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Exploring the World of Mushrooms

Each variety of mushroom brings its own unique flavor, texture, and culinary experience. These versatile fungi can serve as a meat substitute in a wide range of dishes, from gourmet recipes to everyday meals.

Mushrooms are not only a great way to reduce fat, calories, and cholesterol in your diet, but they also offer a wealth of health benefits. They are rich in amino acids and antioxidants that help prevent or slow down cellular damage. Moreover, they contain essential macronutrients that bolster the immune system.

Key nutrients found in mushrooms include selenium, Vitamin D, and Vitamin B6. While we’ve highlighted some of the benefits here, there’s much more to discover about each mushroom variety. Continue reading below about each exiting unique mushroom!

Recipes

What to do with MUSHROOMS


Fresh Storage

It is best to store your mushrooms in a breathable paper bag on a shelf in the fridge, not in the vegetable drawer, as this will help them last longer.  A paper bag provides a cool environment with good airflow that prevents them from sweating and going bad.  At the same time, the bag creates a partially closed environment helping to prevent too much moisture loss.  If they start to dry out and shrivel a little, you can still use them in soups and sauces, as they’ll rehydrate while cooking.

Freezing

You can freeze your mushrooms for use at a later date.  They will last for up to 12 months in the freezer.  You can freeze mushrooms whole or sliced and either raw, blanched or sauteed.  Which method you choose will depend on the type of mushroom and how you plan on using them in the future.  Most kinds are best cooked before freezing but some are fine raw like the maitake mushrooms.  It’s best to freeze mushrooms as fresh as possible.   Lay mushrooms out on a tray lined with parchment paper and slide the entire tray into the freezer. This will individually flash freeze them.  Then you can take the frozen mushrooms out and put them in freezer bags to enjoy at a later date. Try to remove as much excess air from the bags as possible.

Drying

Traditionally people dried mushrooms by threading them onto a string and hanging them up to dry in a warm, airy spot.  You can also dry mushrooms in a wicker basket, bamboo steamer or colander, that allow air circulation underneath the mushrooms.  Put the mushrooms as close together as you can but not overlapping. Then, place the container in a warm, dry location with good air circulation, like a sunny windowsill.  

Oven Drying

Place your mushrooms in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet. Use the lowest setting possible (below 150°F/ 65.5°C) as excessive heat may destroy some of  the beneficial compounds.  Turn them over every hour until they are crisp and brittle.  If you store mushrooms that still contain even a little moisture, they may rot or go moldy.  Store your dried mushrooms in an airtight container in a cool, dark location.

Lion’s Mane

Lion’s Mane is a unique mushroom used all over the world for culinary purposes and for health-supporting properties.  This mushroom has a subtle, seafood-like flavour and a tender texture which makes it a great substitute in any seafood or crab recipe or great roasted on its own as a side dish.  Having been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, the lion’s mane mushroom is a medical powerhouse.  Lion’s mane contains unique properties that may be able to protect the neurons and nerves in our bodies and assist in protecting the brain from cognitive decline associated with aging.  Studies show that lion’s mane can increase the production of nerve growth factors that maintains the neural health in our brains.  This awesome mushroom may be able to support short and long-term memory, enhancing cognitive function and regulate emotions.  Lion’s mane promotes a healthy immune system and contains essential amino acids, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Blue Oyster

Blue oyster mushrooms are known for their striking blue to bluish-gray coloration which makes them a show stoper in stir-frying, sautéing dishes that have a short cook time.  They have a soft and tender texture which pairs beautifully in light dishes like soups, risottos or pasta.  These mushrooms have a mild, delicate flavour with a slightly sweet and anise-like aroma.  

  Blue oyster mushrooms are a low-calorie source of antioxidants, fiber, and protein.  It also contains minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. Vitamins like niacin and pantothenic acid are also present in this mushroom. Antioxidants like polyphenol, beta carotene, and ascorbic acid in this mushroom remove harmful radicals from the body. Thus this mushroom boosts the immune system, prevents oxidative stress, and protects the body from various diseases. Intake of mushrooms also helps the body get rid of cholesterol and lipids, thus lowering cholesterol levels and preventing heart disease

Chestnut

Chestnut mushrooms have a pronounced earthy flavour with subtle nutty undertones. They have a meatier texture and can be used in vegetarian and vegan recipes to provide a satisfying  meaty texture and flavour.  When the mushrooms are sautéed or roasted it enhances the overall flavour  and brings out a mild sweetness.  Chestnut mushrooms are a super-dense source of nutritious phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals.  They are rich in copper, selenium, protein, potassium, and vitamins B2, B3, and B5.    They have a unique anti-tumor property that is especially important since it’s not usually found in other plant or animal species.

Another benefit of the chestnut mushroom is its anti-inflammatory properties. The cyclooxygenase enzymes COX-1 is the one regulating the body’s homeostatic functions, and COX-2 are responsible for the formation of prostaglandins that mediate pain and inflammation. They also help lower cholesterol as they contain very little fat and have high amounts of fiber.