Mushroom stalks

Nope, eat the lot, stalks and all. Nor do I peel them.

It happens all the time in our local farm shop because they mushrooms are sold loose by weight. People surreptitiously try to destalk their mushrooms because they don’t want to pay for the stalks. There was always a pile of stalks left at the end of the day.

Theres a dual price now. A cheaper one for mushrooms with their stalks and a higher price for mushrooms without stalks. Checked at the till. The leftover stalks go into their excellent homemade soup.

The stalks taste the same as the caps. Some people are barmy.

I cut the very end off the stalks and just wipe mushrooms over. I was cooking some late last night because the mushrooms in my Tesco’s delivery didn’t look very good and needed cooking asap, and was bemoaning the fact that they seem to take so long to cook and what looks like a lot of mushrooms cooks down into next to nothing. Mushrooms, along with celery, seem to be the lockdown food that I never used to buy very often but I use all the time now. I also add a it of brandy to them as I read that it enhances the flavour. Well, that’s my excuse anyway.

Kim19

Nope, eat the lot, stalks and all. Nor do I peel them.

Does anyone peel mushrooms?

I don't.

I peel portobello mushrooms. I use the stalks, lightly fried with some chopped shallot, diced bacon then tossed with cheese, piled onto the mushrooms, topped with breadcrumbs and baked. Lovely.

Riverwalk

Kim19

Nope, eat the lot, stalks and all. Nor do I peel them.

Does anyone peel mushrooms?

I do if they are not totally fresh and have gone a bit brown.

Ooh, MayBee you’ve reminded me that I forgot to put the celery into the casserole that’s simmering away in the slow cooker!

I eat the mushroom stalks, I just cut off the very bottom if it’s shrivelled or muddy. The casserole mentioned above has three-year-old dried mushrooms in it. I found a packet in the cupboard, they looked fine when rehydrated so in they’ve gone. ?

Yes AuntieFlo I too remember my Mum buying mushroom stalks. They were much cheaper and just as tasty. I don't think anyone removed the stalks from the whole mushroom they were just ones that were broken and the greengrocer was able to still sell them for a reduced price. It meant it was a win win situation for both the greengrocer and the customer. Happy days!

I peel if they’re passed their best. Otherwise just trim the stalks and wipe.

I used to help a friend out with a greengrocer business. He always had a pile of stalks at the end of the day and sold them. Just like the half-price broken biscuits in Woolworths, my gran sent me for, to make a base for lemon meringue pie I was so embarrassed to ask for them.
I use all the mushroom unpeeled with a little dirty bit cut off the bottom

I always use the stalks, have never considered not doing so. I had a Saturday job in a greengrocers and occasionally we'd get a punnet of stalks from Covent Garden market. They were always popular as mushrooms were quite expensive back then, but the stalks were dirt cheap.
I didn't see the cauliflower stalks thread but yes I use those too, and the tender young leaves next to the florets, they taste the same. Just steam them for a minute or two once the florets are almost steamed.

I don’t peel, trim or wipe, never have done.

I always use the stalks and don’t peel, but wipe. My older sister recently asked me if I use them, as she never has (she does now) - probably because our Mum never did!

SueDonim

Ooh, MayBee you’ve reminded me that I forgot to put the celery into the casserole that’s simmering away in the slow cooker!

I eat the mushroom stalks, I just cut off the very bottom if it’s shrivelled or muddy. The casserole mentioned above has three-year-old dried mushrooms in it. I found a packet in the cupboard, they looked fine when rehydrated so in they’ve gone. ?

I started buying dried mushrooms from our local indie veggie shop. Their fresh mushrooms are very tasty and last for ages whereas the Tescos ones tend to be a bit ropey. Trying to eat more meat free I eat a lot of macaroni cheese and I do like to add a few mushrooms. I don’t understand why celery adds so much flavour to soups and casseroles but I really miss it if I forget to add it. It keeps for ages if wrapped in foil. Celery soup is probably my favourite soup, with Parmesan cheese and a few dried chives sprinkled on the top ( chives being another lockdown must have discovery).

I'm totally barmy then. I remove stalks, wash and dry with kitchen roll.
I scrub chestnut mushrooms with a brush.

I'm a bit paranoid about food.

For many species of wild mushrooms, the foot is a bit lineous- so cutting them off and drying them to reduce to powder to add to stews, etc, is the norm.

I love them I just trim the end off them, they're yummy . I just brush my mushrooms and peel if they're past they're best. I sniff them first to make sure they've not gone too far, sometimes they can smell fishy and then out they go to the compo heap

MayBee70

I cut the very end off the stalks and just wipe mushrooms over. I was cooking some late last night because the mushrooms in my Tesco’s delivery didn’t look very good and needed cooking asap, and was bemoaning the fact that they seem to take so long to cook and what looks like a lot of mushrooms cooks down into next to nothing. Mushrooms, along with celery, seem to be the lockdown food that I never used to buy very often but I use all the time now. I also add a it of brandy to them as I read that it enhances the flavour. Well, that’s my excuse anyway.

They do contain a lot of water! Some time ago I made a big vegan lasagne for a dd’s birthday - the bulk of it was a lot of mushrooms, cooked down until the water was largely out and evaporated, with soy sauce added.
It was surprisingly tasty - even the M&S fake ‘cheese’ on top wasn’t bad at all.

There is a mushroom dish made with just the minced stalks and seasoning - duxelles.

Yes, I eat the stalks.

I always used to peel mushrooms, simply because it's what my mum told me to do when I first helped in the kitchen as a child.

Only recently, since lockdown, have I learned to make sure my mushrooms are exposed to the air in the fridge, not packed together in a bag or, worse still, covered in clingfilm which makes them go slimy. They last for weeks if stored properly, just getting dryer and dryer, and the flavour actually improves. It doesn't matter at all if they are starting to get slightly wrinkled, though I always cook them at this stage rather than using raw.

Celery seems indestructible in the fridge! It’s easily revived, too, by standing in a jug of water.

I can report back that three+ year old dried mushrooms are still flavoursome but are also a little chewy.

At my local market they sometimes sell a whole box of mushrooms for £1. At that price I buy two. I then cook them with just the end of the stalk removed (whole if they are tiny or cut into fork size pieces) until golden then freeze in portions which are later used in stews, stir fries or soups. At one time OH dehydrated boxes of cheap mushrooms which we were supposed to use as I did the frozen ones but frankly I didn't like the result and they ended up on the compost heap.
Anyone want to buy a dehydrator?