How to Cook Mushrooms For the Right Texture and Flavour Every Time

There are plenty of mushroom recipes, each requiring you to prepare them in a different way, sometimes within the dish itself and sometimes as an accompaniment. Either way, getting to know how to cook mushrooms without them becoming too soggy or losing their delicate flavour will be beneficial. Find out everything you need to know about how to cook mushrooms well.

How to cook mushrooms

You can cook mushrooms on their own to enjoy with a slice of toast in numerous ways. These methods will also work well for multiple recipes that call on mushrooms to be used as an ingredient.

How to cook mushrooms in an air fryer

To cook mushrooms in an air fryer:

1. Place whole mushrooms into the air fryer tray (or chopped in half if they are large).
2. Drizzle a little olive oil over them and season to taste.
3. Place the tray into the air fryer at 180°C.
4. Remove the tray after 8 minutes, then carefully toss the mushrooms around.
5. Cook the mushrooms for 8 more minutes.

How to cook mushrooms on a stove

You can boil mushrooms in a little simmering water for a few minutes on the stove, but this can lead to soggy results. Therefore, cooking them on a stove typically means sautéing them. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Heat a frying pan with a generous knob of butter in.
2. Allow the butter to melt so that it covers the entire pan, and add more if necessary.
3. Place the mushrooms into the pan, ensuring they are not in direct contact with one another.
4. Without moving them, allow the mushrooms to simmer in the pan for five minutes so that their natural moisture is drawn out.
5. Optionally, you can turn the mushrooms over at this point to cook the other side for an additional minute or two.
6. Remove from the pan and serve.

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How to cook mushrooms in a microwave

To cook mushrooms in a microwave, chop them to the size you want or leave them whole if they’re button mushrooms. Next, put them in a microwavable dish with a lid and cover them. Heat them in the microwave on full power for three minutes. Check if they look done, and cook them for a further 30 seconds or so if not.

How to cook shiitake mushrooms

Shitake mushrooms have a delicate flavour, so you don’t want to overpower it with too many competing ingredients. For this reason, when preparing them as an accompaniment, simply cook them in a suitable oil, such as walnut or sesame oil. They are best cooked and sliced into sections cut across the middle. Fry them for at least 5 minutes, but woodier types of mushrooms may take at least another couple of minutes to cook through. In stir-fry cooking, keep the mushrooms moving in the pan.

How to cook oyster mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms are delicious but easy to overcook. To help avoid this, sauté them in a hot pan as quickly as possible. They are particularly good when accompanied by garlic. To get the right balance of flavours, chop or press fresh garlic, then add it to the pan at the same time as the oyster mushrooms.

How to cook portobello mushrooms

You can sauté, microwave, or air fry portobello mushrooms with the methods described above. However, this particular variety also grills very well. When grilling, it is important to drizzle some oil or melted butter over the mushrooms, which will help to prevent them from drying out. A marinade made from oil and soy sauce is also a good idea, especially if you want a slightly Asian-inspired flavour for the grilled portobellos. Grill them for 3-4 minutes on either side, then serve.

Best mushroom recipes

There are plenty of examples of delicious vegetarian recipes that are made all the tastier thanks to the earthy flavours of mushrooms. A good example is Baked Mushroom Penne with Cheese, which will always go down well. Alternatively, the delicious Gochujang Mushroom Stir-Fry is a great recipe for combining oriental flavours and textures with delicious mushrooms. 

FAQs

What’s the best way to cook mushrooms? 

Most people sauté or fry mushrooms, as doing so gives them attractive colour, flavour and texture. That said, grilling, air frying, or microwaving also works well. These methods do not add too many calories compared to frying.

Is it better to boil or fry mushrooms?

Gently boiling mushrooms will help to retain more flavour, as long as you don’t overcook them. Frying or sautéing them often creates the tastiest outcomes, but it comes with the drawback of adding fat.

How long should you sauté mushrooms for?

You should sauté mushrooms only for as long as it takes to soften and go brown. For most mushroom varieties, this will mean cooking them for about four to five minutes, but larger ones will need more cooking or cutting down to size before they’re cooked.

What should you not do before cooking mushrooms?

If you want mushrooms to taste great once cooked, then avoid rinsing them beforehand, as they will just end up soaking up the water. Instead, if you see any dirt when cleaning, simply pick it off by hand.

Is it better to cook mushrooms in butter or oil?

Cooking mushrooms in butter is often preferable to oil since it typically creates a superior flavour combination. In addition, butter can withstand higher temperatures, which is good for cooking mushrooms quickly without allowing them to overcook.