How to clean mushrooms

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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 :)