Am I cooking mushrooms wrong?
Since I was a child, I never really liked mushrooms. To be honest, I was extremely picky, but now, I eat anything. Well... Almost anything. I can't stand mushrooms. Except, I can't understand why, and I want to learn to love mushrooms since they're really useful as a vegetarian.
For example, yesterday, I made some pretty simple miso soup and added some, supposedly delicious shiitake mushrooms to it. I salted them and fried them at medium-high heat for a few minutes until they had a nice color and texture. Did doing that affected the taste in a bad way?
I also remember making mushrooms risotto some time ago and getting the same disgusting taste.
Am I missing something obvious here? Is this not how you're supposed to cook mushrooms?
Best Answer
There's nothing wrong with the way you cooked those mushrooms, you fried them to give them some color and seasoned them, which is perfectly fine. You didn't mess them up, you just don't like them. No matter how you prepare them you probably still won't like the flavor, there's nothing wrong with that, it's just how you are.
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Can you cook mushrooms wrong?
When the oil or melted butter is hot, add the mushrooms. You should hear a sizzle. If the fat isn't hot enough, the mushrooms will start to water out and steam instead of saut\xe9ing. Cook the mushrooms 4 to 5 minutes or until they're tender and lightly browned.How do you know if mushrooms are cooked properly?
Raw mushrooms are largely indigestible because of their tough cell walls, mainly composed of chitin. Dr. Andrew Weil advises, in agreement with other experts, that mushrooms must be cooked! \u201cMushrooms have very tough cell walls and are essentially indigestible if you don't cook them.What happens if you eat undercooked mushrooms?
Mushrooms cook best in a quick, high-temperature roast. Cook your mushrooms uncovered in a pan at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes, or until they are slightly browned.The Biggest Mistakes Everyone Makes When Cooking Mushrooms
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Answer 2
The answer to your question is: It was not a "wrong" way to cook them., people just like different things. Mushrooms have glutamates and maybe you are either sensitive to them physically or sensitive to them taste-wise.
That said, if you fried (pan fried, right?) at medium high and the edges got darkish, you likely intensified some of the flavors, which you seem to not care for. Shiitake can be strong flavored to begin with. If you want to try again, I suggest trying a mild mushroom like a white button (at least that is the common name in the USA) and sautee at low heat with salt and pepper until they look cooked, but not "caramelized" or burnt on the edges.
Disclaimers: I adore mushrooms, pretty much any variety cooked in any manner.
Answer 3
Have you considered that maybe you're in the very slightest allergic to mushrooms? Is it just the taste or is it also the smell and or texture of the mushrooms?
For example I'm allergic to raw cucumbers and, I'm assuming as a defence mechanism, I can't stand the smell of them if someone is preparing or consuming them near me. I also can't stand the taste and smell of most melons as they're in the same family. It could just be your body telling you that it doesn't like mushrooms even if it isn't bringing on a full-on allergic reaction (vomiting/rash/anaphylactic shock).
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