How to clean mushrooms
This has been on to my todo list since long as few of my friends and even readers requested me to post it. This is my way of cleaning mushroom, followed from a tv show and have been following it since then. I didnt like mushrooms when I had it for the first time and said I'll never have it again. But now its my favourite and we buy it now and then. Check out kadai mushroom masala that I posted long back.

Method :
Always get fresh mushroom from a reliable source. I usually get it from Nilgiris or from Pazhamudir Nilayam.

First take the button mushroom, slightly shake the stem part and pull it out to first seperate the head and stem part. Now in the head part turn to back and remove the outer skin as shown below

Can you see how clean and white it is now after the outer skin is removed. Now this step is purely optional but I do as the show recommended and I am not comfortable eating the hairy part in my mushroom ;)

Scrap the hairy dark grey part and discard it. You can skip this step and proceed to the next step too.

Cut the head into desirable pieces. Now take the stem part and slightly scrap the bottom which has dirt in it.

Chop the stem into desired pieces. Do not wash it in water. Just wipe it with a dry tissue if you feel any dirt is still sticking. Wait for a mushroom recipe by next week :)

My Notes:
- If you want the mushroom pieces to be with the stem then just half the button mushroom vertically and follow from step2
- Mushroom leaves out water, so while cooking add water accordingly.
- I dont see the black hair part being removed in most of the places especially restaurants so for that reason I ignore eating mushrooms outside except for manchurian in kaiyenthi bhavan :)

There are different types of mushrooms available but the one easily available here is button mushroom and leaf variety. I have tried only button mushroom but have tasted leaf mushroom at my friends place and totally loved it :)

Bittergourd Chips
Badam Kheer














Many more happy returns of the day sharmelee!have a great day!
Love ur 'how to' tutorials sharmi..i have never known how to really clean the mushroom..thanks so much, its very helpful
Interesting post... This way of cleaning mushrooms is new to me. We just give the mushrooms a quick rinse and pat them dry quickly. But then when we buy them, we only buy the fully white ones...
Very informative post...I have never bought mushrooms. But seeing your post, I think I can give it a try.
Happy birthday to you.
Many more happy returns fo the day and wish u to have many years ahead Sharmi.
Thanks for sharing the how to clean mushrooms.This will be really helpful to me.
@Sarah : We dont get white ones here and the ones we get here are mostly brown in color and I dont even feel like eating if not cleaned well :)
I follow the same method except for the hair cleaning part;)!!
this is a very useful post! thanks :)
Sharmi, buy mushrooms from the person in racecourse walking track... he sells very fresh mushrooms...and 99% of the times, it's white...not brown like we get in supermarkets... they say brown ones are bit old... fresh and young mushrooms are always white... I've seen this person almost always in the evenings... try it if u stumble upon him...
I never remove the outer layer or the brown layer... just wash it well or clean with a wet tissue and quarterit ...tht's it...mushrooma ippadi ellam kuda clean pannuvanganu ippo thaan theriyum enakku...;)
Oyster mushrooms are best for SI kuzhambu varieties/stir fry... and button mushrooms are good for biriyani/pulav/NI curries/soups/deep fried dishes...
Dev
But the best mushrooms are those that grow in the farms after a rain... :)
Dev
Informative post Sharmi....
Useful and informative post. Happy birthday!
Do check out my event and send me your entries.
Happy Birthday Sharmi!
Thanks Dev for the information...na race pogum pothu will check and see as we dont go there often....ena parnathu browna iruntha ipdi clean pani than aganum....
Thanks a ton for this info :)
Happy birthday Sharmi. Nice post.
That will surely help many who find cleaning mushrooms an ardent task. Saying that, I too don't like the job of cleaning them :)
Try ur luck when u to to RC...:) ya, this is a good way to clean dirty looking mushrooms...
Dev
oye, when was ur b'day?... belated wishes...Hope u had a blast...:) Bday spl post eppo?
Dev
@Dev : Bday was yest :) Special post ethum plan panala but will post my fav 2mrw :) Sure RC pogum pothu sure will try to get it
Many more happy returns fo the day and wish u to have many years ahead Sharmi.
Thanks for sharing the how to clean mushrooms...nice post
Belated birthday wishes dear!
What a helpful post. Never knew we need to clean it this way. Thanks for sharing...
Belated Birthday wishes Sharmi!! Good Post.. I have been throwing the stem all these time...
Great post, I love mushrooms!
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