These Are the Healthiest Ways to Cook Your Mushrooms (2024)

You'll be surprised by at least one method.

By

Jillian Kramer

Jillian Kramer is a criminal justice reporter for the Times-Picayune in New Orleans and is known for her work as a freelance journalist and editor. Her writing has appeared in Food & Wine, The New York Times, Travel & Leisure, EatingWell, Scientific American, and National Geographic.

Updated on May 22, 2017

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These Are the Healthiest Ways to Cook Your Mushrooms (1)

Not everyone has a taste for mushrooms. (We know—it's hard to believe.) In fact, many mushroom eaters, have to sauté fungi to make them more palatable. But a new study gives even those people a reason to think twice before bathing mushrooms in butter and letting them cook over a low, slow heat. The best (read: healthiest) way to cook mushrooms, according to the research, isn't in a pan. Rather, you will reap the most health benefits from your white button, portabella, cremini, or shiitake mushrooms by grilling them—and microwaving them. (We're serious.)

First, a primer on the health benefits of fungi: mushrooms have loads of fiber, and protein—and they don't have much fat or contain too many calories, which make them an ideal side dish to any dinner. Bonus: most mushrooms have significant B vitamin levels, and a bit of zinc or selenium. In other words, they're good for you.

Scientists from Mushroom Technological Research Center of La Rioja—yes, that's a real place—looked at the various and most common ways we cook mushrooms, and recorded how each method affected mushrooms' nutritional profiles. (Specifically, the researchers studied white button, shiitake, oyster, and king oyster mushrooms, because these varieties are the most commonly consumed fungi.) They found that frying mushrooms led to the most severe protein and antioxidant loss but increased the fungi's fat content. Boiling mushrooms also led to decreased nutritional values.

On the flip side, grilling mushrooms (and even microwaving them) allowed the fungi to keep the most antioxidants, and were determined to be the best cooking methods.

"Frying and boiling treatments produced more severe losses in proteins and antioxidants compounds," wrote researcher Irene Roncero, "probably due to the leaching of soluble substances in the water or in the oil, which may significantly influence the nutritional value of the final product." But, "when mushrooms were cooked by microwave or grill, the content of polyphenol and antioxidant activity increased significantly, and there are no significant losses in nutritional value."

So, the next time you add mushrooms to your meal, may we suggest you throw them on the grill with a little olive oil and salt for flavor—and all their nutritional value?

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These Are the Healthiest Ways to Cook Your Mushrooms (2024)

FAQs

These Are the Healthiest Ways to Cook Your Mushrooms? ›

The researchers concluded that the best way to cook mushrooms while still preserving their nutritional properties is to grill or microwave them, as the fried and boiled mushrooms showed significantly less antioxidant activity.

What is the healthiest way to cook a mushroom? ›

The best (read: healthiest) way to cook mushrooms, according to the research, isn't in a pan. Rather, you will reap the most health benefits from your white button, portabella, cremini, or shiitake mushrooms by grilling them—and microwaving them.

What are the healthiest type of mushrooms to eat? ›

Some of the mushrooms considered best for human health include chaga, lion's mane, reishi, turkey tail, shiitake, cordyceps and maitake. Often considered vegetables, mushrooms are neither plants nor animals.

Are sautéed mushrooms healthy? ›

They are healthy, versatile, and cook pretty much unattended while you prepare the rest of the meal (similar to these Sautéed Green Beans). Sautéed vegetables like Sautéed Cabbage, Sautéed Zucchini, Sautéed Broccoli, and Sautéed Carrots are all yummy, but sautéed mushrooms feel extra special.

Does cooking mushrooms make them healthier? ›

A study has shown that microwaving and grilling are the best processes to maintain the nutritional profile of mushrooms. Culinary treatments (boiling, microwaving, grilling, and deep frying) influence on proximate composition and antioxidant capacity of most cultivated mushrooms worlwide.

Are mushroom toxins destroyed by the cooking process? ›

Cooking is recommended for all mushrooms because it will break down some of the mushroom sugars that we cannot digest. A few toxins are destroyed by cooking, but the majority of toxins are not. Tests to distinguish poisonous mushrooms from wholesome ones are not to be trusted.

What is the most safest mushroom? ›

Hen-of-the-woods, oyster, and sulphur shelf mushrooms are safe, delicious, and nutritious wild varieties prized by mushroom hunters. While these and many other mushrooms are safe to consume, eating varieties like the death cap, false morels, and Conocybe filaris can cause serious adverse health effects and even death.

Is it better to cook mushrooms in butter or oil? ›

Butter is great because it adds lots of flavor and produces a nice golden brown exterior, while adding oil allows the mushrooms to cook a little more quickly at slightly higher heat.

What is the best way to eat mushrooms for health? ›

The researchers concluded that the best way to cook mushrooms while still preserving their nutritional properties is to grill or microwave them, as the fried and boiled mushrooms showed significantly less antioxidant activity.

Can I eat sauteed mushrooms everyday? ›

Mushrooms are classed as a superfood as they are high in nutrients and have many health benefits. You could eat mushrooms every day if you wish, although only as part of a balanced diet with other foods. Although mushrooms come in all shapes and sizes, the nutrients they provide per 96g serving are very similar.

How long to cook mushrooms to remove toxins? ›

Cooking mushrooms very well (for 1-3 hours) removes virtually all of the hydrazine and most of the agaritine. How to prepare them: I cook up no less than 1kg of white button mushrooms at a time to make the effort worthwhile. Throw into a sink full of water and give them a rub to remove any dirt.

What is the best way to cook mushrooms? ›

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.

Are mushrooms really a Superfood? ›

Low in calories, rich in nutrients, fits any meal

In fact, they are often touted as a superfood, and for good reason. “Mushrooms are good for you because of their many health benefits. They are low in calories, cholesterol and sodium and are a good source of vitamins and minerals.

Is it OK to cook mushroom with the stems? ›

Get ready to relish the full mushroom experience! The stems of white button, crimini, portabella, oyster, and king oyster mushrooms are entirely edible and bursting with savoury goodness. These tasty stems add texture and depth to your dishes, allowing you to enjoy the whole mushroom with every delightful bite.

What is the best type of mushroom for cooking? ›

White Button Mushrooms: Also called common mushrooms, these are the youngest and smallest size of portobello mushrooms. With a mild flavor, button mushrooms are widely used in culinary applications due to their ability to absorb flavors.

Do you have to Remove mushroom stems? ›

Most mushrooms need to be trimmed before cutting them, but some do not. Trim off any woody or dried out pieces of the stems of button/white mushrooms, cremini/baby bella mushrooms, king trumpet/oyster mushrooms, and Lion's mane mushrooms. For shiitake, chanterelle, and portobello mushrooms, remove the stems entirely.

What is the healthiest way to cook? ›

Choose to steam, bake, grill, braise, boil or microwave your foods, rather than deep fry them. Use non-stick cookware. Microwave or steam your vegetables instead of boiling them to retain the nutrients.

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