Any Portobello in a Storm

by RogerApril 6, 2023

Closeup images of Portobello mushrooms with episode title

On today’s episode we dive into the kingdom of mushrooms. We look at the common mushrooms you’ll find at the grocery store, how to select, store and clean them, and a few uses for each varieties. So get ready to take your umami game up a level with these fabulous fungi!

Mentioned in this Episode

There are a wide variety of mushrooms, but the four most common you’ll find in the grocery store include White Button Mushrooms, Crimini, Portobello (sometimes spelled Portabella), and Shiitake. The Mushroom Council is a great place for info!

A variety of mushrooms in bins at the grocery store. — Center and bottom left, White Button Mushrooms; upper left, Shiitake Mushrooms; upper right, Portobello Mushrooms; bottom right, Crimini Mushrooms.

Portobello mushrooms in bin at grocery store. — Portobello mushrooms. Note the one turned over so you can see the gill underneath.

Need a quick primer on how to clean mushrooms? I like to rinse and wipe mine off with a paper towel (sometimes with Portobellos I just wipe them with a damp paper towel). Here are a couple of good examples of different methods:

Here is an excellent article from our friends at Bon Appetit on making mushroom stock.

Ina Garten’s mushroom lasagna recipe is a classic meatless dish that packs a ton of flavor.

Tons of Shiitake Mushroom recipes here! If you are looking specifically for asian cuisine, a quick Google search is your best bet, but here are several to get you started.

Grilling Portobellos? There are a million recipes online, and this is a pretty good, basic one.