Fresh Mushrooms

Fresh mushrooms have been referred to as the cook's best friend because of that special touch they can add to a meal or a dish. But when you're buying them out of the grocery store, how can you tell which is the freshest mushroom and how can you keep them fresher, longer?

Making the best choice when selecting mushrooms is all about the stage of development of the mushroom itself. For instance, the little button mushrooms with the tight caps are great for salads, they have very subtle flavor. Medium size mushrooms are good for cooking, their flavor is a little stronger. But the ones I think that have the best flavor are the mature mushrooms that are fully open. It's the mature spores in them that give them the best flavor.

When you pick mushrooms up in the grocery store, they'll probably be covered in cellophane. That's really not the best way to keep them. It's better to take them out and put them in a paper bag and store them in the refrigerator. This allows them to breathe. The mushrooms will stay firmer longer. This goes for the pre-sliced mushrooms that are covered in plastic as well.

Also, when you slice them, let's say you're going to throw them into a salad, but you're afraid they may turn brown, dipping them in a little lemon juice will keep that from happening; just as it does with other vegetables.

The great thing about mushrooms is one serving or about five medium size mushrooms is only twenty calories. That's with no fat, no cholesterol and no sodium. The other thing is that they can make a great substitute for meat or a great accent for it.