At your local supermarket, you’ll find several varieties of fresh mushrooms - White button, Cremini, Shiitake, Oyster, and Portobello. For firmer and more flavorful buy Cremini mushrooms. Avoid pre-sliced and buy those that are loose so you can expect their quality. Look for those large caps, minimal stems avoiding those with discoloration or dry shriveled patches.
Cleaning and Preparing Mushrooms
Do not wash mushrooms that will be eaten raw, simply brush dirt away dampen a paper towel and wipe the dirt off. If you are cooking the mushrooms, rinse away dirt with cold water just before using, then wipe dry with a paper towel. White Button and Cremini trim the stems a little. Shitake and Portobellos mushrooms have tough, woody stems and should be removed.
Portobellos
Portobellos are the giants of the mushroom family, ranging from 4 to 6 inches in diameter. They are the mature form of Cremini mushrooms and because of the extra growing time, they have a particularly intense, meaty flavor and a steak like texture. They are ideal sautéed, roasted, grilled, or stuffed.
Look for mushrooms with fully intact caps and dry gills. Wet, damaged gills are a sign of spoilage. The stems are woody and are often discarded, so buy mushrooms with the stems only if you plan to use them in soup or stock. To clean Portobellos, simply wipe them with a damp paper towel. When cooking portobellos in soups or stews, you may want to remove the gills on the underside of the cap so that your dish will not taste or look muddy.
Dried Porcini Mushrooms (Porcini means Little Pigs)
Dried porcini mushrooms add intense, savory flavor to dishes. Avoid those with small holes which indicate the mushrooms have been subjected to pinworms. Look for large, smooth, and free of holes. Always remove any grit before using by swishing them in a bowl of water to loosen the dirt, then rinse them
Storing Mushrooms
Because of their high moisture content, mushrooms are very perishable and keep fresh only for a few days. To extend their shelf life, store mushrooms in your fridge in the crisper drawer in a partially opened zipper lock bag. Store packaged mushrooms in their original containers, as these are designed to breathe, maximizing the life of the mushrooms. Once the package has been opened simply rewrap it with plastic wrap
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