6 Easy Steps to Absolutely Tender (Never Soggy) Sautéed Mushrooms (2024)

Perfectly sautéed mushrooms are tender, brown, and never soggy. Get browned and tender mushrooms and avoid mushrooms stewed in their own juices by following this easy mushroom recipe.

While exact amounts are called for, this is more of a technique than a recipe because it's showing you how to sauté mushrooms. That being said, feel free to adjust for the amount of mushrooms you have on hand. Mushrooms will cook down quickly and release a lot of water, so if you scale up, be sure to use a pan that is wide enough to hold all the mushrooms in a single layer for the best results. Ample space will ensure that the mushrooms truly sauté rather than stew. (This advice holds true for roasting vegetables, too—don't crowd the pan.)

5 Essential Things to Know About Sautéing

6 Easy Steps to Absolutely Tender (Never Soggy) Sautéed Mushrooms (2)

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces freshmushrooms

  • Olive oil, or vegetable oil, for the pan

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Chopped parsley, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    6 Easy Steps to Absolutely Tender (Never Soggy) Sautéed Mushrooms (3)

  2. Brush the mushrooms clean; many mushrooms can be easily cleaned with a very slightly damp paper towel. If you have mushrooms that seem too dirty for such gentle treatment, put them in a basin or bowl of cool water, swish them around and rub any dirt off as needed, then lift the mushrooms out of the water and onto a clean kitchen towel or layers of paper towels. (Don't pour them into a colander, which would dump the dirty water onto the clean mushrooms!) Pat the rinsed mushrooms dry. You want to start with completelydry mushrooms.

    6 Easy Steps to Absolutely Tender (Never Soggy) Sautéed Mushrooms (4)

  3. Halve, quarter, slice, or chop the mushrooms as you like. You can cook smaller mushrooms whole (yum!).

    6 Easy Steps to Absolutely Tender (Never Soggy) Sautéed Mushrooms (5)

  4. Heat a large frying pan or skillet over high heat. Choose a pan that is wide enough to hold the mushrooms in a single layer. Once the pan is hot, add just enough oil to coat the bottom.

  5. Add the mushrooms to the hot pan and cook, keeping the heat high and stirring frequently to help quickly evaporate any liquid the mushrooms give off.

  6. Sprinkle the mushrooms with salt and keep cooking until the mushrooms are tender and browned, about 5 minutes.

    6 Easy Steps to Absolutely Tender (Never Soggy) Sautéed Mushrooms (7)

  7. Add chopped parsley, if you like, just before removing from the pan, stir to let the parsley wilt, and transfer to a serving platter.

    6 Easy Steps to Absolutely Tender (Never Soggy) Sautéed Mushrooms (8)

Tip

Starting with completely dry mushrooms will ensure that you haven't added any more liquid to them before cooking. This will also prevent sogginess.

How to Store and Freeze Mushrooms

You can keep these mushrooms refrigerated for 2 or 3 days. Reheat them on the stovetop over medium-low heat, or add them to soups, salads, tacos, on top of toast or mixed into scrambled eggs.

You can freeze cooked mushrooms if you like. Wait until they have cooled, spread them out on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper, and freeze until frozen. Transfer to a zip-close freezer bag or other container. Freezing them this way helps to keep them separated; otherwise, they're likely to clump up in one big mass.

Variations

  • Add a knob of butter to the pan a few minutes before the mushrooms are done cooking for a richer flavor.
  • Bring out the earthiness of mushrooms with a generous grinding or two of black pepper.
  • Use different types of mushrooms and explore their various flavors.
  • Throw in a clove of minced garlic for the last few minutes of cooking; if you have a sprig or two of fresh thyme, that adds a perfectly paired flavor, too.
  • Make them creamy by pouring in 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream once the mushrooms are browned—cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms are coated and the cream is reduced to a clinging sauce.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
46Calories
4g Fat
3g Carbs
1g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories46
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g5%
Saturated Fat 1g3%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 147mg6%
Total Carbohydrate 3g1%
Dietary Fiber 1g5%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 4mg18%
Calcium 5mg0%
Iron 1mg6%
Potassium 207mg4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • Mushroom
  • sauteed mushrooms
  • side dish
  • american
6 Easy Steps to Absolutely Tender (Never Soggy) Sautéed Mushrooms (2024)

FAQs

How do you sauté mushrooms so they are not soggy? ›

To keep sautéed mushrooms from becoming soggy, use a large pan that will hold them without crowding (mushrooms let off a lot of liquid, and it needs room to evaporate).

How do you cook mushrooms so they are tender? ›

How to Sauté Mushrooms
  1. Heat oil or butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet ($25, Target). ...
  2. Cook the mushrooms 4 to 5 minutes or until they're tender and lightly browned.
  3. For even cooking, stir mushrooms occasionally with a heatproofspatula ($11, Crate & Barrel) or wooden spoon.
Oct 6, 2022

What is the secret to crispy mushrooms? ›

First, make sure the mushrooms are completely dry, then cook them in a hot skillet with some oil or butter as you normally would. Wait until you take them off the heat to shower them with a sprinkle of salt. This seems like a really small thing, but it actually makes a big difference.

How do you sauté mushrooms like a pro? ›

Set a large heavy, non-reactive pan over medium-high heat. Add butter and olive oil and swirl as it melts to reduce splatter. Once the oil is hot, add mushrooms and sauté until the liquid is released and evaporated and mushrooms are slightly browned, 5-7 minutes. Season with garlic salt, pepper, and minced garlic.

Should I sauté mushrooms in oil or butter? ›

Heat the pan on the stove over medium high heat. To get a nice sear on these mushrooms, it's important to start with an oil which has a somewhat higher smoke point. If you use butter at a high heat like this, it would burn. Olive oil, avocado oil, or grapeseed oil work beautifully.

How to cook mushrooms so they don't go slimy? ›

Toss your favorite mushrooms (try quartered cremini or button mushrooms) in olive oil, salt, pepper, and herbs. Transfer mushrooms to a roasting pan or sheet tray. (Be sure they're in a single layer so they don't steam each other.) Roast in a preheated oven for 15 minutes at 375°F.

What does baking soda do to mushrooms? ›

Does baking soda kill mushrooms? No, it does not kill mushrooms but halts their growth. Sprinkling baking soda over the mushrooms in your mulch can help reduce their spread, as well as provide a pH buffer that may discourage further growth.

What are some tricks to cooking mushrooms? ›

Heat the Pan: Place the skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté and Evaporate: Add the mushrooms and let them brown briefly. They will release moisture; allow it to evaporate completely. Achieve Golden Perfection: Continue to cook and stir the mushrooms until they turn golden brown, adjusting the heat as needed.

What should we not do before cooking mushrooms? ›

"Adding salt before throwing mushrooms in the pan or immediately after will draw out the water from them, making them simmer in their own liquids," says Sofia Norton, RD. This can result in rubbery and tough mushrooms with little flavor.

How do you sauté mushrooms Rachael Ray? ›

directions
  1. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil and butter.
  2. Add mushrooms and season with salt, pepper and thyme then cook 15 minutes until evenly browned and tender.
  3. Add wine and deglaze the pan. Add parsley and transfer mushrooms to a serving dish.

How do chefs cook mushrooms? ›

and cook mushrooms like a chef on medium high heat. Add the mushrooms to a dry pan. First they're going to get a little bit golden, and then they begin to release all of their water, which has to completely evaporate. for them to become golden again.

How to stop mushrooms from going soggy when frying? ›

How to avoid soggy mushrooms
  1. Clean the mushrooms with a lemon water mixture. Rinsing or submerging dirty mushrooms in water causes them to absorb extra liquid that won't evaporate during cooking. ...
  2. Make sure the pan is throughly heated and greased. ...
  3. Don't overcrowd the pan. ...
  4. Add salt during this stage of cooking.
Oct 2, 2023

Do you add water when sauteing mushrooms? ›

For perfect sauteed mushrooms, Alton Brown adds water into the mix before browning with butter to ensure firm, yet floppy mushroom slices.

Should you sauté mushrooms without oil? ›

Mushrooms consist of 80-90% water and will do all the work FOR YOU in a DRY pan if you let them (let your food speak to you). No oil, butter, or salt is even needed until the very last step. Cooking mushrooms in a dry pan will give you the most beautiful outcome (in my opinion), texture, and colour as well.

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