Nothing beats chopped up mushrooms pan fried in a little bit of butter (and even garlic and herbs if you’re feeling fancy) – but a top chef says mushrooms should be boiled, not fried.
Jim Fuller, the co-founder of meat alternative company Fable Food, was a guest chef on Australian morning programme The Today Show when he advised viewers to boil their mushrooms for the best results.
In a longer post on his Instagram, Fuller explained: “Boil the mushrooms first. First, boil to perfection – you can keep adding water until this is achieved. Remember you cant over boil a mushroom because of their unique cellular structure. They will let their own water out so dont put too much water at once.
“When perfectly tender, let the water evaporate until the pan is basically dry. Then add oil or fat and your aromatic stuff. Quick saute or stir fry and season to taste with salt.”
Fuller admitted that his method was ‘controversial’ but fellow chef commenters on his Instagram post were quick to back him up.
@chefjoshuaboucher said: “I’ve been doing this for years with massive dirty looks from across the kitchens I’ve worked in being called a cowboy but I prefer the term innovator!”
@chefwhiting added: “Thank you chef! Excellent technique. I love to learn not just how, but more importantly why!”
While we’re still not entirely convinced, we won’t know if boiled is better until we try…
In a longer post on his Instagram, Fuller explained: “Boil the mushrooms first. First, boil to perfection – you can keep adding water until this is achieved. Remember you cant over boil a mushroom because of their unique cellular structure. They will let their own water out so dont put too much water at once.
@chefjoshuaboucher said: “I’ve been doing this for years with massive dirty looks from across the kitchens I’ve worked in being called a cowboy but I prefer the term innovator!”
While we’re still not entirely convinced, we won’t know if boiled is better until we try…
Fuller admitted that his method was ‘controversial’ but fellow chef commenters on his Instagram post were quick to back him up.
Jim Fuller, the co-founder of meat alternative company Fable Food, was a guest chef on Australian morning programme The Today Show when he advised viewers to boil their mushrooms for the best results.
I made a batch of dry sautéed shrooms to compare, and the results were nearly identical. The mushrooms in the cast iron pan on left were boiled first, and the ones in the stainless skillet on the right were cooked dry; I finished both with garlic and butter:
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Everyone knows that moisture is the enemy of the Maillard reaction, which makes it tricky to brown ingredients that release water as they cook. But strangely enough, the secret to better (and faster) sautéed mushrooms is cooking them in water: Boiling your shrooms before pan-frying actually helps them brown.
You can’t go wrong with either technique, but I think boiling is definitely the move whenever you’re working with a lot of mushrooms. Since they shrink down quite a bit in the boiling water, you can fit more in the pan when it comes time to brown them up. That, combined with the improved texture, really makes me want to revisit my vegan bolognese with roasted eggplant and mushrooms. I suspect that boiling minced (or food processor-ed) mushrooms before pan-frying them will make the final texture even more meaty and delicious—and the literal second it stops being 85 degrees every day in Portland, I’m going to find out for myself. Latest
As you can see above, both techniques produced mushrooms that were nicely browned. They also were tender and readily absorbed the ample quantities of butter and garlic I added for flavor. If I had to pinpoint a difference, I’d say the boiled batch turned out slightly meatier and juicier than the dry sautéed batch, but not by much. Both methods also took about the same amount of time, even when accounting for the boiling step.
Always Eat Mushrooms Cooked
Can you eat boiled mushrooms?
You can eat these boiled mushrooms as a side dish with some toast, rice, pasta, or baked potatoes. The broth makes an excellent base for soups, stews, gravy, and more. If you have leftovers or you boiled the mushrooms for later use, transfer them from the pot into an airtight container using a slotted spoon.
Is it beneficial to take a blend of mushrooms or just one at a time?
It is perfectly safe and healthy to combine mushrooms. There are no known reasons to avoid mixing any of the popular varieties of typical or medicinal mushrooms like Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Chaga, Cordyceps, Turkey Tail or Tremella.
Can you cook mushrooms without boiling them?
Boiling mushrooms for longer periods or on high heat can reduce their nutrient content, however, because certain vitamins and minerals may leech into the cooking water. If you don’t want to compromise on the nutritional benefits of your mushrooms, you should consider steaming or stir-frying them instead of boiling them.
What can you do with boiled mushrooms?
Boiled mushroom makes an excellent side dish or snack and boy the broth is liquid gold that will transform your soups, gravy, stews, and more. You are going to love this recipe! If you have ever wondered how to boil mushrooms and store it correctly, then check out the quick and easy steps below.