Button Mushrooms– All You Need to Know | Instacart Guide to Fresh Produce

What are button mushrooms?

Chances are that when you hear the word “mushroom,” the button mushroom is the first image that comes to mind. Due to their color, they’re also known as white mushrooms. Button mushrooms are one of the most common varieties of mushrooms and are grown in many parts of the world today, from Asia and the Americas to Europe and Africa.

Button mushrooms, cremini mushrooms, and portobellos are all the same fungus, agaricus bisporus. The names simply represent the same mushroom at different stages of development. Buttons are the youngest and smallest, while portobellos are the fully grown variety. Button mushrooms are by some distance the most popular type of mushroom – these little guys account for about 90 percent of all mushrooms eaten in the United States. Button mushrooms can be halved, sliced, diced, or simply served whole. They’re great when fried or sauteed, and can be used in salads, on pizzas, in stir-fries, and in many other dishes.

Thanks to their texture, button mushrooms can be a useful stand-in for meat, especially white meat like chicken. Of course, mushrooms don’t replicate the flavor of meat, but they are nevertheless a popular ingredient in vegetarian and vegan recipes.

Where did button mushrooms originate from?

Although button mushrooms have been around since ancient times, the earliest records of large-scale cultivation are traced to France around the beginning of the 18th century. In the United States, button mushrooms only really started to gain in popularity in the late 19th century.

What is the nutritional value of button mushrooms?

Button mushrooms contain 33 percent of DV of vitamin D. In addition, they are an excellent source of B vitamins like riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid, as well as potassium, phosphorous, and zinc.

A 100g serving of button mushrooms contains 22 calories, 3.3g of carbohydrates, 3g of protein, 1g of fiber, and 0.3g of fat. Button mushrooms are also high in water content, containing about 92g of water per 100g serving.

Can you eat button mushrooms raw?

Raw button mushrooms are known to contain carcinogenic toxins called hydrazines. That doesn’t mean they should never be eaten raw, but it’s a good idea to avoid eating raw button mushrooms regularly or in large volumes. The good news is that hydrazines are eliminated by cooking, and button mushrooms are also rich in a variety of antioxidant compounds. Cooking is believed to unleash the antioxidant properties of button mushrooms more effectively, boosting their cancer-fighting attributes.

How are button mushrooms grown?

Button mushroom spores grow best in a damp, nitrogen-rich environment. The spores are often spread on composted manure and left in a dark place. After a few weeks, the spores will have formed a substance called mycelium on the compost. A layer of topsoil is added to protect the mycelium, and the soil is kept damp while the mushrooms grow. After around a month, the mushrooms should be growing through the soil. Allow them to mature for another week or two before harvesting.

When are button mushrooms in season?

Button mushrooms are never out of season – they can be grown all year round. Their popularity and abundance mean button mushrooms should be pretty easy to find at all times, no matter where you are.

What should I look for when buying button mushrooms?

Look for mushrooms with smooth, white caps. A little dirt on the caps isn’t a bad sign, but avoid choosing mushrooms that have brown patches or a bruised appearance. Button mushrooms should be dry, but not too dry. One big red flag is excess moisture: Just don’t buy button mushrooms that are damp, slimy, or soggy to touch.

If you are looking to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for button mushrooms via Instacart. After adding a product to your cart, use the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best products. Shop for button mushrooms.

How to store button mushrooms?

Keep button mushrooms in the refrigerator, either in their own packaging or in a brown paper bag. They’ll remain fresh for up to a week in the refrigerator but will gradually turn brown. Don’t freeze uncooked mushrooms, but cooked mushrooms can be kept in the freezer. Mushrooms should be washed lightly before use, but not soaked. Don’t rinse them until right before use – you don’t want them to be damp or soggy in the refrigerator. If you’re worried about fresh mushrooms not keeping, consider buying canned mushrooms, which will last longer.

How to tell if button mushrooms are bad?

When your white button mushrooms start to turn brown, it’s a sign they are getting old. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are bad – if they’re still smooth and feel dry, they should be fine, but use them quickly. On the other hand, if button mushrooms feel slimy, they’re probably going bad and should be tossed out.

What can I substitute for button mushrooms?

When you need a stand-in for button mushrooms, remember that cremini mushrooms and portobello mushrooms are exactly the same species. Cremini and portobello mushrooms are just picked at a later stage of maturity than button mushrooms – cremini are about the same size as buttons, but are brown in color, while portobellos are larger and richer in texture. Each is slightly different to button mushrooms in terms of flavor, but either will work just fine as a substitute.

Shiitake mushrooms are also a serviceable replacement for button mushrooms. Shiitakes have a more pronounced depth of flavor, and they also tend to be chewier, but they are certainly up to the task of deputizing for button mushrooms.

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