Do you peel your mushrooms?

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EnbyArthropod@reddit

Only if they're manky. Otherwise, damp kitchen roll to get the compost off.

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Dull_Pie4080@reddit

Yes, of course I peel muhrooms because I'm immortal and eternity leaves a lot of time for pointless tasks.

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Normal-Height-8577@reddit

Twenty-five years ago washing your chicken and then cleaning up carefully, was the best practice advice from food hygiene experts.

Then they did more research, and realised that the majority of people weren't following the instructions properly, and were just spreading chicken juice over their kitchen by running the water too fast and not sanitising the sink (or their hands, or the surrounding work surfaces that the water had splashed onto) afterwards.

At that point the advice became "You know what? Just get it in the oven, and let the heat take care of any bacteria. And for fucks sake, wash your hands!"

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Justvisitingfriends1@reddit

I worked in kitchens 25 years ago and it was never, ever to wash chicken. You are potentially washing away spoiled smells and slime.

It was encouraged in countries that have poor dispatching methods for obvious reasons.

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CraftyWeeBuggar@reddit

Exactly!! I worked in kitchens for about a decade, starting in the 90's as a teenager... i had all the food and hygiene certificates and washing chicken is just ludicrous to me. Cooking it thoroughly and washing the surfaces and tools prior to and after touching raw meat... that's how you do it safely.

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Jenkes_of_Wolverton@reddit

I remember my parents telling me that when frozen whole chicken was first introduced, in the 1950s/1960s, that there were lots of people who didn't know to defrost it or remove the giblets. That's what led to a spate of food poisoning cases, and a public health campaign.

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johnbobk@reddit

Yes you used to get a greaseproof or plastic bag inside the chicken with the giblets inside (for the gravy).

Remember 1st year at uni someone made roast chicken & when carving & looking for the stuffing I found the bag still in there!

When stuffing was stuffed into the bird / for flavour.

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catjellycat@reddit

Twenty five years ago was 2001. No one was washing chickens in the twenty first century as a novel approach. My last grandparent just died, born in the 1920s and they never washed a chicken.

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Wonderful_Garbage_39@reddit

My Polish housemates used to insist on washing chicken!

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neilm1000@reddit

Any idea why?

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NoraCharles91@reddit

Historical tradition from eras when food safety regulations weren't a thing. If you've bought your chicken from a market stall where it's been sitting out in the open, you're going to want to rinse that.

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Kiss_It_Goodbyeee@reddit

If it's a healthy animal and been properly butchered - i.e. internal organs removed promptly - there's no need to wash. Cooking it properly is the key.

The salmonella risk is primarily due to factory practices, not inherent with the birds.

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NoraCharles91@reddit

Totally. But back in the days before food-borne illnesses were well understood, I imagine people were often washing meat because it was literally unclean.

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Kiss_It_Goodbyeee@reddit

I mean, back in the day it was the water that was filthy, not the meat. Plus, you wouldn't dunk your chicken in the village well.

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MintberryCrunch____@reddit

Nah, it’s Americans who wash chicken, think it’s a hangover of paddy generations and not needed anymore as long as good quality

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bouncypete@reddit

That's probably to wash the chlorine off their chicken.

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viruswithshoes@reddit

No, it’s not that at all. Chicken in US doesn’t taste or smell of chlorine whatsoever. It’s simply a non-issue.

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tcpukl@reddit

But it's not good to consume.

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keeponkeepingup@reddit

You consume it every day in your tap water here

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viruswithshoes@reddit

Yeah but that's European chlorine so it's not as harmful.

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deHaga@reddit

Chlorine turns into chloride in the body, which is an electrolyte.

The yanks use chlorine because they stock chickens too densely so there is more disease.

It's about bird welfare .

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spikewilliams2@reddit

The issue is it is used to correct the filthy conditions that make it a cheaper method.

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viruswithshoes@reddit

Yes that is correct. I wanted to correct everybody's weird takes on the USA about the chicken smelling like chlorine and that we have to wash it. It does not and never has smelled anything like chlorine. That's all.

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more_chickpeas@reddit

Unfortunately chicken in the US doesn't taste of anything at all, neither does the cheese 😂

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Old_Bean_72@reddit

So you’re saying that cheese tastes like chicken in the US? Got it.

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Alternative_Bit_7306@reddit

Mmmm… cheezychicken

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Still-BangingYourMum@reddit

Exactly the same as there sponge rubber bread.

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keeponkeepingup@reddit

Yes. Our (drinking) tap water here in the UK has got chlorine in it. For as a fishkeeper I have to dechlorinate it when I do water changes because it kills the bacteria that we want in the tank (and the bacteria we dont want in our tap water). Bagged salads and stuff is cleaned with it too here.

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Equal_Emu6152@reddit

Ah yes the chicken dipped in the local swimming pool beautiful babeyyyy beautiful 😂

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h4baine@reddit

In my experience that's often than not a Black American thing, not an all Americans thing. Maybe in previous generations it was more common across the entire population.

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space2k@reddit

Yeah I’m an Anglo Texan in my 50s. I’d never heard of washing chicken until a few years ago when there were some “black people wash chicken?” & “white people don’t wash their chicken?” discussions here on Reddit.

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comune@reddit

'Anglo Texan'. You know, I think that maybe the first time I've seen this words together. Language is pretty mint!

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space2k@reddit

Actually my usage here doesn’t really fit the context. It’s sometimes used to delineate between white and Hispanic people here, but isn’t really relevant in this case. I should’ve just used “white”.

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Kent_biker@reddit

It's definitely a Caribbean thing. My wife is of St Lucian heritage and was mortified the first time I didn't wash the chicken . Guess what? I now wash chicken......just a rinse under the tap though 🤣

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citygent1911@reddit

What are you washing off it? Where has your raw chicken been that requires it to have a shower before you cook it to almost 100°c (to kill any bacteria).

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h4baine@reddit

I thought people only did a rinse under the tap and that was called washing it. Wait, do some people literally wash chicken like with soap?

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Kent_biker@reddit

I think Americans use vinegar/lime. In the Caribbean it's generally only a rinse under the tap

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Calliceman@reddit

Black brits tend to do this too. It’s usually just with some lemon juice.

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JohnnyNoodle97@reddit

Yeah the 'washing chicken' discussion is often a misunderstanding between black and white people because the white people don't realise that 'washing chicken' has nothing to do with water and cleanliness. It's more to do with seasoning and prepping the chicken.

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tcpukl@reddit

So why are Americans on YouTube seen reading chicken under a tap?

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JohnnyNoodle97@reddit

No idea about why Americans persistently do silly things. I was responding to a comment on the British context.

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auntie_eggma@reddit

Because they, too, have the dumb.

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SoggyWotsits@reddit

I’d wash most food that had been on the ground…

And yes, I’m only joking!

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eglantinel@reddit

Ugh new fear unlocked

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bananabastard@reddit

Not Americans, black Americans.

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Unhappy_Performer538@reddit

It’s mainly black and Latino Americans

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taskkill-IM@reddit

It's a Caribbean practice.

Washing chicken in Vinegar or citrus cleans away the slike and enhances the flavour...

I imagine what's happened is this has been passed down to the point where Americans with Caribbean heritage have carried on the practice, and Americans with no Caribbean heritage have took it to the literal sense of washing chicken under tap water, which increases the risk of salmonella being spread everywhere.

Washing chicken in a bowl of vinegar or citrus is perfectly fine though.

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terryjuicelawson@reddit

It is a West Indian thing too. Some even soak the chicken and add lemon and lime juice and all sorts. I know people even when told "you know you don't need to do all that" just can't not do it. When I am told I don't need to do some pain in the arse job in the kitchen I am relieved personally, so it is an odd one.

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HRHHayley@reddit

Soaking it in seasoned water is brining not washing. Adds a depth of flavour and juiciness.

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terryjuicelawson@reddit

No, this is a short term thing. Literally put in a bowl of water with a squeeze of lemon and rinse it off. No salt.

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HRHHayley@reddit

Oh. That's, yeah ...

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terryjuicelawson@reddit

A waste of lemons mostly

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Decent-Chip-868@reddit

I see a lot of stuff saying don't wash chicken and am always confused about wry you would! If It's common in the US, that explains it.

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OnlymyOP@reddit

They do it to wash off any chlorine residue on the chicken.

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rooooosa@reddit

My Belgian housemate washes chicken and says it’s a thing over there.

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JaxxJo@reddit

I wash my chicken, not for any sanitary reasons but because it comes out slimey out of the plastic and I don’t like that.

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Millefeuille-coil@reddit

Not in France

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robotwarlord@reddit

I rinse chicken in lemon juice.

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GrimQuim@reddit

My partner (Romanian) likes to splatter salmonella over the drying dishes when she's cooking chicken.

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MiniCale@reddit

This is not a Romanian thing; your partners weird.

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Unable_Obligation_73@reddit

Depends on where in Romania you are from You could fit texas in Romania 12 times and still have room for Canada

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GrimQuim@reddit

your partners weird.

I know that much.

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AmazingPangolin9315@reddit

What is super weird to me about that sentence is this assumption that all chicken somehow must have salmonella. We're in Europe, chicken gets tested and if there's salmonella present the chicken doesn't make it to the shop. End of.

I understand why there are precautions nevertheless in commercial kitchens, but at home we don't need to act like raw chicken is somehow poisonous.

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tcpukl@reddit

Exactly. Which the cooking is going to kill.

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Occamsfacecloth@reddit

Irish here. I do like my ma before me

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Equal_Emu6152@reddit

Me ma

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neilm1000@reddit

Hello Sheldon.

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Occamsfacecloth@reddit

You're right

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dairylee@reddit

I took a cooking class in Rome and the chef asked me to wash the chicken!

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auntie_eggma@reddit

As a Roman, I can tell you that is by no means standard.

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johnbobk@reddit

Welcome to the 21st century amicus / amica 🧐

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auntie_eggma@reddit

By ancient standards I'm actually mostly Hirpini/Samnite.

🤓

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johnbobk@reddit

I hear you too had problems with the Romans, yes our island succumbed as well🍷

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Ok-Personality-6630@reddit

Grandpaents used to do it. I think the older generations did

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johnbobk@reddit

UK? Certainly my grandparents & mother didn't; I'm a 1960s baby.

Only time I've washed a bird (-ok I'll wait for the comments from similar aged men) is if I've plucked & prepared a pheasant. My sister discouraged it saying you wash all the 'rear' bacteria into the bird.. & around the kitchen.

If concerned presoak in lemon, salt / white vinegar water. Or just cook at higher temperature first ~15 min & always put into a preheated oven; otherwise the bacteria will multiply on warming up.

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Ok-Personality-6630@reddit

Yes UK. I think the issue is that information sharing is much easier these days, so likely there were communities/ pockets that do one or the other. Maybe the odd press release etc but I would suggest it's much easier to be aware of the issues washing chicken now.

Public campaigns in the UK started in 2013,2014.

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CanWeNapPlease@reddit

Yeah my husband's grandparents still do. We gave up telling them not to. They're in their 80s. I guess it hasn't hurt them but that's survivorship bias.

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NecroVelcro@reddit

I'm in Wales and my nan used to rinse chicken before cooking it. She wouldn't have listened to the fact that it increases risk.

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Decent-Chip-868@reddit

My Welsh family did that as well but my English ones didn't!

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Poisoneraa@reddit

My mum used to. But those compulsory high school food tech lessons resulted in over 2 decades of lectures from me, and so she finally gave up washing chicken sometime last year

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_yxs_@reddit

Sorry, why would you NOT wash chicken before cooking it properly?

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PigneySnoo@reddit

It spreads bacteria all over your sink, your traps, worktops etc. Bacteria that would be removed by just...cooking the chicken...

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Snatchematician@reddit

Cooking doesn’t remove the bacteria, it just kills them.

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ManicPixiRiotGrrrl@reddit

I fear you don’t understand how bacteria works if you thought that was a good counterpoint

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PigneySnoo@reddit

The outcome is the same - the food is safe to eat. Which is - presumably - the purpose of washing the chicken.

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meemster786@reddit

One of the reasons a lot of cultures wash meat historically is because of the wet markets and outdoors butchers etc. It was more to remove gunk, bone fragments, slimy residue, blood, and just general dirt. Even with modern food standards that culture and tradition was passed down and a lot of people including my family still wash meat despite it being unnecessary

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Verdigri5@reddit

If there is any contamination on the surface of the chicken then properly cooking it will kill this off. Washing the chicken can potentially spray the bacteria around the kitchen, contaminating surfaces that you assume are clean.

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neilm1000@reddit

Sorry, why would you NOT wash chicken before cooking it properly?

Why the hell would you?

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Fred776@reddit

Because (1) you don't need to if you are cooking it properly and (2) the process of washing it is likely to spread germs around your kitchen.

In other words there is more likelihood of a bad outcome if you wash it.

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TPPreston@reddit

Because washing it does nothing to improve the food safety of the chicken, and washing it will spread raw chicken bacteria around the sink area. So it actually does more harm than good.

Every mainstream health and food safety organisation advised against washing chicken for this reason.

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kipperfish@reddit

Why WOULD you wash chicken before cooking it properly?

Maybe if i had killed and plucked it myself, I would.

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Artistic-Morning-659@reddit

Why wash it?

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ApplicationSouth8844@reddit

So she tells u, she’s likely still washing it when you aren’t looking

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rainbosandvich@reddit

I sometimes wash chicken if I want to marinade it. The water bursts the whole thing open at the cellular level, apparently. Provided you press the water back out, it seems to make it easier to marinade better.

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never_doing_that@reddit

I think back in the 70s, people in the UK did. About 20 years ago, I was at my then MILs house and my BIL was preapring some chicken and started to rinse it under the cold tap. They both exclaimed of course you wash chicken before using it. I had to get on the internet and show him and his mother that it wasnt necessary to do and all they are doing is potentially spreading salmonella round the sink.

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Dr_Gillian_McQueef@reddit

We have black Europeans.

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neilm1000@reddit

We have black Europeans.

Um, OK. Obviously I know this but why is it relevant.

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Dr_Gillian_McQueef@reddit

My in laws are black. They wash their chicken. All the other family they have (and there are loads) wash their chicken.

One of my oldest mates washes his chicken. His missus says he shouldn't but he does. It's a cultural thing.

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MrTubek@reddit

I'm polish and I do it

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VodkaMargarine@reddit

Yeah it's weirdly common in Poland. Completely unnecessary though and just spreads salmonella around your sink.

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Moomoocaboob@reddit

My Welsh mother for one. It makes negative sense to me.

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shakesfistatmoon@reddit

Indeed, It's dangerous to wash chicken, far better to cook properly.

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therealstealthydan@reddit

Seems like Italian behaviour to me

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A_Chicken_Called_Kip@reddit

You can peel them? I just take them out the packet, brush the worst of the dirt off, snap the bigger ones into pieces, and pop them in the frying pan.

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jasilucy@reddit

I eat them straight out the packet raw. I have no patience

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Substantial_Cry2421@reddit

Me too, sometimes with salt on them. So good. My fave is a nice cold fresh pack of chestnut mushrooms with some salt on top eaten raw

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amboandy@reddit

Store bought mushrooms are usually cultivated in a neutral growing medium, so this is fine for me. However, wild mushrooms do need careful preparation and are a complete pain in the arse

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slowamigo@reddit

Wait so we can eat the little bits of mud on supermarket mushrooms? 😍

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Phil1889Blades@reddit

Yes.

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size_matters_not@reddit

Literally, if you don’t prepare them right 💩

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Phil1889Blades@reddit

If I’m feeling rebellious I like a bit of mud too. Yours is the correct answer though.

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GnaphaliumUliginosum@reddit

That 'mud' is likely a mix of manure, straw, chalk and peat.

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Phil1889Blades@reddit

All good nutrients.

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cheandbis@reddit

Tiger Feet is a banger to be fair.

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HigherominousBosh@reddit

That’s right

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AcrobaticHedgehog599@reddit

That's right

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pinkdaisylemon@reddit

That's right

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5c0tt15h@reddit

That's right

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pinkdaisylemon@reddit

I really love your tiger light...

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baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaab@reddit

Mud 🤔

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Decent-Chip-868@reddit

That's why they're called mudrooms.

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VodkaMargarine@reddit

It's how they get that nice earthy flavour

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BabyAlibi@reddit

Brush the dirt, straight in the mouth here

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jesussays51@reddit

Mud = B12 (that’s what I like to think anyway)

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ProtoplanetaryNebula@reddit

Yes, this is what I wanted to know. I didn't even realise it was a possibility.

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geese_moe_howard@reddit

You brush the dirt off?! Get a load of Gordon Ramsey over here.

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doegrey@reddit

I wash mushrooms and veg to wash off any potential pesticides and also poop particles from fertilisation (poop water from sewers IS used to grow your veg in the UK - can’t speak for other countries but I’ll assume the same).

But it’s SO satisfying snapping mushrooms into pieces! 🥰

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Total_Departures@reddit

"poop water from sewers IS used to grow your veg in the UK"

Wtf are you talking about?

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MediumAutomatic2307@reddit

Human excrement can be used as a fertilizer. It is must sterilized first, due to pathogens present, but perfectly normal.

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Apotak@reddit

Using human poop as fertiliser has been illegal for decades where I live, due to health risks.

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auntie_eggma@reddit

I'm afraid it's true.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sewage-sludge-in-agriculture-code-of-practice/sewage-sludge-in-agriculture-code-of-practice-for-england-wales-and-northern-ireland

From which:

Sewage sludge is solid matter that’s left when you treat waste water. It’s mainly human wastes but also includes:

>industrial effluents
>effluents from animal and vegetable processing
>storm water run-off

Some contents of sewage sludge are good for soil and plants. Others contain potentially toxic elements (PTE) which are only safe if they’re below set limits.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/58654125

From which:

Human poo can be used as a compost to help fertilise soil so that crops can grow - the product is known as biosolids.

Biosolids in the soil will provide nutrients and organic materials for the crops and plants to absorb, such as nitrates and phosphates.

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Total_Departures@reddit

It's not raw, untreated human shite as the OP stated though.

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Mission_Yesterday_96@reddit

You might want to look up how mushrooms grow

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ompompush@reddit

Yes I do cos of pesticides.

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xxx654@reddit

I do occasionally peel mushrooms but only because it’s a pleasant experience. Like writing on a banana with a biro.

For no apparent reason whatsoever it’s a pleasant mini experience.

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ChemicalOk991@reddit

I agree, there is something very satisfying about peeling them

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Impossible_Owl_1625@reddit

Now I want to try writing on a banana! 🤦🏻‍♀️

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Phillyfuk@reddit

Do it, it's super smooth. Its like the pens were designed for bananas and not paper

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geese_moe_howard@reddit

I once wrote on my boss's banana "For external use only."

Because he's gay I was later told that this may have constituted a hate crime.

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GnaphaliumUliginosum@reddit

Even straight people usually use bananas internally, like most foodstuffs.

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StopItKenImALesbian@reddit

How do you eat a banana externally?

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Impossible_Owl_1625@reddit

😂😂😂 a hate crime 😂😂 I’m gay, found that hilarious!

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geese_moe_howard@reddit

On his other banana I wrote "Ceci n'est pas une banane".

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slowamigo@reddit

Perfect analogy! Spot on

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ToetallyRev@reddit

I feel seen

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slapadabase@reddit

Makes me feel like a Michellin starred chef when im peeling mushrooms.

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auntie_eggma@reddit

Like writing on a banana with a biro.

hwat?

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pebblesprite@reddit

if you've never done it, you really need to. It's a sensory delight

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auntie_eggma@reddit

Well, now I'm intrigued. Any particular pen or ripeness level best suited to this?

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pebblesprite@reddit

It HAS to be a biro with a rollerball tip. After that, it's up to you. You can peel the banana first, if you want to press hard with the pen, or you can write directly on the banana without peeling. It sounds crazy but it is honestly an amazing feeling.

It was on an advert back in the late '90's (I think) and there was a brief period where everyone was buying bananas just to try it out

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Madsaxmcginn@reddit

Me too because I love the sound!

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Rubytitania@reddit

Yup, I do it because it’s enjoyable, not because I think it needs doing.

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BandicootObjective32@reddit

I haven't written on a banana in years, I'd totally forgotten about that - I think was from Honda adverts or something like that

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Suspicious-Rub8976@reddit

On the skin I assume? Not the actual banana

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BandicootObjective32@reddit

Yeah, on the skin - it's just so smooth

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CobaltBlue389@reddit

I'm a therapist, thank you for the ideas.

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pgnlzbth@reddit

It’s so satisfying

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KoontFace@reddit

Washing chicken is absolutely an American thing. The USA is the only country that needs to wash chlorine off their food before they cook it

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autobulb@reddit

People of certain cooking cultures wash chicken regardless of where they are in the world. It's not an American thing. The modern wisdom there is that washing chicken is not necessary and only increases cross contamination so it is not advised, but people from those cultures might continue to wash out of habit.

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IsmaelRetzinsky@reddit

This is a braindead comment. It goes back to African and Afro-Caribbean food preparation practices and can be seen anywhere their descendants are found. It’s absolutely inadvisable, but it has nothing to do with chlorinated chicken.

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SmugglersParadise@reddit

Christ, I barely wash mine. Straight in the pan!

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resident_queerdo@reddit

You're not supposed to. Just brush off dirt. I also read that if you put them in the sun first, apparently they produce vitamin D?

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tomtink1@reddit

You have to be a bit more careful about the mud if you're pregnant.

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Fred776@reddit

The received wisdom is that they absorb a lot of water if you wash them, but I'm sure I read years ago that one of these more scientifically orientated chefs - maybe Heston Blumenthal? - did some experiments and found that this doesn't happen to any great extent.

Anyway I don't really like the look of the mank you get on mushrooms and life's too short to be brushing all that off so I just give them a quick rinse under the tap.

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Apotak@reddit

You could do the experiment yourself: wash half your mushrooms, brush the other half. Fry both, taste test them.

I did this amd I never wash my mushrooms anymore. They lose a lot of taste.

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LaziestRedditorEver@reddit

Eh i tested as well and it's just the way a lot of people cook them that ruin them tbh. Needs to be a hot pan, no butter or oil, put the shrooms in however you have prepared, 20 to 30 seconds, moving around once (to allow evaporation). Then add butter or oil or whatever, get everything coated, then season. When everything is browning, I add a dash of red wine vinegar and then cook it down.

This way the mushrooms are juicy, umami, tangy, and have a brilliant texture

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Occamsfacecloth@reddit

The taste is the dirt

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cccactus107@reddit

The 'wisdom' doesn't even make sense, mushroom are already like 90% water, most of which gets squeezed out when you cook them.

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SmugglersParadise@reddit

Fair enough, haven't heard of the vitamin D bit before, interesting

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rabid-fox@reddit

D2 not D3 your body cant use it the same

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ImFamousYoghurt@reddit

They absorb the vitamin d from the sun

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resident_queerdo@reddit

Makes sense. Thanks!

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lodav22@reddit

I store my mushrooms on the kitchen window sill after hearing that, I have no idea if it’s true but it frees up fridge space! I also put my tomatoes on there too.

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CatalunyaNoEsEspanya@reddit

No you should wash your mushrooms

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evelynsmee@reddit

No, you shouldn't. You can choose to if you want but that's not the cooking guidance

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Kamikaze-X@reddit

I peel them ever since I bit into a button mushroom that had collected grit under the cap. I can still feel it on my teeth and it makes me want to boak.

So either I peel them or I'm not going to eat them.

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idontbleaveit@reddit

The button mushrooms I love to eat raw after a wash.

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firefly232@reddit

I do because brushing the dirt off never seems to work for me....

[-]

Kamikaze-X@reddit

Me too. Once bit into a button mushroom that had collected a load of grit under the cap and I can still feel it on my teeth and it makes me want to boak, so my middle ground is peeling them.

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pgnlzbth@reddit

This is why I do it, too. I hate getting grit when you eat them

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Ajay-1992@reddit

Europeans don't wash chicken, because we have food and farming standards that make it unnecessary.

And no, I don't peel mushrooms.

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Sc0ttiShDUdE@reddit

I just put them in tea or lemon juice

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Superb-Ad-8823@reddit

I know if no one who washes a chicken.

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VastOpinion6020@reddit

You don’t know any black people then

[-]

RatzzFace@reddit

Why is this a black people thing?

[-]

pullingteeths@reddit

It's a people with Caribbean or African (among others) heritage thing as it's a traditional part of food preparation in those locations

[-]

armintanzarian420@reddit

I always thought it was something that ended up getting lost in translation. Washing meant brining or soaking the chicken in vinegar I think, then people started taking it literally and started just rinsing it under a tap.

Why else would anyone think it's a good idea to get raw-chicken-water everywhere?

[-]

pullingteeths@reddit

I think both things exist. Some kind of rinsing or dunking in water probably makes sense if the animal is freshly killed or it's been sitting out in a market etc

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Klakson_95@reddit

Because it is

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Scotsmanryno@reddit

You’re doing it wrong then because as someone in the chef trade. Chicken doesn’t need to be bloody washed.
75c temp would kill all the germs and bacteria for food safety.
Washing chicken changes texture, taste and a cross contamination risk!! I’ll die on this hill alone but it’s 100 percent true

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Klakson_95@reddit

I dont wash chicken

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Superb-Ad-8823@reddit

My Sister in Law is Gambian.

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Arsewhistle@reddit

It's not the case that 100% of black people do this

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-weirdf1shes@reddit

Btw black and brown people still wash chicken alot of the time
Source/ my black and brown family who i try to convince NOT to LOL

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auntie_eggma@reddit

Not all black people do this by a LONG stretch. Especially as there is increasing info about how unhygienic and ill-advised it is.

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seklas1@reddit

Isn’t that because you’re in the UK and if you speak to any foreigners, they’re also likely in the UK, where people don’t wash chicken at home?

I think my mom used to wash chicken when I was young. Couldn’t tell you why, maybe it’s the “juice” when you open the packet etc. but I think I’ve seen it in water not once. Originally from Eastern Europe, so some people in Europe will do it too.

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Brian_from_accounts@reddit

How embarrassing!

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Federal-Emu-4204@reddit

I peel them. I don't like mushrooms anyway, let alone dirty ones. Washing them would just make them wet, and wet mushrooms makes me gag to think about 🙃

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Cantona-Eric-7@reddit

I take my mushrooms straight out of the fridge and throw them straight into the trash, where they belong

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Millefeuille-coil@reddit

I eat magic mushrooms straight from the ground

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TeeDeePK@reddit

50 year old American here, amateur chef.. never hear of peeling a mushroom or washing eggs! Maybe different mushroom varieties need a peel. My understanding washing chicken is a no no, as splashing water around with raw chicken juice can spread bacteria (salmonella).
We do refrigerate our eggs and need to keep them refrigerated once cold. If left out, a cold egg will gather condensation on the shell and water can pass inside, bringing bacteria along.

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SnowBear78@reddit

I'd love to know why you think Europeans wash chicken. Americans wash chicken.

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weirdobumhead@reddit

I hate mushrooms. Why would anyone eat a fungus? But I used to live peeling them for my dad when he made breakfast, especially the huge ones. 35 years later my wife likes mushrooms and looked at me like I was an idiot (fairly standard) when I asked her if she wanted me to peel them.

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oportoman@reddit

What the hell is left after you peel a mushroom?? Something for people with nothing else to do

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over-it2989@reddit

Sometimes but not always

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Phoebegeebees@reddit

I barely wash them lmao there’s no way I’m spending time peeling the damn things

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box_frenzy@reddit

I used to for some reason. God knows why. But stopped about 20 years ago.

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KlownKar@reddit

Same here. Probably because that's what my mom used to do.

However, I'm lazy.

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hiresometoast@reddit

My mum also used to peel mushrooms and therefore, so did I. I just wash them now though, they grow in manure so obviously I'm washing that off.

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CrispGunther@reddit

Same here. Though I do still peel them if I’m having a nice cheese and mushroom sandwich

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MrJackdaw@reddit

Nah, just eat em straight out of the fridge.

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silverback-coeliac@reddit

No but I do wash them now. Convinced myself for years it was ok to eat little bits of dirt 😂

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Necessary_Money_9757@reddit

I used to because my mum and grandparents do, so I did it out of habit.

I realised it makes absolutely no difference (after some mocking from my housemates) so know I don't bother.

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HumourNoire@reddit

You can peel big mushrooms instead of washing them.

But. That bit has the fibre, B vitamins, and so on - that's why brown mushrooms are better for you.

If you peel that off... Seems like a backwards step.

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VioletDime@reddit

I peel mushrooms. My granny tought me to cook and it was the done thing back in her day, and it's now habit fir me.

But, l peel them if l am eating them raw in a salad for example. If they're getting fried for breakfast then l don't usually bother. In other dishes it's about 50/50.

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stewpman@reddit

African wash meat i seen one was mince meat in a strainer . European dont was meat i speak as a english man . I dont wash all the soap off my cutlery or plates . I find it weird when they do it and when I say African I really mean old Nigerian women some even use lemon after 🤣🤣

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yawning_iscontagious@reddit

My child wanted to help me in the kitchen, problem was child was aged 2.5 and needed a specific and safe task to give him to do. Stumbled upon, peeling mushrooms! Pointless, who would do that? But fantastic, busy work without too much waste.

Child is now much older, and no longer requires allocation of such a pointless task to be able to feel helpful. But..... Mushrooms don't feel right unpeeled now!

What kind of person would do this now? Well, I'm the one doing it. 🤦🏼‍♂️

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Sharky-the-sparky@reddit

Field mushrooms need peeling if they are grown naturally and harvested from fields at the appropriate time of year

[-]

RRW2020@reddit

No because I am not a psychopath.

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RRW2020@reddit

No because I am not a psychopath.

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RRW2020@reddit

No because I am not a psychopath.

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West_Guarantee284@reddit

I don't even wash them.

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BeatsAndBeer@reddit

Americans wash what now?

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No_Jellyfish_7695@reddit

Europeans don’t wash chicken

Yes, I peel my mushrooms

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Inevitable_Bid8719@reddit

Who does wash chicken? washing meat seems insane lol

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Top-Reflection1417@reddit

the irony

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Inevitable_Bid8719@reddit

washing meat doesnt kill all the bacteria, heat does a much better job of that. I fail to see the irony here, but I havent had coffee yet... could you explain like Im 5?

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baciahai@reddit

Do you wash your produce?

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Inevitable_Bid8719@reddit

Some, I forage veg and wash that, but most shop bought stuff gets a rinse at most if Im gonna cook it.

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baciahai@reddit

Why though? Why do you think a meat that who knows how was handles doesn't need to be washed but a pepper does?

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northern_ape@reddit

Because (1) meat isn't in its original form like a vegetable is; it has to be, y'know, taken out of the animal... chicken breasts don't grow on trees; and (2) if you're going to make a salad with peppers, you wash it because that's it, it's going in your face. But you're not eating raw chicken, you're cooking it. Chicken isn't covered in soil, it just might have been contaminated with bacteria, which would then be killed by sustained heat over 75 degrees C. And before you ask, yes I have eaten meat that was hunted (rabbit), while camping, without washing facilities. It's cooked, not washed, and I'm not dead.

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baciahai@reddit

The argument is generally that you shouldn't wash chicken, not that you don't have to. So I'm trying to get the justifications for people who wash their produce but are adamant you absolutely should NOT wash chicken.

This don't wash the chicken propaganda is mainly coming from the US with their unsafe meat practices. Everywhere else in the developed world washing it is better or at least neutral as you say if you're going to cook it. Washing doesn't remove bacteria anyway but for me it removes possible non-bacterial contaminants, residues of feathers etc.

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northern_ape@reddit

What? Look at this thread. Washing chicken appears to be an archaic practice from the Caribbean, perpetuated by some black families in the US. We don't wash chicken in the UK, and people from other European countries are refuting the idea that people in "Europe" (a generality) wash theirs. So far, only North American black people have admitted to washing chicken, from what I can see. Why you shouldn't? Two reasons: (1) you're spreading bacteria-infested chicken juice all over the place; (2) if it's slimy or smelly, you're removing nature's signals that it shouldn't be eaten - a chef pointed this out here in the comments. Chicken should be cooked, and should not be washed. Most fruit and vegetables should be washed, and may be cooked, though plenty don't even need washing, the main risk is from pesticides and other treatments rather than dirt/contamination. Mushrooms may be cleaned which is not the same as washing, but you can also peel them instead.

Go on, what's your take?

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baciahai@reddit

Seems pretty racist to say this is an archaic practice from the Caribbean.

You can Google the statistics of washing chicken globally, it is a completely normal thing to do in most of Asia and roughly half of Europe does it to.

This is an interesting study on spread of bacteria being caused by not washing hands well after handling raw chicken, and it includes indirect data on what proportion of people wash chicken, in the UK it was reported at 20%. Actually a very interesting take, for all those arguing you should not wash raw chicken, I'd like to see how they handle that raw chicken when cutting etc. Because again, based on the study below, most tend to just rinse their hands under the tap.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956713521002000?via%3Dihub

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NiceGuyEdddy@reddit

Why lie?

The highest reported percentages of Europeans washing chicken are around 25%.

Whereas in some parts of Asia it can be as high as 95%.

Your hand washing example is irrelevant to whether chicken needs to be washed.

And you're simply wrong about your link too.

You claim that based on the study "Most tend to just rinse their hands under the tap".

Whereas the study actually says that most people in the UK and Norway washed their hands with soap and roughly half in France and Portugal. The only nationality in the study where most didn't use soap was Romania

Bad hand washing technique doesn't change the fact that washing chicken doesn't help and in fact simply spreads bacteria.

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baciahai@reddit

The data literally shows 48% of surveyed people in Romania wash (rinse) the chicken? Have a look at the data again, Fig.1.

You are also wrong about Fig 3 with hand washing results. In the UK and Norway most or all washed with soap, whereas in the remaining 3 countries most or all only rinsed their hands with water or just wiped their hands without washing.

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northern_ape@reddit

This is something I'll have to ask my Romanian neighbours about. And yes, it was drummed into us (in the UK) from an early age that if you handle chicken or pork, you wash your hands thoroughly with soap, and you scrub the surfaces of chopping boards or plates that have had raw meat on them, with detergent. My family used to have a shop with a small commercial kitchen so we also understand food hygiene measures like fridge stacking, which are less commonly practiced in homes.

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baciahai@reddit

That's good for you but it is anecdotal evidence. Your Romanian neighbours may or may not wash their chicken, doesn'tean people in Romania do or don't. At the end of the day the study was also done on a fairly limited group of people. It does highlight though that there isn't some uniform "in the UK / Europe we don't wash the chicken".

I could say I wash my chicken and wash my hands and I wouldn't ever consider not doing it because it would feel unhygienic, and I've not had any food poisoning nor even mild food discomfort since I was a little kid so for over 20 years 🤷🏻‍♀️ still this is anecdotal so I'm not using this as evidence.

Appreciate you understanding the point I'm trying to make i.e. it depends on the family, culture and people's personal hygiene practices. Doesn't mean one or another is better or more hygienic.

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northern_ape@reddit

Yes, and I agree almost everything presented here is anecdotal, and of passing curiosity rather than significant importance to our daily lives. We will continue to wash our hands, and you will continue to also wash your chicken. I hope you keep up your streak of no food poisoning; sadly I lived in Mexico for a while, so I haven't been so lucky (not only is food hygiene generally poorer, but common pathogens are less common in the UK, leading to a War of The Worlds type effect on foreign intestines)

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baciahai@reddit

Virtual handshake 🤝

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northern_ape@reddit

Okay, the stats are interesting but I didn't bring race into this and am far from racist myself, my point was to highlight the comments in this thread that discuss North American chicken washing practices as originating in the Caribbean as a traditional food prep practice, and thus being perpetuated by some black families in the United States who have carried on that tradition as it was passed on within families and communities. However, it's anecdotal and Asia was not explored when I read the comments. The US has a very marked racial divide that is not seen in most of Europe, where culture - in my lived experience - tends not to follow race as strictly.

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CommonAware6@reddit

Thats not even comparable. People usually wash it bc a lot of veg grows in the ground, chicken does not and isn't sprayed with pesticides either. Additionally, washing fruit and veg isn't harmful unlike washing chicken

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baciahai@reddit

Washing chicken isn't harmful if done correctly and you wash your hands well afterwards.

Do you not touch the chicken at all then?

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CommonAware6@reddit

I touch the chicken and then wash my hands bc that doesnt spray bacteria over the kitchen and there's a genuine need to wash your hands. Washing chicken is pointless

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baciahai@reddit

Pointless is not the same as harmful

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CommonAware6@reddit

Yeah and washing chicken is both

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Dyon86@reddit

Yea of course you wash your chicken, a little shampoo on the feathers, followed by a gentle blow dry, how else is your chicken look fabulous!??!

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Inevitable_Bid8719@reddit

That looks like it should be an album cover lol

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Dyon86@reddit

It is, it’s the cover of our latest album called “Wash my Meat” by the Naked Mushrooms.

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Inevitable_Bid8719@reddit

Sounds like a jam, gotta guess its punk or glam rock right?

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Dyon86@reddit

No no no, it’s jazz or when we’re sad we sing da blues.

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northern_ape@reddit

I prefer strawberry, but who am I to say whether "wash my meat jam" will take off?

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CrispGunther@reddit

This guy eats historical mushrooms!

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Mission_Yesterday_96@reddit

And is the spokesperson for every European nation

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Upper_Paramedic_2043@reddit

I only peel the mushrooms when the skin starts to get a bit slimy but don’t tell the wife or she’d refuse to eat them 😄

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TraditionalLog9445@reddit

I'm from all over Europe and cooking is a big part of my life...... never met anyone who washes chicken.

I've never peeled mushrooms either, although I'm aware some people do.

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ploddingonward@reddit

I wash and peel my mushrooms but reading this thread has made me realise I’m just wasting tons of time. Going to try just wiping most of the dirt off, chop and straight into the pan method.

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BeanOnAJourney@reddit

I do but only because it's what I was taught by my mum and nan.

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SpamJavelin00@reddit

Why wash an egg ? Unless you’re planning to eat the shell

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BeanOnAJourney@reddit

They are washed during processing - so before the final point of sale - in the US to remove surface contaminants and basically make them look nice and clean. Their eggs having been washed is why they have to store them in the fridge, because washing them removes the protective "bloom" that helps protect them against bacterial growth. It's like they're removing one problem but immediately replacing it with another.

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DutchOfBurdock@reddit

I can't read past the title... WTAF. Peel a shroom?

Do you also deskin grapes?

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Puzzleheaded-Fig6418@reddit

I peel them every time without fail.

Also who the hell in Europe washes chicken?!

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BG3restart@reddit

I don't peel mushrooms when they're fresh, but occasionally there are a few I didn't use that have been lurking in the fridge for a couple of days and then I peel them because it makes them look better.

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moosebeast@reddit

I didn't, but then my partner insisted that you need to because the skin absorbs bacteria and it doesn't just wash off, so I started doing it. However based on some of the comments in this thread, and the fact that she tends to believe old outdated advice (such as thinking that you should wash chicken, or that you can't wash a cast iron pan with soap), I'm starting to go back on that. There had been plenty of occasions where I decided against making something with mushrooms in because of the faff of peeling them all.

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freakybo0o@reddit

I don't peel them and I eat the stem too. I'm 34 and it's never caused me issues. 🤷🏼

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abstract_groove@reddit

My mum does, and it infuriates me. I think it’s an old people thing. There was probably an article in the Daily Mail in 1983 about mushroom peel causing terminal disease, or made you fat, or some such nonsense.

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jader88@reddit

American here. We, the buyer of eggs, are not the ones washing them. Somewhere along the journey from the farm to the grocery store is when they get washed.

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tbirdpinz@reddit

My mum (Italian) had a virtual breakdown when we visited my German mother in law and she was peeling the mushrooms. Nooo! Take all the flavour out why don’t you. She stopped peeling mushrooms whilst we were visiting - but no doubt went back to it after we left.

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IanM50@reddit

We now buy frozen sliced mushrooms, cost the same as fresh (90p for 500g) and no washing or any preparation required saving our time.

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Superb-Pudding-6532@reddit

I peel mushrooms, my sister in law doesn't 🤷🏼‍♀️ both UK

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LumpyCheeseyCustard@reddit

I peel them! I dont have to scrub or wash the mushrooms and its really satisfying. Plus if the mushrooms have been in the fridge a tad too long, then its like revealing a new unoxidated layer.

This only applies to button mushrooms or the bigger kind, havent tried enokis for example.

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Loakie69@reddit

Who the fuck washes eggs?

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RadiantSeason9553@reddit

According to my horticulturalist BF mushrooms and garlic tend to soak up contaminants like pesticides. So never ever buy garlic form China, and feeling mushroom skin helps protect against this too.

I peel mushrooms about half the time

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SpamJavelin00@reddit

I give them a wash with a scourer especially of caked in dirt , to get them clean, but that’s it . Why peel them ? No bacteria can survive 8 mins in a hot wok

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Gashmina@reddit

I didn't even realise they had a skin that could be peeled

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shebasmum49@reddit

I peel mushrooms but my wife doesn't! Both from (and still in) UK. I actually can't eat mushrooms though!

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Strict_Ad2788@reddit

I do it when they're on the turn and the outer is browning and 'damp'. But usually a wipe with a paper towel to remove any dirt will suffice.

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ploopitus@reddit

This is the only relevant time to peel a mushroom.

I had a step family - an aunt and an uncle - who were The Most Boring People On Earth and they were the only people I've ever known to peel mushrooms.

God, they were tedious. I felt so bad for their kids.

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Decent-Chip-868@reddit

Yes, this! Only wash them to get any moist bits off!

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northern_ape@reddit

Yeah I used to wash mushrooms like veg until I realised they're like a sponge and it completely changes the texture. I heard about the paper towel/kitchen roll method and that's what I tend to do now.

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ClaryClarysage@reddit

Who the fuck has time to peel mushrooms

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sockeyejo@reddit

I don't even peel potatoes unless I'm mashing them. Life is far too short.

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johnbobk@reddit

Most of the vitamins are in the skin.

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ByEthanFox@reddit

Yeah, cut out the eyes and just scrub any areas that are soily.

Ditto for carrots.

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Hertfordgal@reddit

I don’t peel mushrooms and don’t wash my chicken. I’m from Noff Landan

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Skulldo@reddit

TIL you can peel a mushroom.

This seems like much too much effort per mushroom.

I wipe off any dirt with a damp bit of kitchen roll and I cut the bottom of the stem off. I don't know if you actually need to cut the stem but I was told you should do this once by a guy who worked at a mushroom factory and have continued doing it.

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runawaydebt@reddit

TIL I don't need to peel my mushrooms 🤣 this will save me so much time

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GetInYourBasket@reddit

For button mushrooms, absolutely too much effort. For portobello mushrooms, it's really not that much effort. I don't usually peel them, but every now and again I will just because it's really satisfying to do so.

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Mother-Market-4056@reddit

Try hard enough and you can peel anything

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Skulldo@reddit

I refer you to the second point regarding effort/reward.

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FuzzyBreak5678@reddit

Big mushrooms yes, small mushrooms no.

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johnbobk@reddit

The big ones with a thick skin I always used to. Now that I know the shop ones are grown in such a controlled environment & are fresh I don't always bother.

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Transasaurus-Hex@reddit

Me: Who does that
Me, reading this message: oh yeah I do

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ExchangeBeginning593@reddit

What the fuck am I reading

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hhfugrr3@reddit

I remember being taught to peel mushrooms as a kid at school. It was one of the very many things that I look back on now and wonder whether my cookery teachers had the first clue what they were talking about.

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Wino3416@reddit

My wife peels mushrooms. She’ll peel anything, to be honest. Washes everything a zillion times as well.

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SmokyBarnable01@reddit

I peel mushrooms. It's not complicated. Wipe with a damp cloth under a running tap and the skin just comes off easily. Don't see what the fuss is about.

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qyburnicus@reddit

I have seen people (old ones?) do this but I do not

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Otto1968@reddit

When they get old and a bit tough I peel them to use them up. Never when fresh though.

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purplechemist@reddit

**Peel** them? Mate, I don’t even wash them. Knock the soil off, chop, cook. I’m not beyond eating a raw mushroom. Makes the other half boke, but I think mushrooms are great.

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MadWifeUK@reddit

I love raw mushrooms! Thankfully so does Mr Mad. But I've never met anyone in the wild who eats raw mushrooms.

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northern_ape@reddit

I used to have raw mushrooms in salad all the time, you don't see it as much these days. Decent texture, totally different to a cooked mushroom.

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Decent-Chip-868@reddit

Yes my mum used to add them to salads a lot and I loved it but none of the rest of the family did so pin stopped cutting them up and just gave me whole raw mushrooms!

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Extreme-Dream-2759@reddit

It depend what condition the Mushrooms are in.

Fresh Mushrooms - no peeling required

Older Mushrooms, where the outer layer looks a bit crap. I will peel before I cook.

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WaterSmooth8773@reddit

😆 My wife does this and I have no idea why. I give them a quick scrub with a vegetable brush to get the loose dirt off and then cook them.

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Veenkoira00@reddit

Depends. Very seldom you are lucky enough to have picked your fungi in a very dry environment and at the "right" stage, when only brushing suffices (as they tend to crop after rain) when just frying them. Most times there the is something slightly dodgy to be cut / peeled off. And obviously, when de-toxifying is called for (like in case of false morels) the multiple boils (I think) count as washing.

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Veenkoira00@reddit

Depends. Very seldom you are lucky enough to have picked your fungi in a very dry environment and at the "right" stage, when only brushing suffices (as they tend to crop after rain) when just frying them. Most times there the is something slightly dodgy to be cut / peeled off. And obviously, when de-toxifying is called for (like in case of false morels) the multiple boils (I think) count as washing.

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WitchiEmpress@reddit

Honestly I don’t even wash the dirt off my mushrooms 80% of the time never mind peel

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Kitchen_Moose717@reddit

Don’t peel mushrooms. It’s pointless.

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ElvishMystical@reddit

I've probably eaten 100kg of mushrooms in my lifetime and not once has it occured that they have a skin to be peeled

That's a hell of a lot of mushrooms. I agree that you shouldn't peel your mushrooms, because that affects the quality of your trip. You must have had dozens of mystical experiences.

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OperationMiserable64@reddit (OP)

When I first moved out I was poor as anything, my housemate lived mushrooms too. The 500g punnets of nearly off ones from tesco for 1p at 7pm, jar of curry sauce, 29p, bag of rice. Dinner for 2

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ElvishMystical@reddit

Yeah mushrooms are nutritional. I wasn't being serious in my previous post. And yes, they were cheap.

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sunheadeddeity@reddit

Europeans don't wash chicken.

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uffers4@reddit

I'll peel them if the outside is particularly grim, otherwise it's a quick wipe with damp kitchen roll.

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Equal_Emu6152@reddit

Always found washing chicken is a American thing I'm a avid cook never known anyone to do this. I thought it was because of the wash there put in.

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Electronic-Trip8775@reddit

Washing chicken is actively discouraged as it can spray bacteria everywhere. And no peeling mushrooms isn't really a thing but if you have an old flat mushroom and the skin's wrinkly i do sometimes peel that bit off.

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spoo4brains@reddit

My ex-GF used to peel mushrooms, it absolutely is a thing for some people. I wouldn't dream of it myself.

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Equal_Emu6152@reddit

I have only ever peeled mushrooms if there starting to get a little old you get a bit more use out of them.

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Expert-Research-8022@reddit

Absolutely not. That’s so pointless.

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Draigdwi@reddit

In Latvia mushroom foraging is very popular, a national hobby. There is 1 kind of mushroom that is better peeled. Don't know the name. It has a sort of sponge under the umbrella, sometimes that also is taken off if it's older.

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CommonAware6@reddit

I used to bc thats what I was always taught and loved peeling them as a kid. Then I grew up and stopped bc I just didn't care or see the point

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Icy-Belt-8519@reddit

I peel my mushrooms (I'm actually allergic to them so rarely eat them 😭) I do not wash my chicken! Not getting raw chicken all over the place thanks

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wildflower12345678@reddit

I used to decades ago. Its what I got taught in cookery class, but they don't really need it now. I think the growing methods have changed. I do check them over as there's sometimes a little compost still on them so I remove that, otherwise no.

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HalfAgony-HalfHope@reddit

I do but purely because I find it SO SATISFYING to do so.

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Adamaaa123@reddit

I eat them raw unwashed straight into my mouth.

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aaaaargZombies@reddit

No, you shouldn't wash them either, just brush off any residual compost.

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Intelligent_Emu9286@reddit

First I checked to see whether you're supposed to do this for good hygeine or just because it's meant to be nicer.

Having found that there's no safety issue, I tried it both ways, and realised that I could barely tell the difference, and if I could then it was actually in favour of the unpeeled ones.

I haven't peeled (or washed) any since.

(Probably different if you forage or use wild mushrooms, but I don't.)

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Jolly-Avocado0@reddit

Depends how grotty the mushroom is.

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elliejoness@reddit

I only peel them if they have that fishy smell when they're almost gone off

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philman132@reddit

My parents peel them, so I did when I left home until I realised how pointless it was

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younevershouldnt@reddit

Only when they're getting slimy

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Entry_Left@reddit

I only peeled them when they look dirty/manky. Never wash them! Straight into a hot pan, no oil let them saute and loose water, then add the end add a little bit of olive oil, garlic, salt & pepper, sauté for 2mins bish bash bosh

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the_beer_truck@reddit

I don’t, but my wife insists that the outer layer needs to be peeled. No idea where the thought comes from.

Luckily I do all of the cooking so I do things my way.

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kernowgringo@reddit

Only in restaurants

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FCRondon@reddit

I remember my mum used to peel mushrooms. I just give them a wipe with wet paper towel.

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WishfulStinking2@reddit

Americans wash chicken, no one else does

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Leader_Bee@reddit

Anyone peeling mushrooms has too much time on their hands.

Similarly anyone peeling tomatoes is similarly dysfunctional.

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tobotic@reddit

I peel the especially dirty looking ones.

Mostly I just brush the dirt off with a piece of kitchen roll.

Commercially grown mushrooms are grown in a sterile substrate, so the dirt isn't harmful. It just won't taste great and might add a gritty texture.

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Diddleymaz@reddit

I never do that now, but in the 60s I was told to.

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AdDesperate1541@reddit

Who the fuck is peeling mushrooms? IDK why but the thought makes me kinda sad. So unnecessary, tedious, and every part of the mushroom is delicious, waste none!

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hereinerror@reddit

I do. Think I saw someone on TV do it years ago and it suck in my brain as how you're supposed to do it

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Willing_Coconut4364@reddit

Peel them and remove the stalks.

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auntie_eggma@reddit

Only if they're especially bruised and discoloured on top.

What a waste otherwise.

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Goatsandducks@reddit

It depends on the size and how muddy they are. I peel large flat cap ones for sure.

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Justvisitingfriends1@reddit

No unless they have got some black spot them maybe. Only time I have peeled them was in high end kitchens. That was only for some very particular dishes.

Washing them is madness as they just get soggy, mushrooms are sponges for flavour and liquid.

People in Europe do not wash chicken. It all depends on ethnicity and by county.

Americans Washing eggs due to marketing propaganda. It makes them dangerous and unsafe.

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dereks63@reddit

Peel mushrooms? Nah chop them, sling them in whatever I'm concoction I'm cooking mud and all

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Michael_of_Derry@reddit

I shared a house with a Scottish guy around 1996. He peeled his mushrooms 'because they were grown in manure'.

So I did the same for a short while. But I stopped. I think it ruins the flavour and texture and you end up throwing a lot of the mushroom away.

In the last few years I had taken an interest in wild mushrooms and have eaten those that I am confident in identifying. I'll try and remove as much dirt, grass and insects from them but that's it. I'm not peeling them.

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SyntaxOfTheDamned@reddit

Never once peeled a mushroom

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karennotkaren1891@reddit

Yes I peel my mushrooms because I thought that was normal haha. I do have a fear of dirt

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ApantosMithe@reddit

Used to but now I just wipe any dirt off with a damp kitchen towel

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BlackJackKetchum@reddit

Sometimes, but more for the pleasure of it than the culinary need.

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Arlincornwall@reddit

My mum used to peel mushrooms and so did I until about 15/20 years ago when I realised you could just brush off any dirt and use them like that, seems a bit wasteful.

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Logbotherer99@reddit

It depends how clean the are and how old

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RgCrunchyCo@reddit

Peeling mushrooms is a waste of time. When my partner cooks, the mushrooms are peeled. When I cook, I don’t peel them and the difference is never noticed.

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Stunning_Account2010@reddit

Woh woh woh, wind it back.

Americans wash eggs? Are we talking the shell that you throw away?

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Justvisitingfriends1@reddit

They are basically poison in a shell if left out of the fridge. They are dangerous as the water is over 25 degrees..like a bath!!

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Ecstatic_Effective42@reddit

That's why they have be stored in the fridge in American shops.

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Stunning_Account2010@reddit

Thanks for the responses.

I half want to say that it makes more sense washing before sale but I’m not sure it does.

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flags_fiend@reddit

Washing eggs pre-sale means the chickens can be kept in dirtier conditions as the dirt will be washed off. Here it's illegal to wash eggs pre-sale and that encourages cleaner conditions and thus better living environments for the chickens. Also means the eggs keep for longer as they still have their protective coating stopping bacteria getting in. So it's better for the chickens and the consumers.

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OzzyinKernow@reddit

During processing they get washed over there. It’s why they have to store them in the fridge, because the natural protections are washed away

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boredsittingonthebus@reddit

I think the eggs in America are all sold pre-washed.

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MrJones-@reddit

I get why people wash it I hate the texture/slime on it.

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OnlymyOP@reddit

Europeans don't wash chickens as they don't need to.. a quick wipe with kitchen towel is all I give mine.. nor do I ever peel mushrooms as this is one of the healthy parts, but they do get run under the tap

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mad_saffer@reddit

Someone told me you need to either wash them or peel them. I don't do either. I just wipe the most obvious dirt off and then just sy cook them

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_Harpic@reddit

My father did until I told him we didn't do it at work when I was a chef. I'll eat a mushroom raw every now and then, as long as it's not dirty of foosty!

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kipperbang@reddit

It depends how old they are. Fresh (ish), wipe of any dirt. Going a bit brown, peel them.

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cokendsmile@reddit

Yes, we peel them all the time, we follow the same method we use to peel our grapes and tomatoes

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tieflingteeth@reddit

I need everyone to know that NOT ONLY IS IT COMPLETELY FINE TO WASH MUSHROOMS, YOU MUST DO SO. Mushrooms grow directly out of soil so they are covered in E coli, and can easily carry other fungal material.

It is a complete myth that the mushrooms absorb the water. They do not. Mushrooms release water from inside their cells when they cook, and this will happen regardless of whether you clean them. That's why you need to start them off either in a dry pan or directly into water/soup.

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insertitherenow@reddit

Don’t peel mushrooms and I used to just wipe them as I read washing them makes them soggy. It however, doesn’t if you are just giving them a brief wash and doesn’t make them soggy at all. Wiping them never gets all the bits of grit out. Chicken you should wash if you are eating it raw. (0:

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Wild_Honeysuckle@reddit

Back in the day (40+ years ago), when I used to pick field mushrooms with my family straight from the field, we used to peel them. They tended to be big, with quite thick skins, and some were a little maggoty. Plus they grew in fields with cows. They tasted great, though.

These days when I buy supermarket mushrooms I don’t peel them.

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denisturko@reddit

This is also the first time I have ever heard that. That is not common, is it? I could not even imagine that before you told me.

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Evening-Tomatillo-47@reddit

I know right? I had to check the date to make sure it wasn't april

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MCL-Jonathan@reddit

How? I want to know too

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Lazyscruffycat@reddit

Weird memory unlocked, I used to do this when I first started cooking for myself. I’m not sure why though now, perhaps I thought you to avoid bacteria or something. Anyway at some point I got lazy or forgot and probably haven’t thought about it in thirty or so years. I barely bother even washing them now, straight in the pan they go.

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vipros42@reddit

I'll remove visible dirt but otherwise chopped and in the pan

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Mr-ananas1@reddit

store bought ones no, picked ones from a forest or something, yes and washed

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Crittsy@reddit

Field mushrooms, the wild origin of store bought I peel them, store bought wipe & then pan. I never wash chicken

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Morazma@reddit

I don't even peel potatoes. Peeling is just spending precious time removing nutrients. It's a complete waste of time.

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Ok-Middle8656@reddit

No - but I only recently discovered you can ‘crumble’ them into a dish, rather than waste time cutting them in half.

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doegrey@reddit

Just a reminder to everyone that sewerage gets used to fertilise veg in the UK. Please wash before eating!

Mushrooms get cared for differently but you should probably wash them too!

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PercentageCool5809@reddit

If they’re a bit old they can get a bit slimy. If that happens then I prefer to peel the skin off (or just the bits that seem a bit slimy and discoloured). Fresh mushrooms don’t need peeling, and it would probably be difficult to peel them anyway as often there doesn’t seem to be a skin

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NrthnLd75@reddit

Slimy? Don't f*ck with fungi...

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Faithful_jewel@reddit

OP, get out of my head

I was literally just thinking this this morning (while brushing my teeth)

I was raised to peel mushrooms, and as a result button mushrooms didn't feature as they couldn't be (easily) peeled. Big flat mushrooms ended up losing loads of chunks along their edges... It was fungi carnage

I had button chestnut mushrooms last night that got a good wash. So much easier than fiddly peeling

My mum still does it 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Snatchematician@reddit

Europeans don’t wash chicken

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NrthnLd75@reddit

Some do.

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xGREENxEYEx@reddit

Flat field mushrooms yes, cup mushrooms no.

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theabominablewonder@reddit

I peel my mushrooms and quite often pop off the stalky bit.

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ihateaseagull@reddit

Nope! And Europeans don't wash chicken, either.

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Spikyleaf69@reddit

Nope, if there is a lot of dirt brush it off with some kitchen roll otherwise I don't bother. The sterilised earth mushrooms are grown in won't do any harm.

I can understand back when mushrooms used to be grown in horse poo you would want to get it all off!

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real_justchris@reddit

I believe the general advice is to not peel or even wash them?

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Fine-State8014@reddit

Europeans wash chicken? Whereabouts?

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yearsofpractice@reddit

Not a chance. I actually - and I haven’t ever said this out loud - don’t mind a bit of mushroom mud getting into my food. Dunno why. Just seems like mushrooms would only grow in healthy mud? (Note - none of my opinions are backed by common sense or indeed science, so perhaps ignore me?)

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Double_Double7407@reddit

That's not just mud though...

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yearsofpractice@reddit

Trust me, bro

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Due-Amphibian-2816@reddit

Europeans do not wash chicken lol, that’s a yank thing

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Embarrassed_Put_7892@reddit

What no? I just wipe em with some kitchen roll.

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SpadgeFox@reddit

Depends on the mushroom, but usually for anything bigger than baby-button.

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denisturko@reddit

This is also the first time I have ever heard that. That is not normal, is it not? I could not even imagine that before you told me.

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denisturko@reddit

This is also the first time I have ever heard that. That is so weird, is it not? I could not even imagine that before you told me.

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MarchSapphire@reddit

Yes, I peel them.

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LoudCar7846@reddit

I don't peel button mushrooms (I just wash them) but I'd peel the larger mushrooms.

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thecatsothermother@reddit

I wash mushrooms and gently rub any stubborn specks to get them iff but I never peel mushrooms, almost all the vitamins are in the skin!

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Jingoldsby@reddit

Slice a tiny bit off the bottom pinch the stem and so it crumbles into 4 ish parts peel from there and then break by hand into little chunks.

I find peeling reduces some of the toughness of the mushrooms and makes them a little more enjoyable and less chewy.

Im im in a rush I dont bother just give them a wipe with a brush if you need to.

Bonus tip in the rare even its sunny leave them in the sun to boost vit d levels.

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Sad_Calligrapher9192@reddit

I’m European, and I don’t peel any mushrooms except Slippery Jacks and Russulas. That’s what I was taught as mandatory years ago when I still lived in my own country and we foraged a lot. It’s because of the sliminess or bitter taste that lives on the skin. We would often not even pick those mushrooms because peeling them is such a faff. I’ve never come across those mushrooms here, and pretty much the only mushrooms I eat are buttons, and I definitely don’t peel them.

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h4baine@reddit

I remember that first time I saw my English mother-in-law do this, I just stared. I had never seen anyone do that before. It didn't even occur to me that it's something you could do. Plus the skin has a lot of the flavor and nutrients.

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RantyGobshyte@reddit

British, do not peel. I sometimes wipe the mud off. But never wash them, they go slimy.

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Groovy66@reddit

My wife does this but I’m of the view that a bit of earth won’t kill you so just brush any dirt off with a tissue

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a-punk-is-for-life@reddit

My mum did, but then she was also horrified that I ate raw blueberries without stewing them first!

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Weekly_Beautiful_603@reddit

I used to, because recipes told me to. I don’t any more. I definitely don’t wash chicken.

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worldworn@reddit

Yeah, if I can be arsed.

I think I picked it up from an old cooking / chef show. They do it to make them look more uniform and I think removing the skin let's them soak up more flavour.

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So_Gawjus@reddit

Chestnut shrooms I don’t. Button shrooms I do.

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verminV@reddit

Just brush off the dirt, rinse any that are too dirty then bung them in.

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StatisticianUsual471@reddit

Sometimes if they're old

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MarkCairns67@reddit

Straight into the pan. The grit gives me fibre.

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flibz-the-destroyer@reddit

And e-coli ;)

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Inevitable_Bid8719@reddit

thats why the pan is supposed to be hot

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MrDemotivator17@reddit

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takesthebiscuit@reddit

Wtf? The internet is already too full of nonsense

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QuarrieMcQuarrie@reddit

I was taught to peel them in school but I don't now.

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Shoddy_Story_3514@reddit

When I was a kid my mum would do this as cooking books/shows said it was best practice. I guess in terms of cleaning loose dirt and stuff from them. Nowadays I just use kitchen towel and give them a rub to remove and debris and leave it at that.

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swallowshotguns@reddit

I tried it after seeing it happen for the first time in my life on The Bear, I didn’t know you could peel a mushroom! Kinda satisfying I gotta admit. I will do it if a mushroom is proper filthy.

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BalthazarOfTheOrions@reddit

My wife peels them but she's the only person I've seen do that.

Americans wash their eggs and store them in the fridge because they haven't got the same treatment that British eggs do, and need washing and being kept in fridge.

I'm assuming that when you say "European" you mean continental Europe. I'm from the continent and never have I ever seen anyone wash a chicken.

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annedroiid@reddit

I didn't know that you could peel them.

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DoubleXFemale@reddit

Sometimes a bit of skin flakes off when I’m washing them, but otherwise no.

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Not-That_Girl@reddit

Depends on the mushroom, sometimes a wipe is enough

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negras@reddit

It depends on what type, chestnut or button its a no but portobello ones I peel.

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Impossible_Owl_1625@reddit

Yeah, always have Mam said it’s the best way to clean them “it’ll make you poorly”….obviously seeing as you haven’t died from unwashed mushrooms…Mam was wrong!

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warmslippers12345@reddit

I don't but my husband does!

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InviteAromatic6124@reddit

My parents do but I don't bother. It hasn't done me any harm yet.

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odkfn@reddit

I peel mine just because it saves me washing them, really. It’s super quick to do.

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Jills89@reddit

Pack to pan. I didn’t even know they could be peeled.

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EnjoyableBleach@reddit

? What mushrooms are people buying which have something to peel?

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pharmamess@reddit

Twist out the stalk and peel from the inside of the cup.

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doihavetousethis@reddit

Sometimes I peel, most times I wash them and that's good enough

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CEP64@reddit

Straight from the box into the pan.

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Valuable_One_1011@reddit

No, I’ve not peeled a mushroom but have heard of others doing this! Seems tedious…

*To be clear: American consumers do not wash eggs - they’ve been washed prior to purchase. People who get eggs direct from small farms do not wash them either.*

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Kewoowaa@reddit

Some days I can barely be bothered to brush the dirt off... have no desire to add extra jobs to the list! No washing or peeling here.

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Pleasant_Werewolf_30@reddit

I don't. However I do now have a mushroom brush which makes cleaning the dirt of them so much easier. I got it after watching a YouTube cook try using it. It does really work well.

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ldn-ldn@reddit

Mushrooms from supermarket - no. Some wild mushrooms - yes.

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Thelichemaster@reddit

If they are on the turn and slimey yes otherwise I just brush or in severe cases wash the dirt off.

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Old_Introduction_395@reddit

If they are plate sized field mushrooms, I might peel them. Button mushrooms, no.

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Inevitable_Bid8719@reddit

Mushrooms absorb liquids into themselves, dirt brushes off. If they are grown in peat as most shop bought mushrooms are then the dirt is not 'dirty', Ive been told it is sterile, still not good eating but not worth worrying about. If the mushrooms are foraged and something nasty has gotten onto it, well good luck... I fully dry and cook thoroughly all my foraged mushies, only taking off anything that looks sus. Not all the foraged ones can be peeled anyway, my faves are quite meaty textured

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missuseme@reddit

I peel as little as I can get away with when it comes to fruit and veg (and fungus).

I never peel carrots or potatoes for example

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