Soooooooo, who's right?

[MosMom]

I often see the chefs on Food Network contradict each other in the advice given. For example, Rachel Ray says not to wash mushrooms in water because you will waterlog them. Alton Brown says that is nonsense and did an experiment on his show proving that very little water is absorbed.

Actually, it seems to be Alton who refutes the others and I tend to believe him since he shows the science end of it.

Anyone else notice this?

PS - Yeah, I'm bored.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Does Rachel Ray's food have that nutty dirt taste to her recipes?

Seriously, there is dirt on mushrooms...you know I am washing them.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Mushrooms do not need to be washed. They can be wiped with a clean towel or paper towel. Washing Mushrooms will not affect them if they're going right into a sauce or being cooked right away. However, if you are not going to use them right away, do not wash them until you intend to use them. They will indeed degrade fairly rapidly if you do.

 

[MosMom]

Mushrooms do not need to be washed. They can be wiped with a clean towel or paper towel. Washing Mushrooms will not affect them if they're going right into a sauce or being cooked right away. However, if you are not going to use them right away, do not wash them until you intend to use them. They will indeed degrade fairly rapidly if you do.

Are you secretly Rachel Ray?

 

[pearlieq]

Uh, I'm going with Alton on this one.

I'll take science and empirical proof over perkiness any day...

 

[DancingBear]

Alton's the myth-buster. Go with him.

 

[debster812]

Alton's the myth-buster. Go with him.

ITA--he would totally fit in with the Myth-Busters any day of the week.

 

[MAKmom]

Mushrooms do not need to be washed. They can be wiped with a clean towel or paper towel. Washing Mushrooms will not affect them if they're going right into a sauce or being cooked right away. However, if you are not going to use them right away, do not wash them until you intend to use them. They will indeed degrade fairly rapidly if you do.

I'm not sure where your mushrooms come from but the BUTTON ones we get from Kennett Sq PA are DIRTY. Some say it is manure?

I have tried wiping & no way do they come clean. I power wash my mushrooms!

 

[MosMom]

Nothing gives that special taste to your mushroom dish like manure!

 

[Cool-Beans]

Soooooooo, who's right?

Me.

 

[ilovepcot]

Yeah, the mushrooms I buy are *filthy* and not only do I wash them, most times I have to do a bit of scraping, too.

Because RR said to only wipe and never wash, I did an experiment of my own. I *soaked* my mushrooms all day in wine to saute later that evening in garlic and butter. Didn't hurt them a bit...but maybe wine reacts differently than water. Well, as RR would say, they were delicioso!

 

[irishbosoxfan]

Has anyone watched DIRTY JOBS with Mike Rowe---Well on one episode he was a mushroom farmer for a day and let me tell you after seeing that show there is no way I would ever eat a mushroom without washing it first!

They don't use dirt to grow mushrooms but crap and lots of it and they recycle the crap from the first set of grown mushrooms to grow the second and the third and the ..... You get what I mean-----Essentially mushrooms are grown in a compost pile that contains a little of everything--Check out the episode if you get a chance----DH looked at me while we were watching it and said " If I needed another reason to not like mushrooms that would be it"

 

[luvdzne]

I love mushrooms and I have to say go with washing them. I don't like to eat dirt.

 

[Alice28]

Wash- sorry, but I would believe Alton anyday over Rachel.

 

[Keli]

We grow mushrooms (well, not exactly terribly experienced here, this is our first year!). I don't know about most mushrooms but I know that producers of shiitake mushrooms don't grow them in manure. They aren't even grown in soil, they are grown in wood.

You cut a log of the correct type (most types of trees are fine, there's just a couple that won't really work) and size and then you drill holes in it. Put mushroom plugs in each hole and seal it over with wax. The mushrooms won't actually grow from the place you plug the log, the spores will invade the whole log and it will produce mushrooms from all over it. Mushrooms are also grown in sawdust.

Having said all that, yes I would wash my mushrooms. They are grown out in the open air and I wouldn't be comfortable eating them without washing them first.

 

[disneymom3]

Has anyone watched DIRTY JOBS with Mike Rowe---Well on one episode he was a mushroom farmer for a day and let me tell you after seeing that show there is no way I would ever eat a mushroom without washing it first!

They don't use dirt to grow mushrooms but crap and lots of it and they recycle the crap from the first set of grown mushrooms to grow the second and the third and the ..... You get what I mean-----Essentially mushrooms are grown in a compost pile that contains a little of everything--Check out the episode if you get a chance----DH looked at me while we were watching it and said " If I needed another reason to not like mushrooms that would be it"

I am with your husband! A fungus grown in manure..... WHY would I want to eat that????

And I would believe Alton over RR anyday. I like her, but for pete's sake she thinks every darn thing she ever orders is "yummmy" or soooo good. She has to get a bad meal every once in awhile, don't ya think?

 

[nannerbadnanner]

Rachael Ray is looks like the Joker....you can't trust her.

Alton Brown is the man!

 

[Mad4Mickey]

RR doesnt lie ( plugging ears with fingers lalalalalalaa I dont hear you )

I still wash mine though LOL

 

[Pam]

I'm not sure where your mushrooms come from but the BUTTON ones we get from Kennett Sq PA are DIRTY. Some say it is manure?

[/B]

Yep - mushrooms are grown in crap - or at least that's what I always heard.

 

[katerkat]

I believe anything Alton Brown says.