Frequently Asked Questions
What are the health benefits of mushrooms?
Mushrooms are healthy because of the significant amount of dietary fiber, protein, amino acids, vitamins (including B1, B2, B12, C, D and E) and trace minerals that they contain, as well as the fact that they are low in fat and calories.
How do I store mushrooms before cooking?
Can I eat raw mushrooms?
The short answer is not really. One of the main reasons because our bodies do not break down the chitin they contain. Chitin is a tough, fibrous substance found in the cell walls of mushrooms. It is like the material that makes up the exoskeleton of insects and the shells of crustaceans. Which the human digestive system is not equipped to break down effectively in order to unlock the nutrient within the mushroom.
The process of cooking mushrooms softens the chitin, making the mushrooms easier to chew and digest. The heat helps to break down the complex structure of chitin, allowing our bodies to extract the nutrients from mushrooms more efficiently. So, cooking mushrooms not only improves their texture and taste but also enhances their nutritional value by making the chitin more digestible.
How do I prepare mushrooms for cooking?
Mushrooms will absorb moisture which can affect their texture when cooking. Therefore, it is not recommended to wash mushrooms in water. Rather, brush off the mushrooms with a dry brush or cloth. You can slice, chop, or tear mushrooms to desired shaped before cooking.
How do I cook mushrooms?
There are many delicious ways to prepare mushrooms, including sautéing, grilling, roasting, or even boiling. It all depends on the texture and taste you seek. Mushrooms are resilient and can take excessive cooking, which really helps when experimenting with new mushroom dishes. Even though many mushrooms are considered cooked within 5-10 minutes, we have had success with long 20-minute boils followed by marinading for a day and then pan frying. Mushrooms have a wide variety of flavors and textures to choose from, allowing a broad range of creativity when crafting your meals.