White or button - excellent both raw and cooked. Widely available. Varies in color from white to light brown and in size from small to jumbo. Mild flavor intensifies when cooked and as the mushroom becomes more mature. Also available canned and dried.
■ Store mushrooms in a paper bag in the refrigerator. Avoid airtight containers that can collect moisture and cause the mushrooms to spoil faster.
❁ Some wild mushrooms are very toxic. Be sure you eat mushrooms from a reliable source.
❁ Mushrooms can be eaten raw or cooked by many methods: sauté, roast, grill, broil, or microwave.
❁ Soak dried mushrooms before using.
1 pound fresh button mushrooms =
· 20 to 24 medium mushrooms
· 5 cups sliced
· 6 cups chopped
· 2 cups sliced and cooked
8 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms = 4 ounces canned sliced mushrooms, drained
When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:
❁ gently wipe or rinse mushrooms.
❁ use a cutting board to slice or chop vegetables.
❁ measure dry or liquid ingredients.
❁ use a long handled spoon or spatula to sauté safely.
