Mushrooms are the Answer | Mushroom Council

Mushrooms are the answer!

No matter what problem you’re trying to solve in the kitchen, mushrooms are the answer. From adding delicious umami flavor to any dish to creating a more eco-friendly kitchen, it’s no wonder the New York Times named mushrooms the 2022 “Ingredient of the Year.”

Keep scrolling to learn why mushrooms are the answer and how you can celebrate mushrooms all year long.

Mushrooms are the answer to rising food costs!

Your Grocery Budget’s BFF!

Make your groceries go further, while still making all your favorite meals, with mushrooms. Mushrooms not only up your flavor game, but they are a delicious addition to your grocery list to help extend portions.

Bulk up your steak dinner by adding in juicy portabella strips for a tasty “Earth & Turf.”

Quick Mushroom Beef Skillet Stroganoff Skillet Supper — Making a delicious batch of beef stroganoff? Top off that chuck with some savory mushrooms.

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It!

Did a few extra people show up to the barbecue? With mushrooms stocked in your fridge there’s a solution. Put The Blend™ to work by mixing your ground beef with finely diced mushrooms to add a ton of extra flavor and juiciness while getting a few extra burger patties for your guests.

Mushrooms are the answer to crafting tasty meals!

Savor The Flavor!

Mushrooms are an awesome way to add flavor to any dish. Nutrient rich and loaded with umami, mushrooms are ready for a starring role on your plate. And, with an assortment of fresh mushroom varieties to choose from and prepare, the recipe combinations are endless (and always delicious).

White Button

Mild, Blendable, Buildable Flavor

Crimini

Earthy, Firm, Versatile

Portabella

Hearty, Flavorful, Meat-like Texture

Shiitake

Rich, Woodsy, Meaty Texture

Oyster

Colorful, Delicate, Velvety Texture

Beech

Mild, Nutty, Crunchy

Maitake

Rich, Woodsy, Versatile

King Trumpet

Earthy, Nutty, Firm

Lion’s Mane

Fluffy, Tender, Shellfish Texture

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It!

Mix up your weekly menu by using mushrooms in some of your favorite dishes. Grill up portabella caps (the original veggie burger) for burger night or try air-frying mushroom steaks when you’re craving something crispy.

Mushrooms are the answer to adding nutrition to your plate!

Nutritious & Delicious!

Did you know your favorite fungi are low in calories, very low in sodium, fat-free, cholesterol-free and a good source of selenium and an excellent source of B vitamins? Safe to say, they’re a powerhouse in the produce department.

Mushrooms, like other fruits and vegetables, can play a positive role in supporting a healthy immune system.

There are a variety of micronutrients that are important for supporting a healthy immune system, and many of those can be found in mushrooms, like selenium, copper and B vitamins.

UV-light exposed mushrooms are the only item in the produce section with vitamin D.

Vitamin D helps build and maintain strong bones by helping the body absorb calcium. Vitamin D is available via diet, supplements and sunlight, which is why it is also referred to as the “sunshine vitamin.”

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Picky eaters in your home? Try adding diced mushrooms to your taco meat. It’s a great way to add vitamins and nutrients to a familiar meal without having to bargain over bites of veggies.

Mushrooms are the answer to eating more sustainably!

Good For You and The Earth!

It’s more important now than ever to strive for a low-waste kitchen, and mushrooms are just the food to help. You’re not only able to use the entire mushroom in your cooking, creating zero food waste, but mushrooms are grown sustainably, with minimal resources, creating a tiny carbon footprint.

Producing 1 lb. of mushrooms:

Requires only
1.0 kwh of electricity
Requires only
1.8 gallons of water
Generates only
0.7 lbs. of CO2 equivalents

Mushrooms require a small amount of land to grow. 1 acre = 1 million lbs. of mushrooms

Hack
It!

Not going to use your mushrooms in time? Cut back on food waste by slicing, sautéing and freezing any mushrooms you’re not ready to use. Frozen mushrooms are good for up to one month. Note: Never freeze uncooked mushrooms.