Do you peel mushrooms?

No. I just wipe them over with a damp kitchen towel if they are dirty. I do cut the stems off though, before cooking.

I think peeling came from when mushrooms were grown in cow manure . my mom always peeled them on that belief. I will wash them but that is because i prefer chestnut mushrooms and they stand up to washing whilst white mushrooms are more delicate.

I always thought mushrooms were grown on sterilised peat or some other medium. I don't peel them when fresh but I might do if they are a couple of days old and going brown. I don't understand about the 'texture' of the skin. The ones I've had seem fine. I generally dry fry them in a hot pan but may add a small knob of butter towards the end.

Same here, just a wipe with kitchen roll, unless they're starting to see their better days

Never, never, never!

Wipe them with paper kitchen towel and trim the stalks.

Commercially grown mushrooms are grown in sterile compost so they're not at all likely to give you food poisoning.

Peel them but never wash them, not sure why though, perhaps because that's what my mother used to do.

I always used to peel them but nowadays I usually don't peel them. A good clean of them first and then chopped or whatever.

No - life’s too short …

I only peel portobello or other large mushrooms but don’t peel button or chestnut mushrooms. I try and avoid washing them unless they have a lot of compost on them.

Seems like there are a few OCD suffers answering this question. As to doing something just because their mother or gran did it, is imo a dangerous thing without first applying logic, and no I don't peel mushrooms just pick off any soil and maybe a quick wipe.

Diplomat

Yes I peel them and wash everything even chicken, which I know you're advised not to but I have to, carefully, then clean my hands. I'm also still wiping all my shopping with an anti bacteria since covid!

Washing chicken just spreads the bacteria around.

I used to but mushrooms seem different these days, no visible skin.

Esmay

No - they become soggy .

When you cook them most germs would be destroyed anyway .

My favourite method of cooking mushrooms is to fry a mixture of them in olive oil and butter and sprinkle them with freshly chopped parsley .

I can eat a whole panful with some good crusty bread rubbed with garlic .

Had that a while ago as saw it mentioned on a recipe and thought 'ooooh, yes!'

I also swirled a little cream in it too, it was lovely!

Generally not, only if they've got a bit soggy in the fridge!

Used to - when growing up as we picked them from local fields where cows were grazing. Not any more as we pick them from shelves at the supermarket !

Yes I peel them and wash everything even chicken, which I know you're advised not to but I have to, carefully, then clean my hands. I'm also still wiping all my shopping with an anti bacteria since covid!

I wash them just before cooking. Never peel.

Esmay

No - they become soggy .

When you cook them most germs would be destroyed anyway .

My favourite method of cooking mushrooms is to fry a mixture of them in olive oil and butter and sprinkle them with freshly chopped parsley .

I can eat a whole panful with some good crusty bread rubbed with garlic .

Yum-tastic, Esmay!

I use lard and butter.

Nope. Never wash them either but I do give em a little polish with a bit of kitchen towel if muddy.

Thank you for this question. I have wondered about this for quite awhile. I now usually rinse them under the tap and dry them on kitchen paper.

Yes, always have, always will.

I have always peeled them like my mother did.

I've never worked out how wiping them with a dry cloth or kitchen paper can do anything but smear any dirt just further around the mushroom. Washing certainly spoils the taste, although I do worry as to what might be hiding between those gills. One German chef recommended sprinkling flour into a bowl of water and quickly washing them in that - the theory being that the flour picks up the dirt. I tried that but it didn't work for me, so it was back to peeling.

I only shop once a week, so sometimes I've had them a few days and they have become a bit unsightly which is another reason I prefer to peel them.

This reminds me of always being “told” to eat the crusts on bread ….because?
It’s my tummy it’s going into and if I’ve bought it/them, then that’s that 😀

I never peel them but (against all chef's advice) I do rinse them - as they're often grown in compost with chicken sh*t.

No - they become soggy .

When you cook them most germs would be destroyed anyway .

My favourite method of cooking mushrooms is to fry a mixture of them in olive oil and butter and sprinkle them with freshly chopped parsley .

I can eat a whole panful with some good crusty bread rubbed with garlic .