Portobello Mushroom Baked Eggs Recipe - 3 Ways - My Kitchen Love (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to eat the gills of a portobello mushroom? ›

Yes, the dark gills of portobello mushrooms are edible. However, most chefs remove them as they darken the color of the dish they are using them in. Why remove gills from portobello mushrooms? Most people remove the mushroom gills during the cleaning process because dirt or sand may hide in the gill structure.

Cook mushrooms until lightly crisped around the edges and the interior flesh is tender. Salt and pepper to taste.

Mushroom gills are completely edible, but not everyone is jazzed about including them in their dish. While some people claim that they give dishes a distractingly earthy or bitter flavor, I've never noticed a significant difference, at least not with my tongue. Appearance is another matter entirely.

Symptoms include severe gastrointestinal upsets such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. If the person who has eaten the mushroom has collapsed, stopped breathing, is having a fit or is suffering an anaphylactic reaction, immediately ring triple zero (000) for an ambulance.

Mushrooms, even common button mushrooms, contain traces of carcinogenic compounds in raw form. The same toxin, hydrazine, is also found in portobello mushrooms, and shiitake mushrooms contain a naturally occurring formaldehyde. Both chemicals are heat-sensitive and abolished upon exposure to heat.

Finally in terms of getting the most out of baby portobellos, don't throw away the stems! Many people discard the stems thinking they're not edible. But actually, mushroom stems are just as tasty as the caps and can provide a nice textural contrast in dishes.

Mushrooms cook best in a quick, high-temperature roast. Cook your mushrooms uncovered in a pan at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes, or until they are slightly browned.

Mushroom gills, generally speaking, do not "need" or even "should" be removed. The only reason to remove the gills of a mushroom would be those of the portabello mushroom. But only because portobellos are older larger mushrooms with very dark gills.

Gilled mushrooms typically have a stem and a cap with plate-like gills on the underside. These gills are responsible for the storage and disposal of reproductive spores.

What if you have leftover mushroom stems and don't plan to cook another mushroom dish in the next few days? Dehydrating them and making mushroom powder may be a good option. Dry the stems in a dehydrator or oven and then process them in a blender to create a fine powder.

What are the gills on a mushroom used for? ›

Gills are one of the most common structures used by mushrooms for spore dispersal. These thin, papery veils hang vertically beneath the cap, resembling delicate curtains that conceal the mushroom's reproductive prowess. The sole purpose of mushroom gills, also known as lamellae, is to produce and release spores.