Mushroom
What is a Mushroom?
Mushrooms are the edible fruit parts of several species of macrofungi. Macrofungi is a fungus that bears fruits big enough for humans to see. They can be seen either below or above the ground where people can handpick them. The first signs of mushroom consumption were in China many years ago. White mushrooms are the most commonly planted mushrooms.
- Not all mushrooms are edible. Some can have poisonous effects on the human system.
- Therefore, it is vital to confirm accurately if a particular mushroom is safe to eat. Some people could even have allergies to edible mushrooms.
Top six mushrooms commonly consumed in the US include:
- Oyster
- Shiitake
- Chanterelle
- Enoki
- Cremini
- Portabella.
Mushrooms taste good when included as a component in many foods. They have good nutritional content, as well.
Origin of mushrooms
The word “mushroom” came from the French word for fungi. The consumption of mushroom dates to ancient centuries. The first visible signs of edible mushroom were several hundreds of years back in China. Chinese people also used the mushroom for medicinal purposes. Top-class Romans and Greeks also ate mushrooms. Mushrooms were often preserved, used for extra additional nutrition during the winter. The cultivation of Mushrooms got to the United States in the late 1800s from Mexico. In the early 1900s, mushrooms were introduced into Holland for the first time.
Functions
Mushroom is a good ingredient in foods. Here are 15 recipes where the mushroom is included:
- Sweet Potato Bowls and Spiced Lamb and Mushrooms
- Creamy Mushroom Pasta
- Spicy Mushroom Larb
- Crispy Mushrooms and Creamy White Beans and Kale
- Soy-Glazed Tofu and Mushrooms
- Chicken Soup with Charred Cabbage
- Creamy Pasta with Crispy Mushrooms
- Seared Mushrooms with Garlic and Thyme
- Stellar Quinoa Burger
- Black Barley with Mushroom Broth
- Brothy Beans and Farro with Eggs and Mushrooms
- Oven Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms and Thyme
- Sautéed Shiitake Mushrooms
- Grilled Porcini-Rubbed Rack of Veal
- Farro with Roasted Mushrooms
Mushroom nutrition
The USDA(United States Department of Agriculture) says that one cup(70g) of raw mushroom slices contains the following:
According to the research, mushrooms have the following benefits.
- Mushrooms have antioxidant properties that help to fight cellular damage.
- They may be capable of promoting heart health.
- They may help to improve insulin resistance and lower blood sugar level.
- They have potential cancer-fighting properties.
Mushrooms can cause adverse effects when eaten, along with alcohol. This could result in a racing heart and tingling sensation in the body. Consuming wild mushrooms can cause effects like diarrhea, cramps, and vomiting. It is best to be careful before eating mushrooms to know the ones that are not harmful to humans.
Application
You can decide to wash mushrooms and eat them raw. However here are a few tips that will help you to cook them if you wish to do so
- Slice the mushrooms into almost the same size. This will enable them to prepare at an equal rate.
- A mix of butter and olive oil will be good to prepare mushrooms.
- Add pepper and salt for seasoning.
Fresh mushrooms can last for only three to four days. Freezing, canning, drying, and powdering are ways to preserve mushrooms. If you decide to, you can soak dried mushrooms to rehydrate them.
FDA regulations
The Food and Drug Administration has a standard of identity for the production and safe consumption of canned mushrooms.
References
“Health benefits of eating mushrooms”- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/white-mushroom-nutrition#bottom-line
“Historical background of mushrooms”- http://edible-mushrooms.blogspot.com/2009/03/history-of-edible-mushrooms.html