How to microwave mushrooms (2024)

How to microwave mushrooms (1)

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New research says the healthiest way to cook mushrooms is to microwave them. We explain how to preserve their goodness while making them taste great.

If you’ve ever cooked mushrooms, whether frying, baking or boiling, you’ll know that they start off looking dry and then produce more liquid than you’d anticipated, which means that despite their appearance they are very juicy. This makes them ideal for microwaving as you don’t have to add a single extra ingredient if you don’t want to. Do make sure you eat the juices as well to get the maximum amount of nutrients.

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A basic method for how to cook mushrooms in the microwave:

  1. Place sliced mushrooms in a microwave-safe bowl or container.
  2. Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes on high, stirring the mushrooms once.
  3. Keep on cooking in 30-second bursts if you need to.

The method and cooking time may vary depending on the size and type of mushrooms – see our instructions below for button mushrooms and portobello.

Why it's good to microwave mushrooms

New research by the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition looked at certain mushroom types (namely white button, shiitake, oyster and king oyster mushrooms) along with different cooking methods and found that when mushrooms are exposed to short cooking times they retain more of their vitamins and nutrients.

Make sure you’re using top kitchen kit with our pick of the best microwaves, tried and tested.

What's the best type of mushroom to microwave?

Different mushroom varieties do not respond in the same way when they are cooked. Chanterelles, for example, taste better when fried and oyster mushrooms can end up leathery if they are cooked for too long.

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Microwaving mushrooms won’t enhance the flavour but will concentrate it. The mushrooms will simply taste of cooked mushroom as you are not caramelising any juices. You can, however, add flavour by smearing mushrooms with garlic butter, coating them in olive oil (with a sprig of thyme), or using a few drops of soy sauce.

Read more about the various types of mushrooms and their cooking uses.

How to microwave mushrooms (2)

Different methods for microwaving mushrooms

  1. Sliced: Slice as many mushrooms as you want into a bowl, cover tightly, then cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring the slices once. If the slices are still not tender enough, cook in 30-second bursts until they're done.
  2. Button mushrooms: Put whole, trimmed button mushrooms in a shallow bowl in a single layer, ribbed side up, and microwave for 2-3 minutes. Cook for 30-second bursts if they need longer.
  3. Portobello or field mushrooms: To grill a whole portobello mushroom for a burger, put it rib-side-up in a shallow bowl and cover tightly. Microwave for 2 minutes, then remove the cover. Cook for another 2-3 minutes depending on the size of the mushroom, or until tender and any liquid collected in the cup has evaporated.

Read about the health benefits of mushrooms.

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How to microwave mushrooms (3)

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How to microwave mushrooms (2024)

FAQs

How to microwave mushrooms? ›

Mushrooms are already low in calories and fat free, and when you microwave them, there's no need to add any oil or butter. All it takes is two short steps: Place thickly sliced mushrooms in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover and cook on high for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring once.

Is it okay to microwave mushrooms? ›

Microwaving mushrooms in a covered glass Anyday dish is like pressing fast-forward on your meal prep session — plus it locks in nutrition and mushrooms' natural juiciness. Add lots of flavor by adding butter, herbs, seasonings, and other condiments.

Can you microwave mushrooms without water? ›

Possibly the simplest way to cook mushrooms, you'll want to place your sliced mushrooms in a microwave-safe bowl and cover. Set your microwave to high and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring once after a minute or so. Explore this helpful tutorial from The Mushroom Council on how to microwave mushrooms!

What is the healthiest way to cook mushrooms? ›

The researchers concluded that the best way to cook mushrooms while still preserving their nutritional properties is to grill or microwave them, as the fried and boiled mushrooms showed significantly less antioxidant activity.

What's the best way to cook mushrooms? ›

Mushrooms consist of 80-90% water and will do all the work FOR YOU in a DRY pan if you let them (let your food speak to you). No oil, butter, or salt is even needed until the very last step. Cooking mushrooms in a dry pan will give you the most beautiful outcome (in my opinion), texture, and colour as well.

What should we not do before cooking mushrooms? ›

Do I need to wash the mushrooms before I cook them? Never wash mushrooms. Instead, Wipe off any dirt with a damp paper towel. You can wash them but they won't be as good in texture/color.

How to saute in the microwave? ›

Put an onion into a bowl with 15g butter and 1 tablespoon oil (or 1 tablespoon lemon juice if you're cutting down on fat). Cover with cling film and pierce. Microwave on high (900W) for 4 minutes until tender. Leave for 1 minute before using.

Should you wash mushrooms? ›

Yes, folks, you can indeed wash your mushrooms. The critical step is to wait to wash them until right before you cook with them so they don't get bogged down with water. After giving the mushrooms a rinse, dry them off, and you're ready to cook.

Can I eat raw mushrooms? ›

Mushrooms adapt well to many cuisine types and recipes, they can be eaten raw or cooked, and they pack a savory umami flavor. And while mushrooms are technically fungi, nutritionally they are similar to a vegetable. Continue reading for more information or jump right to the mushroom-based recipes.

Is oil or butter better for mushrooms? ›

Butter is great because it adds lots of flavor and produces a nice golden brown exterior, while adding oil allows the mushrooms to cook a little more quickly at slightly higher heat.

Are sautéed mushrooms healthy? ›

They are healthy, versatile, and cook pretty much unattended while you prepare the rest of the meal (similar to these Sautéed Green Beans). Sautéed vegetables like Sautéed Cabbage, Sautéed Zucchini, Sautéed Broccoli, and Sautéed Carrots are all yummy, but sautéed mushrooms feel extra special.

Does cooking mushrooms destroy vitamin D? ›

Even after harvesting, mushrooms can continue to produce vitamin D, whether exposed to UV light from the sun or a lamp. Humidity and cooking mushrooms in water do not appear to affect vitamin D content in mushrooms, but cooking them in fat (such as oils) can cause the vitamin to leach out because it is fat-soluble.

Can you cook mushrooms in the microwave? ›

Mushrooms are already low in calories and fat free, and when you microwave them, there's no need to add any oil or butter. All it takes is two short steps: Place thickly sliced mushrooms in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover and cook on high for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring once.

Why should mushrooms be cooked in water before oil? ›

Sautéing them in oil first is a crucial mistake when cooking with mushrooms, as the oil will disappear, so you'll add more but then be left with soggy, oil-logged mushrooms. Cooking the mushrooms in water -- although counterintuitive and unconventional -- solves the problem of soggy mushrooms.

What liquid to cook mushrooms in? ›

These are the ingredients you'll need to make this homemade sautéed mushroom recipe: Oil and butter: For the best and richest flavor, cook the mushrooms in a mixture of olive oil and butter.

Is it safe to warm up mushrooms? ›

It is safe to reheat mushrooms in a microwave or by other means. More pertinent is the question of storing them correctly: you can keep them in the refrigerator in their original packaging or in a porous paper bag (such as a brown bag from the supermarket) for up to a week before using them.

Is it safe to cook mushrooms? ›

Cooking helps bring out the flavor of mushrooms. Now that the chitin is broken down, the vitamins, and other stuffs that make up mushrooms are able to be released. Some of those stuffs are flavor compounds. I've found that the texture improves too.

Can you digest cooked mushrooms? ›

The cell walls of mushrooms are tough, making it difficult for the digestive system to get to all the nutrients inside them. Sufficient cooking breaks down the tough cell walls inactivates the anti-digestive elements and destroys many toxins.

Can you microwave dried mushrooms? ›

Microwave method: In a small microwave-safe bowl, cover dried mushrooms with water. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, cut several steam vents in plastic, and microwave for 30 seconds. Let stand until mushrooms soften, about 5 minutes.

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