To peel mushrooms

[SloraceHughorn]

Based on much mushroom based discussion on another thread do you peel mushrooms?

YABU- mushrooms should NOT be peeled
YANBU- mushrooms should be peeled

I neither peel nor wash them. I just remove any obvious dirt.

I neither skin nor peel them, I do however chop off the stalk

Wash them I meant! Too early 😴

Sometimes it depends what condition they are in . Other times I just brush or wipe the grit off . I sometimes remove the stalk too as it can be tougher . Really are not meant to wash them though , there is enough water in mushrooms as it is .Button mushrooms just get a wipe and chucked in a stew .

Years ago there was a very high end cookery magazine which advised to wipe them with kitchen roll in lemon juice.

I have also peeled them though.

Not washing mushrooms is a bit of myth. When tested, soaking mushrooms in water for five minutes each mushroom only increased in weight by 1/16 of a teaspoon. Negligible, especially given how much water comes out of mushrooms when cooking anyway. This Guardian article by Felicity Cloake has a bit of a round up of opinion and a test (which I really wish had been triangle testing for better results!)

I've never had skin unpeel itself upon cooking like a tomato or apple so is it a skin?

I peel mainly because I find it far too satisfying.

This. I wouldn’t know where to start and surely the smaller/crunchier varieties would just crumble.

I would enjoy watching some try to peel a pile of enoki mushrooms.

This brought back some memories. My mum used to peel our mushrooms in the 1970's. In the 80's she washed them instead 😂
I use one of these..

Unless they are covered in mud, wipe them with a dry cloth or kitchen roll. You can’t peel something that doesn’t have peel.

Me too! It was the first 'cooking' task I was ever given to do as a child and always reminds me of how useful it made me feel.

No- most of the flavour is in the skin. Just a robust wipe with a damp piece of kitchen towel if they’ve got soil on them.

I only ever peel mushrooms if they are past their best and look a bit brown, otherwise I just wipe any bits of compost off them and use.

If they are past their best, I peel then slice and if not using straight away, freeze them for slinging into bolognese or chilli or some such dish.

My mother performs some sort of wiping ritual with a paper towel. Gets all skittish and anxious if this ritual is not carefully observed.

I'm in the mystified "what is there to peel?: category. I really don't see the benefit and seems unnecessary faff (and waste) to me.

I quite like the mushroom brush, might have to invest in one

I've always been afraid of becoming ill from a soil bourne bacteria, not realising until the other thread that commercial mushrooms are grown in sterile soil.

They are very satisfying to peel though.

Have always peeled and cut the end off the stalk. But I was raised on mushrooms that were growing in horse manure compost, or friend's fields.

OP, can you link to that thread please?

I try to peel as little as possible, veg and fruit

Never. Probably should but I can't be arsed.

@CantThinkOfANameAtAll I'm. Or certain but it could be a thread about this...?

www.dailymail.co.uk/galleries/article-12388789/Inside-mushroom-poisoning-case-thats-gripped-world-Australian-woman-accused-killing-three-laws-feeding-worlds-dangerous-fungi-family-lunch-estranged-husband-skipped-meal.html

It’s so cathartic to peel mushrooms - especially the big field ones

There's no skin. You're just wasting perfectly good mushrooms! Also most of the goodness is found in the outside of fruit and veg. Total waste of money, time and food.

My husband was used to his mother peeling everything. He soon learnt some harsh lessons about life with me. I don't peel mushrooms, see also carrots and potatoes.