All About Mushrooms
Almost 40,000 varieties of mushroom exist in the world, but only a fraction of them make it to the table, where they are enjoyed for their rich, earthy flavor. For culinary purposes, mushrooms are divided into two categories: cultivated and wild.
Today, as demand for different varieties increases, mushroom growers are able to cultivate more and more types, and the line between cultivated and wild is blurring. The most flavorful—and most expensive—mushrooms, however, are still gathered by foragers in forests under trees or on old stumps. Highly prized mushrooms, such as the matsutake and the morel, have eluded all attempts at cultivation. Around the world, mushroom hunting after the rains of spring or during the cool mornings of autumn is still a thriving—and ultimately delicious—tradition.
Although mushrooms can be cooked by almost any method, they taste wonderful when simply sautéed in olive oil, with a little garlic, over high heat. Mushrooms are also good tossed with olive oil (be judicious; these little sponges can soak up a lot of oil) and seasonings, then roasted or grilled, gill side up, to retain their juices. To grill small mushrooms, thread them on skewers.
Selecting
Fresh mushrooms should be firm and have smooth, unblemished caps. Avoid any that are broken, limp, wrinkled, soggy or moldy. Stems with gray, dried ends indicate that the mushrooms have been stored too long. Some mushrooms have closed caps, like the common button mushroom. For these varieties, if the caps are open so that the gills are exposed, the mushrooms are too old. For varieties where the gills are exposed, like portobellos, check that the gills are unbroken.
As mushrooms age, they dry out, so the heaviest mushrooms should be the freshest. If you plan to cook mushrooms whole, select those with caps of the same size for even cooking. Check that packaged, presliced mushrooms are not wrinkled or discolored. Mushrooms are also available whole or sliced in jars, preserved in a brine, or marinated with oil and herbs.
Storing
Refrigerate fresh mushrooms for no more than 3 or 4 days, keeping them in a paper bag to absorb excess moisture. Spread delicate varieties in a single layer on a tray and cover them with a damp cloth. If sealed in plastic, mushrooms will become slimy and mold quickly.
Preparing
Mushrooms absorb water readily, becoming soggy and flavorless if left to soak. While some cooks insist that you should not wash mushrooms at all, a quick rinse and a thorough drying with paper towels immediately before cooking will not hurt them. If you have time or plan to cook only a few mushrooms, wipe them clean with a damp cloth or brush. Special mushroom brushes are available for gentle removal of dirt, or a toothbrush with soft bristles will work. Trim the dried end of tender stems; but if the stems are tough, remove them completely and save them for soup or stock.
Caution!
Some wild mushrooms are fatally toxic, and they can closely resemble edible varieties. Do not pick or eat wild mushrooms unless a trained expert collector familiar with local varieties identifies them. Supermarket "wild" mushrooms generally are farmed and certainly are not poisonous.
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Companion: The A to Z Guide to Everyday Cooking, Equipment and Ingredients (Time-Life Books, 2000)
Almost 40,000 varieties of mushroom exist in the world, but only a fraction of them make it to the table, where they are enjoyed for their rich, earthy flavor. For culinary purposes, mushrooms are divided into two categories: cultivated and wild.
Today, as demand for different varieties increases, mushroom growers are able to cultivate more and more types, and the line between cultivated and wild is blurring. The most flavorful—and most expensive—mushrooms, however, are still gathered by foragers in forests under trees or on old stumps. Highly prized mushrooms, such as the matsutake and the morel, have eluded all attempts at cultivation. Around the world, mushroom hunting after the rains of spring or during the cool mornings of autumn is still a thriving—and ultimately delicious—tradition.
Although mushrooms can be cooked by almost any method, they taste wonderful when simply sautéed in olive oil, with a little garlic, over high heat. Mushrooms are also good tossed with olive oil (be judicious; these little sponges can soak up a lot of oil) and seasonings, then roasted or grilled, gill side up, to retain their juices. To grill small mushrooms, thread them on skewers.
Selecting
Fresh mushrooms should be firm and have smooth, unblemished caps. Avoid any that are broken, limp, wrinkled, soggy or moldy. Stems with gray, dried ends indicate that the mushrooms have been stored too long. Some mushrooms have closed caps, like the common button mushroom. For these varieties, if the caps are open so that the gills are exposed, the mushrooms are too old. For varieties where the gills are exposed, like portobellos, check that the gills are unbroken.
As mushrooms age, they dry out, so the heaviest mushrooms should be the freshest. If you plan to cook mushrooms whole, select those with caps of the same size for even cooking. Check that packaged, presliced mushrooms are not wrinkled or discolored. Mushrooms are also available whole or sliced in jars, preserved in a brine, or marinated with oil and herbs.
Storing
Refrigerate fresh mushrooms for no more than 3 or 4 days, keeping them in a paper bag to absorb excess moisture. Spread delicate varieties in a single layer on a tray and cover them with a damp cloth. If sealed in plastic, mushrooms will become slimy and mold quickly.
Preparing
Mushrooms absorb water readily, becoming soggy and flavorless if left to soak. While some cooks insist that you should not wash mushrooms at all, a quick rinse and a thorough drying with paper towels immediately before cooking will not hurt them. If you have time or plan to cook only a few mushrooms, wipe them clean with a damp cloth or brush. Special mushroom brushes are available for gentle removal of dirt, or a toothbrush with soft bristles will work. Trim the dried end of tender stems; but if the stems are tough, remove them completely and save them for soup or stock.
Caution!
Some wild mushrooms are fatally toxic, and they can closely resemble edible varieties. Do not pick or eat wild mushrooms unless a trained expert collector familiar with local varieties identifies them. Supermarket "wild" mushrooms generally are farmed and certainly are not poisonous.
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Companion: The A to Z Guide to Everyday Cooking, Equipment and Ingredients (Time-Life Books, 2000)
Today at 3:15 pm by Rocky
» utube MM&C 10/17/24 MM&C News Reporting - Iraq Dinar Updates 10/16/2024
Today at 8:13 am by Rocky
» Aides CUT OFF Interview as Kamala Harris BOMBS on Fox News
Today at 6:59 am by Rocky
» Trump's women's voters town hall oct 16-24
Today at 6:59 am by Rocky
» MM&C 10/16/24 Iraq Increases Reserves at IMF by 50%
Today at 6:58 am by Rocky
» MM&C 10/15/24 US Senate enters the line of pressure on the Central Bank of Iraq
Today at 6:57 am by Rocky
» utube MM&C 10/15/24 Attention to Valuation-Revaluation of Currency-IMF-WB-Viewpoints
Today at 6:57 am by Rocky
» Trade Bank of Iraq announces the imminent opening of Al-Saydiyah and Al-Samawah branches
Today at 6:53 am by Rocky
» Finance launches third issue of government bonds “Enjaz” for public subscription
Today at 6:52 am by Rocky
» Washington: We support Iraq’s economic reform agenda, updating the budget and enhancing transparency
Today at 6:49 am by Rocky
» Muqtada al-Sadr: German Foreign Minister must retract her statements supporting the killing of civil
Today at 6:44 am by Rocky
» About $270 million in sales from the Central Bank of Iraq at today's auction
Today at 6:42 am by Rocky
» Oil Ministry: Iraq is one of the worst violators of gas flaring rules
Today at 6:41 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani chairs a meeting to follow up on efforts to develop the work of the government banking sec
Today at 6:39 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani stresses the importance of banking reform in enhancing citizen confidence and cooperation
Today at 6:36 am by Rocky
» BRICS currency.. Government advisor: A global monetary and financial system is about to be born
Today at 5:56 am by Bama Diva
» Iraq imports 17% of Jordanian food industry products
Today at 5:08 am by Rocky
» MP: 3 Iraqi messages at the International Conference of Speakers of Parliaments in Geneva
Today at 5:05 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Oil dismisses the Director General of the North Oil Company from his position
Today at 5:03 am by Rocky
» Nechirvan Barzani calls on Baghdad not to be afraid of arming the Peshmerga: They are defending Iraq
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Two waste sites identified for use in energy generation in Baghdad
Today at 5:00 am by Rocky
» EU seeks to build economic corridor with Gulf states
Today at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Industry announces obligating brick factories to switch to gas instead of black oil
Today at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Iraq ranks third in real estate purchases in Türkiye during the month
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic discusses the investment situation in the country
Today at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Iraq reconstruction projects before Arab ministers
Today at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The government has regained the confidence of citizens
Today at 4:51 am by Rocky
» Major government campaign to combat environmental pollution
Today at 4:50 am by Rocky
» The food basket and care increased the citizen’s share of the GDP.
Today at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Economic Contradictions: Argentina as a Model
Today at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Malians: No significant impact of dollar's rise in markets
Today at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Calls to speed up the establishment of the {Bank of the Poor}
Today at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Today.. The Kurdistan government announces a list of September salaries
Today at 4:40 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani pledges to adopt a 5-dimensional "integrated strategy" to support Diyala
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Barzani and Erdogan discuss the development road project
Today at 4:37 am by Rocky
» The Presidency of the Republic calls for submitting applications regarding death sentences that do n
Today at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Iraq is heading to import gas from deep in Asia
Today at 4:34 am by Rocky
» They brought in about 4 billion dollars.. Iran receives more than 4 million tourists, led by Iraq, i
Today at 4:30 am by Rocky
» Will "Turkmen gas" change the reality of electricity in Iraq?
Today at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Politician: US Ambassador Failed to Create Western Veto on Parliament Laws
Today at 4:27 am by Rocky
» White House adopts hotline with Baghdad in preparation for indirect negotiations with Tehran
Today at 4:25 am by Rocky
» Deputy Minister of Oil publishes phrases for unknown reasons on his Facebook account
Today at 4:24 am by Rocky
» He inaugurated and announced strategic projects and issued 3 important decisions.. Dimensions of Al-
Today at 4:23 am by Rocky
» The trial period for raising the prices of improved gasoline has ended, and the amount of revenues i
Today at 4:22 am by Rocky
» Iraq is the fourth in the world in violating “Internet freedom” during 2024
Today at 4:21 am by Rocky
» Parliament Speaker Crisis Looms.. Coordination Framework Agrees to Support Al-Mashhadani
Today at 4:19 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani Party: Parliament fully supports the Prime Minister
Today at 4:19 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan Finance Deposits More Than 77 Billion in Non-Oil Revenues into Baghdad Treasury
Today at 4:17 am by Rocky
» Causing environmental pollution.. Closure of 30 metal smelting sites east of Baghdad
Today at 4:15 am by Rocky
» Traffic announces the imminent start of issuing license plates for taxis, trucks and bicycles
Today at 4:14 am by Rocky
» A huge fire devours a hypermarket in Baghdad
Today at 4:13 am by Rocky
» Planning: The general census will collect accurate information on employees in the public and privat
Today at 4:12 am by Rocky
» The Commission announces its full readiness to hold the Kurdistan Regional Parliament elections
Today at 4:11 am by Rocky
» The Coordination Framework agrees to support Al-Mashhadani for the presidency of Parliament
Today at 4:10 am by Rocky
» Sunni political meeting to discuss general amnesty and the issue of the position of the Speaker of P
Today at 4:09 am by Rocky
» Petroleum Products: The percentage of imports of derivatives decreased to 50 percent
Today at 4:08 am by Rocky
» "Medicines in Iraq" .. Talk about smuggled treatments and the absence of a pharmaceutical policy
Today at 4:05 am by Rocky
» Dollar exchange rate drops on Thursday morning
Today at 4:03 am by Rocky
» "Suspicion" in Karbala Refinery: Failure to train Iraqi cadres.. Korean will renew the operating con
Today at 4:02 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Committee Talks About Economic Reform Law: It Reached Parliament Months Ago
Today at 4:00 am by Rocky
» New Study Talks About an American Crime: Uranium Fingerprint in the Blood of Iraqis
Today at 3:59 am by Rocky
» Electoral silence in Kurdistan before stormy vote
Today at 3:58 am by Rocky
» Special voting for Kurdistan elections starts tomorrow and the commission announces its readiness
Today at 3:57 am by Rocky
» Iraq's 2025 budget returns to the forefront, so what are the demands?
Today at 3:55 am by Rocky
» great interview President Trump's Interview with Bloomberg at The Economic Club of Chicago
Yesterday at 7:03 am by Rocky
» Foreign remittance sales increase by 97% at Central Bank auction
Yesterday at 6:44 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki invites international companies to invest in agriculture in Iraq
Yesterday at 5:14 am by Rocky
» MP urges Sunni forces to decide on Parliament Speakership
Yesterday at 5:12 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani is upset with the procrastination and threatens to withdraw the Australian hospital projec
Yesterday at 5:11 am by Rocky
» The Coordination Framework agrees to support Al-Mashhadani for the presidency of Parliament and pass
Yesterday at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Finance Minister and US Ambassador Discuss Government Efforts to Achieve Economic Reforms
Yesterday at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Services: Nearly 80% of waste landfill sites do not have environmental approvals
Yesterday at 5:06 am by Rocky
» "The rise of the dollar is not the reason".. An expert reveals the reasons for the rise in meat pric
Yesterday at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani lists the implementation of 99 schools in Diyala with funding from this party
Yesterday at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Al-Furatain Bloc: Al-Sudani's government is working to complete all service projects on time
Yesterday at 5:03 am by Rocky
» The Central Bank reveals the percentage of gold in Iraq's foreign currency reserves
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Rusafa is cleaner than Karkh.. Analysis of the air pollution index in Baghdad
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Medical complex for the treatment of psychological disorders and drug addiction
Yesterday at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Toxic waste
Yesterday at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: We have started to address environmental pollution
Yesterday at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Opening of Bastora Dam in Erbil
Yesterday at 4:55 am by Rocky
» A move to build hospitals to treat mental disorders
Yesterday at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Al-Naili to {Sabah}: Starting to establish the Martyrs Fund
Yesterday at 4:53 am by Rocky
» National Lending Strategy
Yesterday at 4:51 am by Rocky
» Exporting aviation fuel... a new step towards diversifying revenues
Yesterday at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Oil falls, OPEC cuts growth forecast
Yesterday at 4:49 am by Rocky
» Foreign Minister leaves Baghdad on a European tour that begins with a visit to Ireland and ends in F
Yesterday at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Launching of the activities of the international scientific conference under the slogan "Development
Yesterday at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary recommendations to update the proposed law on the organization of trade unions for wor
Yesterday at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Minister of Finance stresses the importance of partnership with the United States to achieve sustain
Yesterday at 4:43 am by Rocky
» Minister of Transport supervises the submersion of concrete pieces of the submerged tunnel in the Gr
Yesterday at 4:41 am by Rocky
» The Parliamentary Oil Committee meets with the Minister of Electricity to explain the mechanisms for
Yesterday at 4:40 am by Rocky
» MP calls for electing a chairman for the Nineveh Investment Commission
Yesterday at 4:39 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers decides to appoint 7 general managers in various ministries
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Transport issues clarification regarding a photo of its Minister with the Minister of Oil: Private v
Yesterday at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Barzani heads to Ankara tomorrow carrying 6 files
Yesterday at 4:35 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani puts major countries before their responsibilities
Yesterday at 4:34 am by Rocky
» Iraqi oil suffers heavy losses in third session of the week
Yesterday at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Al-Hakim calls for greater attention to food security and agricultural production
Yesterday at 4:31 am by Rocky