As you probably already know, sautéing and frying mushrooms is the most common way to cook the tastiest mushrooms. That being said, boiling mushrooms can be a super quick and easy way to prepare mushrooms too. This is your complete guide to why boiling could be the best way to cook your mushrooms from now on! Keep reading to find out more.
Table of Contents
- Should You Boil Mushrooms?
- Can I Eat Boiled Mushrooms?
- The Best Guide To Boiling Mushrooms
- Tips For Boiling Mushrooms
- How To Store Your Boiled Mushrooms
- How To Boil Mushrooms – Answered!
- FAQs
Boiled Mushrooms Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- 1 knob of butter
- Dried oregano
- Minced Garlic
- Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp of pepper
- Chili flakes
- Smoked paprika
Instructions
- Begin preparing your mushrooms by washing them and cleaning off any dirt. Next, chop your mushrooms into quarters, roughly around 1 inch pieces.
- Next, add your mushrooms to the pot. Fill the pot with boiling water so that all of the mushrooms are submerged in water. Make sure that you choose a pan that allows the mushrooms to be slightly crowded within the pot. Bring the pot to high heat.
- While the pot is heating up, begin adding in your seasonings, along with some butter or olive oil. Add the salt at this stage too. Then, cover the pot with its lid to allow it to come to a boil. If you are cooking ½ a pound of mushrooms, it should take approximately 15 minutes to boil mushrooms at a constant simmer.
- As you see the color of your mushrooms begin to darken, this is a sign they are cooking. The texture should have softened and you may notice much of the water will have evaporated. If you want to add spices to your mushrooms, I would add them after you drain the water from the mushrooms.
Notes
- To cook your mushrooms more quickly, make sure they are chopped into smaller pieces. This will increase the surface area of your mushrooms, which enables them to cook faster.
Should You Boil Mushrooms?
Yes, you can boil your mushrooms. It can make for an easy way to cook your mushrooms, especially if you are cooking a large volume of them that may not all fit in your pan. Boiled mushrooms also make a great side dish or snack.
You can even use the broth that comes from the mushrooms! This liquid gold sauce is bursting with flavor and is amazing when added to soups, stews, or even gravy!
Top chefs are now saying that boiling mushrooms is the best way to cook them. To achieve this, use just a small bit of water in the pot. This will help to create steam, which will help to get rid of the mushrooms’ residual water. This prevents the mushrooms from being soggy when you take them out of the water.
Compared to when you cook mushrooms in oil, where the heat causes the water to escape from the mushrooms. The water then acts like a buffer preventing the mushrooms from reaching a temperature higher than 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius).
The oil replaces the water within the mushrooms, which is why you might have noticed before you’ve needed to add in more oil as you continue cooking the mushrooms.
By starting off your cooking of mushrooms in water, it encourages the mushrooms to maintain some of their moisture, no matter how long you cook them for!
Can I Eat Boiled Mushrooms?
You absolutely can eat boiled mushrooms. It has recently come to light just how easy it is to boil mushrooms, while actually resulting in a better taste!
Other methods of cooking mushrooms can include using your air fryer. If you have breaded frozen mushrooms, I have an excellent recipe for the best air fryer mushrooms in a separate blog post. Make sure to check it out!
The Best Guide To Boiling Mushrooms
The following is a step-by-step guide to boiled mushrooms. It is best to follow a set recipe, which I shall outline below.
Ingredients
Let us take a look at the ingredients you need! You can use any medium sized mushrooms such as white button mushrooms, cremini mushrooms. If not, you can use whatever other mushrooms you have on hand!
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- 1 knob of butter
- Dried oregano
- Minced Garlic
- Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp of pepper
- Chili flakes
- Smoked paprika
Directions
- Begin preparing your mushrooms by washing them and cleaning off any dirt. Next, chop your mushrooms into quarters, roughly around 1 inch pieces.
- Next, add your mushrooms to the pot. Fill the pot with boiling water so that all of the mushrooms are submerged in water. Make sure that you choose a pan that allows the mushrooms to be slightly crowded within the pot. Bring the pot to high heat.
- While the pot is heating up, begin adding in your seasonings, along with some butter or olive oil. Add the salt at this stage too. Then, cover the pot with its lid to allow it to come to a boil. If you are cooking ½ a pound of mushrooms, it should take approximately 15 minutes to boil mushrooms at a constant simmer.
- As you see the color of your mushrooms begin to darken, this is a sign they are cooking. The texture should have softened and you may notice much of the water will have evaporated. If you want to add spices to your mushrooms, I would add them after you drain the water from the mushrooms.
Tips For Boiling Mushrooms
In order to save time, you can use dried mushrooms or frozen mushrooms from the freezer section which have already been chopped for your convenience.
Dried mushrooms are perfect for this method of cooking because this method uses high heat and moisture. This is because there is no need to rehydrate the mushrooms before you cook them.
To cook your mushrooms more quickly, make sure they are chopped into smaller pieces. This will increase the surface area of your mushrooms, which enables them to cook more quickly.
To start, boil mushrooms in water that has been salted, or you could also add your favorite seasonings. This can include dried spices or some fresh herbs to really give a great flavor to your mushrooms. Another good idea for adding some flavor is adding butter to the pot.
For more tips on how to prepare boiled mushrooms, you can check out this quick video below!
How To Store Your Boiled Mushrooms
If you have leftover cooked mushrooms, then it is important to store them properly so that you can keep them for another time. Make sure that you store them in an air tight container in the refrigerator. The mushrooms should last up to 3 days if stored in the fridge.
If you think you will not use them within 3 days, then you can just pop them in the freezer in the same airtight container. In the freezer, they should last up to 2 months.
When reheating, just put them in the microwave for a minute or so, until they have been heated to your liking. If you are taking them out of the freezer, I recommend letting them defrost in the refrigerator before putting them in the microwave.
How To Boil Mushrooms – Answered!
By now, you should be all set to try and boil mushrooms. It is a super simple way of cooking your mushrooms and can be just left for the time it is cooking, leaving you extra time to prepare other aspects of your meal – or even just deal with home life!
If you’re looking for ideas for where to use your mushrooms, try this fantastic mushroom risotto recipe.
Let me know if you have any questions or queries below in the comments sections!
FAQs
What Is The Healthiest Way To Cook Mushrooms?
The healthiest way to cook mushrooms is in water, by either sauteeing, boiling, or steaming. This removes the need for oil or butter.
Can You Steam Mushrooms?
Yes, you can! Just chop your mushrooms up and put them in a steaming pot. Bring the water underneath to a boil and let it simmer for approximately 15 minutes.
Can You Flavor Water By Boiling Mushrooms?
If you are looking to make a tasty soup, stew, or gravy, just boil your mushrooms in some water and this will reduce to make a truly flavorful broth.
Can You Fry Mushrooms Before Boiling Them?
You can fry mushrooms before adding them to the pot if you want. Cooking them in a pan before adding them to the boiling pot will help to release their moisture and concentrate the natural sugars of the mushrooms, adding depth to the flavor of your dish.
