Steam Cooking Mushrooms: Is It Possible?

Steaming is a great way to cook mushrooms, allowing them to become plump, juicy, and flavourful while retaining their nutrients. The process is simple and can be done on a stovetop with a pot and steamer or even a rice cooker. Mushrooms will absorb the flavours of the steaming liquid, so you can get creative with your choice of stock, wine, herbs, or seasonings. The cooking time is typically around 10 to 15 minutes, resulting in tender and juicy mushrooms that can be used in a variety of dishes.

Steaming mushrooms: the process

Steaming is an excellent way to cook mushrooms, allowing them to retain their nutrients, flavour, and texture. The process is simple and can be done on a stovetop or with an electric steamer. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving perfectly steamed mushrooms:

Step 1: Prepare the Mushrooms

Start by cleaning the mushrooms. Use a damp paper towel to gently brush off any dirt or residue. If your mushrooms are particularly dirty, you can soak them in a colander placed inside a bowl of water. Swish them around gently and then drain them. Once cleaned, trim and cut the mushrooms into evenly sized pieces.

Step 2: Prepare the Steamer

If using a stovetop, fill a large pot with at least half an inch of liquid, such as water, vegetable broth, or wine. You can also add flavourings such as lemon juice, herbs, or seasonings. Place a metal colander or strainer inside the pot, ensuring that its base does not touch the water. If you don't have a colander, you can create a makeshift steaming platform by arranging three balled-up pieces of aluminium foil in the bottom of the pot and setting a plate on top.

Step 3: Steam the Mushrooms

Arrange the mushrooms in a single layer on your steaming vessel of choice. Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid or aluminium foil to trap the steam. The steaming time will depend on the size of the mushrooms, but it typically takes around 10 to 15 minutes for them to become tender and juicy.

Step 4: Serve or Store

Once steamed, the mushrooms can be served as a side dish or added to various recipes. Season them with salt and pepper, herbs, or a drizzle of balsamic vinegar or lemon juice. Steamed mushrooms are also excellent in warm salads, rice or pasta dishes, or alongside entrées like fish. If you plan on freezing your mushrooms, a quick steam before storing will help preserve their flavour and texture. Simply steam them for a few minutes, depending on their size, then cool them in ice-cold water before sealing and freezing.

What type of mushrooms can be steamed?

Steaming is a great way to cook mushrooms, as it helps them retain their texture, keeps them from shrinking, and preserves their nutrients. It is also a healthy cooking method, as it doesn't require the addition of butter, oil, or other fats.

Most types of mushrooms can be steamed, including button, cremini, shiitake, portobello, oyster, and wild mushrooms. It is important to ensure that the mushrooms are all roughly the same size, especially if you are using a mix of different varieties, to ensure even cooking.

When steaming mushrooms, it is recommended to add flavour to the steaming liquid, as mushrooms will absorb the flavours they are cooked with. You can use water, stock, wine, or a combination of herbs and seasonings. Steaming mushrooms will make them plump, juicy, and moist, and they will take on the flavours of the steaming liquid.

So, to answer the question, while there is no definitive list of mushroom types that can be steamed, it is safe to say that most edible mushrooms can be cooked using this method.

How long to steam mushrooms

Steaming is a great way to cook mushrooms, keeping them juicy and tender while retaining their fresh, earthy flavour. The length of time you steam your mushrooms depends on the size of the mushrooms and the cooking method.

Stovetop Steaming

If you're using a covered pot on the stove, you'll need to bring the water to a boil before reducing the heat to a gentle simmer. Cover the pot to trap the steam and anticipate a cooking time of around 10 to 15 minutes. If you're steaming large whole mushrooms, they may take up to 15 minutes. Smaller button mushrooms will take around 3 to 5 minutes, while slices will take around 3 minutes.

Rice Cooker or Electric Steamer

If you're using a rice cooker or electric steamer, you'll need to use the steamer basket and choose a programming time. This will usually be between 10 and 20 minutes.

Campfire or Oven Steaming

You can also steam mushrooms using a handmade 'pot' that works on a campfire or in the oven. Add your mushrooms and 3 to 5 tablespoons of liquid to a sheet of aluminium foil, then gently fold the sides over to create a sealed pouch. Several cups of mushrooms should steam for 15 to 20 minutes using this method.

What to steam mushrooms with

Steaming is an excellent way to cook mushrooms, retaining their earthy flavour and keeping them plump, juicy, and moist. This method of cooking also helps to preserve the nutrients in the mushrooms.

Electric Steamer or Stove-Top Pot

You can steam mushrooms with an electric steamer or a covered pot on a stove top. If you don't have a steamer, you can use a metal colander or strainer inside a pot, ensuring the base doesn't touch the water. Alternatively, you can use balled-up pieces of aluminium foil at the bottom of the pot with a plate placed on top, again making sure it doesn't touch the water.

Water or Stock

Mushrooms can be steamed with water, but if you want to add extra flavour, you can use soup stock or wine as your cooking liquid. Vegetable, chicken, or beef stock, or white wine are all good options. You can also add fresh herbs such as thyme or rosemary, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, or seasonings like garlic salt, onion salt, or black pepper to the water for extra flavour.

Different Types of Mushrooms

You can use pretty much any variety of mushrooms for steaming. Common types include button, cremini, shiitake, portobello, oyster, and wild mushrooms. If you're using a mix of different mushroom varieties, try to ensure they are all the same size to ensure even cooking.

Other Ingredients

Mushrooms pair well with many other ingredients. You can steam them with herbs and a light, flavourful broth as a side dish. They also go well with proteins such as chicken, fish, steak, or tofu. You can add them to a rice or pasta dish, an omelette or scrambled eggs, or use them as a topping for burgers or flatbread.

What to serve steamed mushrooms with

Steamed mushrooms can be served as a stand-alone side dish. They can be seasoned with salt and pepper, parsley, or chives, or drizzled with balsamic vinegar or lemon juice.

They can also be served as part of a warm salad, pairing well with wilted spinach or asparagus. You can also add steamed mushrooms to rice or pasta dishes to enhance the flavour without adding fat.

Steamed mushrooms can be steamed alongside an entrée, such as fish, or served with chicken, steak, or tofu. They can be added to an omelette or scrambled eggs, or served on toast. They are also a great topping for burgers, and can be used as a sandwich filling or a steak alternative.

If you are looking for a more substantial meal, steamed mushrooms can be added to a rice cooker with rice and flavoured with broth, wine, herbs, or other seasonings. They can also be added to risotto, rice pilaf, or pasta, with vegetables or a sauce.

Frequently asked questions