Which Varieties of Mushrooms Should You Use for Stir Fry?
When stir-frying, it's essential to know which varieties of mushrooms are best for the dish. Here are five types that you should consider adding to your next stir-fry: white button mushrooms, baby Bella mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and oyster mushrooms. These are all flavorful options that will make any stir fry delicious!
White Button Mushrooms
The most popular variety of mushrooms for stir-frying is the white button mushroom.
Most people use white button mushrooms for stir-frying because they have a mild, earthy flavor and are available in most grocery stores. Since they have a neutral flavor profile, they're a perfect addition to almost every type of stir-fry recipe.
Baby Bella Mushrooms
Cooks generally use the Baby Bella mushroom for stir-frying because they have long stems perfect for extended cooking times. It also provides a meatier texture than the white button variety.
Baby Bellas have an earthy taste that many people love.
Portobello Mushrooms
You can use Portobello mushrooms with a meaty texture; they're an excellent substitution for beef or pork. This variety is also perfect for stir-frying because its large size retains moisture during the cooking process. Portobellos are earthy with a slightly nutty flavor.
Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms have a more earthy flavor than other varieties and go excellent with Asian dishes like dumplings or soups. These mushrooms are popular in Asian cooking. Shiitakes have an unmistakable umami flavor, making them ideal for stir-frying because they don't dry out quickly during the cooking process.
Crimini Mushrooms
Crimini mushrooms share many characteristics with white button mushrooms but have a slightly firmer texture. Sadly, these mushrooms don't get as much attention as alternatives. That's a shame because they provide many benefits.
They're great for stir-frying because they don't dry out quickly during the cooking process and will absorb flavors well in this dish, making them an excellent choice.
The flavor is milder than Portobellos and very tasty.
Tips for Stir-Frying With Mushrooms
All types of fresh mushrooms should be washed thoroughly before using them in your dishes.
Mushrooms are very absorbent and will take on other food flavors in the pan, so it's essential to make sure you wash off any dirt or debris present on their surface before cooking.
Mushrooms should always be cooked on high heat with oil to keep their moisture from evaporating too quickly. Adding salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and thyme leaves when you cook them makes them more flavorful. You can add soy sauce or teriyaki sauce to the pan after you finish cooking if desired.
To prevent any burning after adding sauce, turn down the heat to low right away until everything is heated through, then increase the heat to keep them warm.
You're probably salivating now at the thought of adding mushrooms to your next stir-fry. When you do, you'll find that more people than ever want to share your cooking!