Popular Varieties: White, Chestnut, Shittake
Store At: Chilled but keep them dry; mushrooms not refrigerated will go mouldy quickly. Keep them dry too.
Comes From: Worldwide
Seasonality: All year round
Fungi are not really plants; they have neither chlorophyll (which gives plants their green colouration), or root systems. They do not receive nutrition in the same way as plants, and they have different growing requirements. Fungi are more similar to moulds and yeasts than they are to plants.
The part of mushrooms you eat is called the fruiting body; it is within here that spores are produced; the typical method of reproduction for mushrooms, spores are tiny seedlike structures from which new plants can grow.
As mentioned, fungi do not receive nutrients like plants do; instead of a root system, they have a network of fine threads called the mycelium. This can be either a few millimetres or even a few metres long; as long as it needs to go to find something to eat. And when it eats, it devours… The threads of the mycelium excrete digestive juices, which part digest the substrate the mushroom is feeding upon (rotten wood, compost etc), and then reabsorb the resulting mixture.
Not many varieties of mushroom are edible, and fewer still are suitable for cultivation; even in nature, fruiting of mushrooms is unpredictable and depends on many factors, not least including precise moisture and temperature.
Mushrooms should NEVER BE COLLECTED FROM THE WILD unless you are trained and have some knowledge; many (in fact most) varieties of mushrooms are in fact poisonous, and some, such as the fly agaric, can in some circumstances be fatal. If you are interested in collecting mushrooms from the wild, you should become a member of a society that hunts mushrooms and can train you, or go on a properly organised mushroom hunting holiday.
History
Some varieties of mushroom have been collected from the wild since ancient times; the Egyptians believed them to be the plant of immortality and they were recorded on hieroglyphics as far back as 4,600 years ago. Egyptian Pharaohs thought them so delicious that they decided they were a food for royalty, and common folk could not eat them. They were not the only early civilisation to believe mushrooms had special properties; mushroom rituals were practised all over the world. Many people believed them to give the eater super human strength; some of these early myths no doubt came about as a result of eating magic mushrooms!
The Romans viewed them as a delicacy and rich people employed servants whose only job was collecting mushrooms; although that long ago we imagine a few collectors died testing their harvests!
It wasn't until the 17th century that mushrooms were cultivated formally on a large scale; Louis XIV of France may have been the first mushroom grower; about the time of his reign mushroom caves were created in the Paris region of France, which contained giant mounds of manure that were impregnated with soil taken from surrounding areas where mushrooms grew naturally.
Mushroom cultivation spread rapidly to England, where gardeners found them an easy crop to grow, requiring little labour, investment or space. In the 19th Century, mushroom cultivation spread to North America from England; it did not take off well, because spawn (mycelium) was transported from England, and by the time it reached North America it was old and poor. This was not solved until around 1900, when American scientists cultured spawn. This was the birth of the American mushroom industry.
Uses
Mushrooms can quite easily be grown by the home gardener; many DIY stores and garden centres offer readymade mushroom growing kits; these typically have mushroom compost in them, which you have to impregnate with provided mushroom spawn. Full instructions are usually provided, but they rarely require more than planting and picking!
Growing Information
Mushrooms can quite easily be grown by the home gardener; many DIY stores and garden centres offer readymade mushroom growing kits; these typically have mushroom compost in them, which you have to impregnate with provided mushroom spawn. Full instructions are usually provided, but they rarely require more than planting and picking!
Links
- Mushroom Information Centre
- Mushrooms on Wikipedia
Varieties
There are many varieties of mushrooms available, but not all of them edible. Either learn from some experts who know what they’re doing, or pick them from the produce aisle of a supermarket. There you’ll find wondrous varieties such as white mushrooms, shiitake, and oyster mushrooms.
Oyster Mushrooms
Oyster mushrooms do look like brown oysters, hence the name. They can range in colour from soft brown to grey. They have a mild flavour and soft texture, and are best cooked rather than eaten raw.
White Mushrooms
White mushrooms, also known as button or closed cup mushrooms can vary in colour from white to light brown (chestnut mushrooms), and vary in size from small (button) to large (flat or breakfast mushrooms). They have a mild taste and a flavour which gets stronger when cooked.
Shiitake Mushrooms
also known as Oak, Chinese or Black Forest mushrooms, shiitakes can range in colour, from dark to light brown. They have large, umbrella shaped caps, and a soft spongy texture, which converts to a meaty texture when cooked.
Portabello Mushrooms
Portabella mushrooms are large – up to six inches in diameter, but are a relative of the white mushroom. They have a very meaty texture and flavour.
Nutritional Information
Serving Size:100g raw
| Calories: 22, Calories from Fat: 3 |
 |
| % Daily Value * |
| Total Fat 0g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
| Salt 5mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate 3g | 1% |
| Dietary Fibre 1g | 4% |
| Protein 3g |
| Sugars 0g |
|
Vit A: 0% , Vit C: 4% , Vit D: 0% , Vit K: 0%
Iron: 3% , Calcium: 0%
Traces: Folate, Zinc, Manganese, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus, Potassium, Copper and Selenium.
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.