QUESTION: My mom always told me I should cut the stems off mushrooms before cooking them. She said the stems were too woody to digest and that they had no flavor. Was she right? It doesn’t really make sense to me as everyone seems to eat the top and stem of regular store mushrooms. Take a look at pizza with mushrooms slices on top! Who’s right?ANSWER: Everyone is right! For the most part, it’s fine to eat the stems of mushrooms. Like you say, everyone slices Cremini mushroom. Those are the ones most commonly seen in supermarkets. Some really delicious mushrooms, like King Oysters, are mostly stem. They have a very small cap. When you slice them, most of what you’re slicing is stem. Other species, like Lion’s Mane really don’t have a stem. So… for the most part, your mom was mistaken. It’s fine to eat mushroom stems. That said, there are one or two mushrooms that are exceptions. The mushrooms in the photo I added above are one of my culinary favorites… Shiitake mushrooms. And as you can see, I cut all the stems off. Why? Because like your mom said, they are incredibly woody and fibrous. Mind you, I don’t always throw them out. Depending on the recipe, I’ll soak and boil the stems to make a tasty broth. Anyway, there’s certainly no danger to eating the stems. If the mushroom is safe to eat, the stem is safe to eat. It’s just that some stems aren’t much fun to eat! If anyone cooks with mushrooms with woody stems other that Shiitakes, let us know by adding a comment below. Hope this helps!
Most mushrooms need to be trimmed before cutting them, but some do not. Trim off any woody or dried out pieces of the stems of button/white mushrooms, cremini/baby bella mushrooms, king trumpet/oyster mushrooms, and Lion’s mane mushrooms. For shiitake, chanterelle, and portobello mushrooms, remove the stems entirely.
There are two camps when it comes to cleaning mushrooms: those who wash them and those who don’t. Many cooks swear that washing mushrooms will cause them to soak up more water and therefore dilute their flavor. They advocate using a small brush to wipe away the dirt and meticulously cleaning them by hand before slicing them. That’s all fine and good and if that’s what you want to do…more power to ya! But I do not have time for that with three rascals running around the house. I’m lucky that I even remembered to buy the mushrooms in the first place. Here’s the kicker, lots of research has been done as to how much water mushrooms actually soak in when washed or plunged in water and the results were minute. Mushrooms are already 90% water and taking a quick bath is not going to change that.
So take your carton of mushrooms and run them under water for a minute or two. I don’t recommend buying pre-sliced mushrooms. Lots of reject pieces and stems get thrown into these boxes and you end up throwing a lot out. That just wastes money and I’m all about keeping my hard earned dollars!
Mushrooms: you either love them or hate them. I happen to love them. Their earthy flavor can take a simple dish to an elegant level. I love how they can transform a meat lover into a vegetarian (atleast for a night!) and how amazing they taste sauteed in butter. Cooking with fungus is fairly easy but it is important to know how to clean and de-stem mushrooms so that you can thoroughly enjoy what they have to offer. Let me show you the easiest way to prep mushrooms so that your recipe will shine:
It’s as simple as that! There is no need to over complicate things in the kitchen because cooking needs to be a fun and rewarding time. Now that you know how to clean and de-stem mushrooms, you can make delicious meals like Ginger Chicken Stir-fry or add them to spaghetti sauce. Try sauteeing them in butter for a few minutes and adding them on top of a hamburger. Wowza, that’s one of my favorites! How do you use mushrooms? I would love to hear your ideas!
Place your thumb against the stem and gently push toward your index finger. Be sure to have a good grip.
QUESTION: My mom always told me I should cut the stems off mushrooms before cooking them. She said the stems were too woody to digest and that they had no flavor. Was she right? It doesn’t really make sense to me as everyone seems to eat the top and stem of regular store mushrooms. Take a look at pizza with mushrooms slices on top! Who’s right?ANSWER: Everyone is right! For the most part, it’s fine to eat the stems of mushrooms. Like you say, everyone slices Cremini mushroom. Those are the ones most commonly seen in supermarkets. Some really delicious mushrooms, like King Oysters, are mostly stem. They have a very small cap. When you slice them, most of what you’re slicing is stem. Other species, like Lion’s Mane really don’t have a stem. So… for the most part, your mom was mistaken. It’s fine to eat mushroom stems. That said, there are one or two mushrooms that are exceptions. The mushrooms in the photo I added above are one of my culinary favorites… Shiitake mushrooms. And as you can see, I cut all the stems off. Why? Because like your mom said, they are incredibly woody and fibrous. Mind you, I don’t always throw them out. Depending on the recipe, I’ll soak and boil the stems to make a tasty broth. Anyway, there’s certainly no danger to eating the stems. If the mushroom is safe to eat, the stem is safe to eat. It’s just that some stems aren’t much fun to eat! If anyone cooks with mushrooms with woody stems other that Shiitakes, let us know by adding a comment below. Hope this helps!
How to Remove Stems from Mushrooms
FAQ
Are you supposed to eat mushroom stems?
Do chefs use mushroom stems?
Should you cut off shiitake stems?
Do you have to remove mushroom stems before cooking?
You don’t always have to remove mushroom stems, and whether you should or not will depend on the type of mushroom you are preparing and how you plan to cook it. Some mushrooms, like shiitake, have very woody stems that you should remove before you slice and cook the caps.
Can mushrooms help with Minimal change disease?
Although they are an excellent source of protein, B vitamins, antioxidants and fiber and have many health benefits, there is no scientific evidence to prove that mushrooms can specifically help with minimal change disease.
How do you remove a mushroom stem?
Morels: Though commonly dried, the fresh variety is easily prepped with a good scrub. White buttons: Trim off the brown end, leaving as much of the short stem as possible. Some mushroom stems are tough and woody, while others are even tastier than the caps. Read on for how to know when to remove the stems, and when to leave them.
Which mushrooms need their stems removed?
Here’s a helpful guide on which mushrooms need their stems removed and how to do it. These stems cook up tough and woody. It’s best to remove them to showcase the tender caps. Creminis: Trim off the brown ends from the stems before preparing a delicious Bulgur Pilaf with Cremini Mushrooms.