All about mushrooms including shopping & storage tips, nutrition facts, health benefits, fun facts, and recipe ideas
All About Mushrooms
When I was little I really did not like mushrooms. For example, I made my mom pick them out of my spaghetti sauce 🤣🤦🏻♀️
Now, I seriously can't get enough. I like them roasted, sautéed, raw, you name it.
Their meaty texture is great for substituting meat if you're trying to make something vegetarian-friendly. They are also a budget-friendly alternative to meat.
Read on to learn about the wonderful health benefits, tips for selecting, and lots of recipe ideas.
Mushroom Nutrition
*1 cup chopped mushrooms has 15 calories, 0.2g fat (0g saturated fat), 2.3g carbohydrates, 0.7g fiber, 2.2g protein, 17%DV Riboflavin, 13% Niacin, 10% Pantothenic Acid, 11% Copper, 9% Selenium, 3% Vitamin D
Mushroom Fun Facts
*Mushrooms are technically not vegetables -- they are members of the fungi group. Fungi have no seeds, stems, or flowers and reproduce through spores.
*There are several cultivated mushrooms available: button, oyster, chanterelle, shiitake, crimini, straw, porcini, enoki {or enokidake}, and morel.
*Portobellos are overgrown crimini mushrooms and are the largest cultivated mushrooms.
*They are powerful immune supporters with anti-inflammatory benefits and are the only vegetable with vitamin D.
Tips
*When shopping for mushrooms, buy firm mushrooms that are even in color with tightly closed caps. Avoid ones that have soft spots or mold.
*Some wild mushrooms are deadly, so make sure to purchase wild mushrooms from a reputable mushroom retailer.
*8 oz. mushrooms = 3 cups chopped = 8-10 medium-sized button mushrooms
*To clean, use a damp paper towel to wipe off dirt. Or you can quickly rinse off the mushrooms. Soaking them is not recommended.
*Mushrooms can be used as a meat replacement or to help cut back on meat in dishes thanks to their meaty texture. The blend-ability technique is a great way to incorporate extra nutrients into your diet.
Recipes
Steak with Blue Cheese Mushroom Sauce
Roasted Mushroom and Beef Soup
Jessica @ Nutritioulicious
I love, love, love mushrooms, although just like you I didn't as a kid. What was I thinking?! Thanks for sharing all these fun facts about mushrooms and fabulous recipes (including mine 😉 )
Meme
I am so happy that I grew out of my mushroom hating stage because they are so so tasty 🙂
Your pizza sounds amazing!
Alex Caspero MA,RD (@delishknowledge)
Love these weekly vegetable roundups! Thanks for including my risotto!
Meme
Thanks Alex! That mushrooms risotto looks delish!
EA-The Spicy RD
Great post! I am a huge fan of mushrooms now, but I honestly can't remember now if I liked them or not as a child 🙂 Thx so much for sharing my pepper jack stuffed mushrooms!
Meme
Isn't it funny how our tastebuds change as we get older. Stuffed mushrooms are one of my all time favorite appetizers -- I must try your version 🙂
Kara @ The Foodie Dietitian
Such a fun idea for a blog series! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE mushrooms (& they happen to be a client of mine). Thanks so much for including my polenta bites!
Meme
Thanks Kara! Mushrooms rock and those polenta bites look perfect!
Marjory @ Dinner-Mom
Looove mushrooms. Great information. I put them in everything, but my daughter is not a fan yet so I have to keep them chunky so she can fish them hope. Fingers crossed this changes soon!
Meme
Thanks Marjory! and I totally know the feeling haha. Maybe she'll be like me and grow to love them as she gets a little older 😉
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
My fridge is never without mushrooms!
Meme
Same here! And if it is then I promptly buy more 😉
Alanna
I LOVE mushrooms in all shapes and sizes. I also was not a fan when I was younger, but now I literally can not get enough! I have been eating boatloads of them this week so far. Every recipe looks and sounds amazing - thanks so much for including my curry! Yay for mushrooms!!
Meme
Thanks Alanna! I am loving all this mushroom love. It makes my veggie-loving heart pitter patter 😉 Can't wait to try your delicious looking soup!
Min
Oh yes! Mushrooms...LOVE 'em always have always will..esp the enokis they are in a lot of Korean soups and stews. It's how I get my vitamin D since the sun is nonexistent as of late 😉
Meme
🙂 They are a mighty tasty way to get your Vitamin D, aren't they?! I have always been intimidated to buy enokis, so I will have to get some of you recipes to try!
Nina | Whats for eats
Great minds think alike Meme! I am featuring mushrooms on my blog this month too - it's because they are so fantastic. I will be checking out your recipes in more detail just so that I can eat more mushies 🙂