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

What are porcini mushrooms? 

Porcini mushrooms are a type of edible, brown-capped fungus with thick, white stalks. They’re one of the world’s most widely-eaten wild mushrooms. Also known as cepes or penny buns, porcini mushrooms are typically found in parts of North America, Asia, and Europe. These mushrooms come from a fungus that develops a symbiotic relationship with trees and grows to be about 5in tall.

Porcini mushrooms can be added to vegan and vegetarian dishes for added flavor and a boost of iron and protein. People add them to soups, stews and even make pasta out of them.

Where did porcini mushrooms originate from?

Porcini mushrooms can be traced back to the Romans. During the 18th century, the French-born King Karl Johan XIV and a few other notable people in Sweden loved these mushrooms so much that people started calling the mushroom “Karl Johan.”

These mushrooms have been growing since ancient times worldwide, and today, they can be found at farmer’s markets in places like Australia, Asia, North America, New Zealand, and South Africa. The mushrooms are favored in Italy and other regions throughout Europe.

What are the benefits of eating porcini mushrooms?

These mushrooms have:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin A
• B-complex vitamins
• 2g of fiber per 100g
• 3g of protein per 100g

Porcini mushrooms can be pretty beneficial for your health, seeing as they provide fiber for better gut health, antioxidants for immunity, iron for essential minerals, and protein for muscle mass. Not to mention, porcini mushrooms have no trans fat, saturated fat, or cholesterol.

Ready to add some porcini mushroom goodness to a favorite recipe? Skip the search for “fresh produce near me” or “porcini mushrooms near me.” Get fresh produce delivery with Instacart and choose same-day delivery.

How are porcini mushrooms grown?

Porcini mushrooms usually sprout naturally in hardwood forests somewhere in the vicinity of pine, spruce, and chestnut trees. But to grow your own, the first step is to get cardboard and soak it in water. Once it’s able to bend or roll, it’s ready.

Then, separate the cardboard into 2 equal pieces. Coat 1 side (the ribbed side) with sawdust inoculated with porcini mushroom spores by using a putty knife.

Then, roll the cardboard into the shape of a tube and fold the ends toward the middle. Tape the roll with duct tape, so it doesn’t unravel. Put the mushroom spores in an area with an average temperature between 60 and 64°F and 95% humidity. Make sure to keep the cardboard moist by spraying it with water.

The mushrooms will be ready to harvest once they reach the size you prefer. Expect to see mushrooms in about 3 to 4 weeks.

When are porcini mushrooms in season?

Fresh porcini mushrooms are in season during the summer and fall, but you might be able to find them at your local grocery store or farmer’s market. Porcini mushrooms are sometimes hard to find fresh, so if you can, freeze them when you find them or stock up on some dried, canned, or frozen porcini mushrooms at the farmer’s market or grocery store.

What should I look for when buying porcini mushrooms? 

When looking for porcini mushrooms in the store, choose ones with big, thick caps that are firm, brown, and undamaged. They should be pale underneath the cap and have no black spots. Make sure the porcini mushrooms you choose have no small holes.

When shopping for dried porcini mushrooms, look for whole mushroom pieces (and make sure they’re not crumbled). Also, the caps should be a reddish-brown color. They should have a strong smell that comes through the packaging, and they should be stored in an airtight container or bag.

If you are looking to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for porcini 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 porcini mushrooms.

How to store porcini mushrooms

To store porcini mushrooms properly, avoid washing them until before you’re ready to use them. Put them in a loose paper bag in the crisper drawer of your fridge. In there, they’ll last for a few days. But for the best quality, use them right away.

If dried, porcini mushrooms can be stored in an airtight container in a dark, cool area of your kitchen for up to 6 months.

How to tell if porcini mushrooms are bad

You’ll know porcini mushrooms are bad if they smell. If they don’t have a dirt kind of smell, they might be bad.

Another way you can tell is if the mushrooms are slimy. That means they’re in the process of going bad.

If your porcini mushrooms are soft or bruised, it means they’re in the first stages of going bad, and you should probably throw them away. 

What can I substitute for porcini mushrooms?

If you don’t have any fresh porcini mushrooms on hand, you can substitute them for other mushroom varieties like shiitake mushrooms, regular mushrooms, or dried porcini mushrooms.

Other options include:

• Truffle oil
• Sage
• Thyme
• Tomato paste or puree
• Fish sauce
• Zucchini

Choosing the freshest porcini mushrooms for your next meal

Although they may have started out in Europe, porcini mushrooms have made their way around the world. They’ve got tons of nutritional benefits and even more flavor. So if you’re thinking of getting some porcini mushrooms, get them delivered with Instacart and choose same-day delivery.

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