Do you "peel" your mushrooms before cooking?
Posted by TheShadyTortoise@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 87 comments
My family always did growing up. I know a lot of people who don't. I still do if they are a bit past best. What's normal?
PuzzledFortune@reddit
Life is too short to peel a mushroom
SeyiDALegend@reddit
Today I've learned that people peel their mushrooms.... Interesting
mynameisollie@reddit
I didn’t even know you could peel a mushroom
SeyiDALegend@reddit
This is the weirdest timeline
wildOldcheesecake@reddit
My food tech teacher would make us peel them. Was infuriating
wildOldcheesecake@reddit
My food tech teacher would make us peel them. Was infuriating
Swimming_Possible_68@reddit
No... And I've always wondered why anyone would.
NortonBurns@reddit
Never. I don't wash them either. They get a rub with a thumb if there's a bit of peat left on them, then I trim the dead ends of the stalks off.
^(…waits patiently for the germophobe downvotes…)
HMSWarspite03@reddit
Never wash them, they soak up water like sponges.
memorablepotato@reddit
They don't. You can wash them and pat them dry with a paper towel, or you can cook them right after washing. As long as you don't leave them sitting wet, they will be fine. If I'm frying them I'll usually start cooking them first without oil so the water evaporates.
sjcuthbertson@reddit
The Adam Ragusea method!
RevolutionaryPace167@reddit
If you like snails and frog legs, go for it
send_n0odles@reddit
This is an old wives' tale. Mushrooms do absorb water but it only amounts to about 2% of their weight, which is cooked off in about 15-30 seconds of cooking. It doesn't make them soggy, nor does it stop them absorbing any other flavours.
ImpressiveGuide5015@reddit
Yh like mushroom is fungus.. but not all fungus and not all bacteria is bad some are good for us
Jesterstear99@reddit
Me too, I just cut off the end of the stem and flick the big bits of dirt off.
The dirt has to be sterile in the first place or we'd just die of cholera/e.coli/dysentery etc.
CheeseyGarlicBread10@reddit
I am a massive germaphobe and super picky with my food however with mushrooms… if I’m just going to fry them and eat them I literally just take them from the container and break them into pieces and chuck them on the frying pan… if I’m putting them in something like a Bolognese, I will just peel them and I still leave some of the peel on, then cut them into small pieces
Accurate_Prompt_8800@reddit
Same, I’ve not died yet
CopperTop345@reddit
Never. But I do always pop out the stalks.
Thestolenone@reddit
The stalk are the best bit.
Thestolenone@reddit
My mother used to back in the 70's but you don't need to now, mushrooms are different these days not the old dark leathery things you used to get.
ahoneybadger3@reddit
No. But I did once peel sausages. I didn't know.
Physical_Computer392@reddit
Never peel and never wash. Only clean with soft brush.
RevolutionaryMail747@reddit
Only if they are a bit old. Just rub them normally to remove any compost with damp kitchen towel otherwise. Skin has lots of flavour
Styxand_stones@reddit
Yes always. I think I started doing it when i was younger because that's what my mum did and now it's just habit
RevolutionaryPace167@reddit
You are missing out. Really hot oil and butter, almost a flash fry. Crisp and brown
Nearby-Percentage867@reddit
My other half likes them peeled.
I like them in the bin. Foul things.
Jesterstear99@reddit
Try a different sort. White ones don't taste of anything, the chestnut ones are nicer, but shiitake are an acquired taste, they are just nasty & slimy.
RevolutionaryPace167@reddit
They are quite crisp if you flash fry them in reality hot oil and butter
ChefPaula81@reddit
This is the way. Fuck them right off.
Nearby-Percentage867@reddit
Haha! You’re getting downvoted for your own opinions about mushrooms!
This fucking place, man…
royals796@reddit
That just means people don’t agree? Isn’t that what the upvote and downvote buttons are for?
ChefPaula81@reddit
I don’t have much room for 🍄
Baddum tsss
peanutskie123@reddit
No, I Washed it with water but I didn't peel it.
BeanOnAJourney@reddit
I do, because it's what my mum always did.
RevolutionaryPace167@reddit
Extra fiber
bdonldn@reddit
Never. Don’t peel carrots any more either.
RevolutionaryPace167@reddit
I don't, I just scrape off the not so pleasant bits and wash really well. Good fiber
RevolutionaryPace167@reddit
Only of the skin is flawed. Wipe them over with kitchen towel. Otherwise they absorb the water like a sponge. No one wants sludgy mushrooms
ClarifyingMe@reddit
Depends on how I'm feeling really. Sometimes it's fun.
pothelswaite@reddit
Used to peel them when I was young, but haven’t do so for over 20 yrs, unless they are a bit slimy!
tomvoxx@reddit
No. I use a piece of kitchen roll to wipe them off and then straight into the pan.
INEKROMANTIKI@reddit
No, I eat them whole.. not entirely sure where all of the psilocybin is stored, so I'm wasting none of it
aufybusiness@reddit
XD
Responsible_Area_783@reddit
I rarely peel anything now. Even potatoes for mash.
Drunk_Cartographer@reddit
What do you mean by peel them? I can’t get my head around that…
aBlastFromTheArse@reddit
No because I'm not a psychopath
PowerApp101@reddit
Nope. Nor spuds.
Kindly-Effort5621@reddit
My partners insists on doing it. I tell her I do it when I cook. I don’t do it.
woobywoobywooby@reddit
You sound like my husband!
DameKumquat@reddit
I think it's Delia who said in a cookbook "life's too short to peel a mushroom".
A wipe with a damp paper towel, maybe a bit of peeling if past their best.
justanoldwoman@reddit
Yes, but I've no idea why. Probably because my mum did.
UnknownTerrorUK@reddit
Yep i peel the entire things straight into the bin until there's no mushroom left.
dlt-cntrl@reddit
I give them a quick wash and use, unless they're past their best then I peel.
jj198handsy@reddit
Yes and i find it very calming, was quite amazed when i saw Olivia Coleman doing it for the same reason in The Bear.
Uqueefdonmebeefdamit@reddit
I don't suppose you've just watched masterchef have you because ive just had the same conversation after seeing them do it
28374woolijay@reddit
No it’s a ridiculous idea.
TotallyTapping@reddit
Button/chestnut mushrooms - wipe with a damp cloth and chop as required. Flat mushrooms - peel and chop as required. No particular reason why, it was just how all our extended family does it.🤷♀️
Substantial_Egg_4660@reddit
If they are large mushrooms I peel them but the small ones just a wipe with kitchen paper
MolassesInevitable53@reddit
I do.
WiccanPixxie@reddit
No, just wipe with a bit of kitchen paper then chop/slice as needed
Naelana101@reddit
My mum used to but I don't, just brush off any dirt and remove the end of the stem.
Angel-Delight@reddit
Always peel mine
Putrid_Inspection133@reddit
Me too.
Equivalent_Parking_8@reddit
My mum always did, I never do. I watched Marcus Waring peel mushrooms on MasterChef and thought what a waste of time. I don't even wash them, just brush off the big bits of compost.
DorothyGherkins@reddit
Generally no. But if they're on the turn and started going a bit slimy I do just to use them up.
macxjs@reddit
Wipe on kitchen roll of they look like they need it but usually don't bother ...
dgraveling@reddit
Never
Su_ButteredScone@reddit
First time I've ever heard about this and I prepare mushrooms all the time. Seems like a waste of time for no real reason.
Itchy_Clap@reddit
Wash and chop
Unfair_Original_2536@reddit
I just brush the dirt off
Impressive-Car4131@reddit
Not in this country. We did it over here when 30+ years ago because the farming technology was different. Same with Carrots that don’t need peeling and aubergines that don’t need salting
huskydaisy@reddit
I used to and then one day my housemate asked me why and I didn't have an answer (just felt like something I should do?) so I stopped.
Intruder313@reddit
No because I am sane
BananaHairFood@reddit
I didn’t even know it was a thing until Marcus did it on MasterChef the other night.
Final_Flounder9849@reddit
If they’re big then peeled and sometimes turned. If they’re small then just brushed.
imtheorangeycenter@reddit
I just tip them out of the can and boil away in their juice.
Joking. No, I never peel them, or wash them - a light wipe if needed is all.
PainExtension3272@reddit
No, never
Extension_Sun_377@reddit
For me, if the skin is loose at the top by the stem, I'll peel them, but if they're really fresh I won't.
Low_Sodiium@reddit
I just reduces the total amount of mushroom
noseysheep@reddit
Depends on the type of mushroom surely
Accurate-Flatworm361@reddit
No. Didn't know it was a thing. Why do that? Seriously, does it make a difference?
GlitchingGecko@reddit
Depends how clean they get when washed. Sometimes they still seem grubby, so they get peeled.
If they look ok, I don't bother.
Top_Opening_3625@reddit
This is what I do or start peeling the first one and then give up.
carnage2006@reddit
My gf does but I find it weird and never have
ThePineappleSeahorse@reddit
Never.
Aggravating-Tower317@reddit
i never bother but my mum has always done it
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