How to Choose Mushrooms

Mushrooms aren't just mushrooms anymore: You've got portobello, shiitake, crimini, oyster, and even more exotic varieties showing up in supermarkets. Follow these tips when choosing any fresh mushroom - no matter how exotic or expensive.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Mushrooms

1. Look for button mushrooms that are light in color, since the mushrooms darken when they get older.
2. Make sure button mushrooms are clean and that the area where the cap meets the stem is closed.
3. Choose specialty mushrooms, such as oysters and porcini (cépes), that are open where the cap meets the stem. The gills under the cap should be light in color, not dark brown or black.
4. Make sure mushrooms are firm, meaty and dry, and not withered.
5. Smell all types to make sure they smell pleasant and earthy.
6. Avoid mushrooms with bruises or pits or mushrooms that feel slimy.

Tips & Warnings

• Older mushrooms have a better flavor but do not look as clean as fresh mushrooms.
• Many wild mushrooms are poisonous; eating them can be fatal. Even if you know what you are doing, be careful in unfamiliar areas: Some poisonous mushrooms resemble nonpoisonous varieties from other locales. If want to pick mushrooms yourself, go foraging with a mycological club or grow your own mushrooms from a kit to eliminate the danger.