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There are many different parts to a mushroom, including the cap, stalk, hyphae, and gills. If all parts of the mushroom are edible, you might be wondering what to avoid in their cooking. Some chefs prefer to scrape out the gills from their mushrooms while cooking, but are the gills of a mushroom edible? Here’s the answer, according to nutritionists:
You can eat the gills of any edible mushroom without concern for your health or safety, but many chefs prefer to scrape out the gills from the mushroom cap before cooking because they can turn your food an unappetizing dark color. Eating the gills of a mushroom is a matter of personal preference.
![](https://cookforfolks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/can-you-eat-the-gills-of-a-mushroom-2-683x1024.jpg)
Parts of the Mushroom
![Picture of the anatomy of a mushroom](https://incomeschoolcreators.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/139640560_l-1-1024x1024.jpg)
![Porcini mushrooms](https://cookforfolks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Lions-mane-mushroom-1.jpeg)
![Lion mane mushroom on a white background](https://cookforfolks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Fuzzy-white-mushroom.jpeg)
What are the Functions of a Mushroom’s Gills?
![White mushroom gills](https://cookforfolks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/White-mushroom-gills.jpeg)
Are the Gills of a Mushroom Poisonous?
![White and orange mushroom in a forest](https://cookforfolks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/White-and-orange-mushroom.jpeg)
Why Do Some Chefs Remove the Gills from Mushrooms?
Now that we’ve established that the gills are edible (given that the mushroom is safe to eat in the first place), you might be wondering why many chefs prefer to remove them from the mushroom when cooking. This is a personal preference that many choose simply for aesthetic reasons. Most edible mushrooms have gills that are brown or tan, and as a result, they can turn the rest of the food the same murky, dark color when used in cooking. Some people advise against using them because they will turn any stuffings, sauces, or salad dressings used with the mushrooms in the recipe black. Many find this discoloration unsightly and unappetizing and prefer to remove them from the rest of the mushroom for this reason.![Mushrooms in a kitchen on a wooden cutting board](https://cookforfolks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Sauteed-mushrooms-with-chives-in-an-iron-skillet-1024x683.jpg)
Why Do Some Chefs Keep the Gills in the Mushroom When Cooking?
On the other hand, at the other end of the spectrum are the cooks who prefer to keep the gills in their recipes. These cooks believe that much of the delicious flavor of the mushroom is provided by the gills, so they wouldn’t dream of removing them as part of the preparation process. Many chefs also opt to leave the gills simply because they prefer to use every edible part of any fruit, vegetable, or mushroom and don’t want any part of it to go to waste. Sources, SourceShould I Remove the Gills from My Mushrooms When Cooking?
With all this information in mind, removing the gills from your cooking mushrooms is ultimately a matter of personal preference. If you do not want discolored, potentially unappetizing-looking food, then it would probably be best to remove the mushroom caps before adding them to your recipes.![Mushrooms in a kitchen on a wooden cutting board](https://cookforfolks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Mushrooms-in-a-kitchen-on-a-wooden-cutting-board-1024x681.jpg)
How Do I Clean My Mushrooms?
Just like any product, mushrooms should be washed and cleaned before cooking and consuming them. You can clean your mushrooms by using a damp paper towel, or a mushroom brush (you can find one of these at the store) to wipe each mushroom one at a time, removing any dirt. If you don’t have time to individually wipe each one, you can lightly rinse the mushrooms with cool water and then pat them dry with a paper towel or a clean towel. It is best not to soak your mushrooms, this is because they are like little sponges and absorb water very easily, and mushrooms won’t brown nicely when cooked if they are full of water. For mushrooms that come already sliced when you buy them, they will often say they’ve been washed already at the store, but if you see any dirt you may want to wash them again just to be safe. To clean pre-sliced mushrooms, you can put them in a colander and rinse them with cool water, and then pat them dry with paper towels or a clean towel. SourceDo Store-Bought Mushrooms Come with Gills?
Many store-bought mushrooms come with gills. The most common types of mushrooms bought in stores are white, cremini, portabello, and shiitake. White mushrooms usually have a small number of gills that are not normally removed, same with cremini mushrooms, which are a more mature form of white mushrooms. Portabello mushrooms are usually bigger and are more likely to have their gills removed when cooking with them, and many (but not all) recipes that call for portabello mushrooms will advise you to remove the gills. It is necessary to remove the stems from shiitake mushrooms, but the gills are usually left untouched in most recipes that call for them. Keeping in mind the different types of mushrooms and the ways in which they are traditionally prepared for a dish, some recipes that call for a specific type of mushroom are more likely to call for gill-less mushrooms than others. Just remember that despite whatever the recipe says about mushroom gills and their removal, you can always leave them if that’s what you’d prefer. Source, SourceHow Do I Remove the Gills from a Mushroom?
Removing the gills from a mushroom is fairly simple, so don’t be intimidated if you’ve never done it before. In order to remove the gills from a mushroom, you should first trim out the stem using a paring knife. Once the stem is removed, you can gently scrape out the gills using the edge of a spoon. The gills should be fairly easy to remove without you having to use too much pressure. Here’s a short video clip that shows exactly how the process of removing the gills should look:Can I Still Use the Gills Once Removed from the Cap?
At this point, you might be wondering if you can still use your removed mushroom gills for something instead of tossing them in the trash. The answer is yes! If you are concerned about the gills of your portabello or another type of mushroom with dark gills turning your food brown but don’t like the idea of wasting food, have no fear–you can still use them for a separate purpose without them going to waste. After gently scraping them out of the cap, you can set them aside and use them to make a brown mushroom gravy. They can also be used along with any removed stems to make a stock for future recipes.![Cream of mushroom soup in a black bowl](https://cookforfolks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Cream-of-mushroom-soup-in-a-black-bowl.jpeg)
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