mushrooms are enriching in vitamin D, potassium, fiber, and phosphorus as well.
Conclusion:
Mushrooms have numerous health benefits with admirable taste. The therapeutic behavior of mushrooms can be taken into account that Otzi, the iceman carried small pieces of fungi (according to research).
Because of this nowadays mushrooms are very common in a number of dishes to enhance their taste, texture, as well as nutrients. This article contains all possible information from what do mushrooms taste like to their health benefits.
So I hope you will be able to mushrooms that are exactly according to your taste. And help you to enhance the variety of your food.