Day of the Mushroom

Day of the Mushroom is often confused with National Mushroom Day (which happens in October). This day, the Mushroom Council started to raise awareness about mushrooms and encourage people to incorporate mushrooms into their diet. Mushrooms have a number of benefits, from scavenging free radicals to improving heart health. Recently, mushrooms have come into the spotlight for their other health benefits, such as their ability to induce cell death and reduce stress and anxiety.

History of Day of the Mushroom

Mushroom Day celebrates edible mushrooms, which can be eaten plain, stuffed or used in salads, soups and sauces. Culinary mushrooms first began to be cultivated in the early eighteenth century, in France. They were called Paris mushrooms by people outside the country, and the British exported them to America in the late nineteenth century. Mainly these white and brown Agaricus bisporus mushrooms are grown and sold, nothing more than cremini mushrooms. Beginning in the 1940s, many other types of mushrooms began to be cultivated on a large scale.

The following are some of the common mushrooms eaten today, some grown and some found in the wild:

• White button: the most common edible mushroom, with 90% of mushrooms eaten in the United States being them; suitable for most components; Light, but richer in flavor when cooked.
• Cremini: also known as crimini, baby bella, and brown; similar to white button but a little stronger flavor.
• Portobello: also known as portobella; really just a big cremini; can be up to six inches in diameter; meat flavor — good veggie substitute for burgers; became popular in the 1990s.
• Shiitake mushrooms: also known as forest black; frilled umbrella hat; meat texture when cooked; wood flavor.
• Oyster: velvety smooth texture; cap; mild flavor.
• Enoki: also known as enokitake or enoke; origin from Japan; long body; small cap; grow in clusters; high in potassium and fiber; Served raw as a garnish with soups, salads and Asian-inspired dishes.
• Morel: yellow and black varieties; wild mushrooms; honeycomb fissure; seeds and soil; commonly used in sauces.
• Truffles: the most expensive mushrooms; wild mushrooms, but there has been some cultivation; strong taste; sometimes infused in olive oil.
• Beech: crispy texture; attractive taste; usually cooked and used in stir-fries.
• Maitake
• Porcini: much sought after wild mushroom; meaty texture.
• Chanterelle ruffles; full of flavor, with a little apricot and apricot wine

How to celebrate Day of the Mushroom

The best way to celebrate this day is to eat mushrooms. It is so great, right? There are so many varieties to try that you could probably start with the ones listed in the holiday's description. You can eat them raw, but it's best to follow the recipe, which has a lot of options. Going wild for mushrooms is another great way to spend the day. There are many types of mushrooms that are poisonous and inedible, so you should make sure you know what you're looking for before heading out. Some books like 100 Edible Mushrooms, The Complete Mushroom Hunter, and the National Audubon Society's North American Field Guide to Mushrooms can help you prepare.