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    Home » Recipes » Vegetable Prep Hacks

    How to Cut Mushrooms

    Published: Jan 25, 2023 / Modified: Mar 15, 2024 by Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN / This post may contain affiliate links / Leave a Comment

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    different types of mushrooms cut into different shapes under a text box

    Learn how to cut mushrooms, including button (white), portobello, shiitake, chanterelle, cremini (baby bella), king trumpet/oyster, and lion’s mane varieties. The step-by-step photos and short video include tips for how to trim, slice, quarter, and chop mushrooms for use in pasta, stir fry, soups, kabobs, and pizza recipes. Plus, you’ll see how to clean and store mushrooms.

    different types of mushrooms cut into different shapes under a text box

    Mushrooms come in all shapes and sizes. There really is quite the assortment of fungi out there! That’s why I thought it would be helpful to provide a detailed tutorial on how to cut mushrooms.

    If you are new the world of mushrooms or just have a new variety that you don’t know how to prepare, this post is for you. Learn how to slice, quarter, and chop ‘shrooms like a pro! I included some of my favorite mushroom recipes, too.

    Jump to:
    • How to Clean Mushrooms
    • How to Trim Mushrooms
    • Button and Baby Bella Mushrooms
    • Shiitake and Chanterelle Mushrooms
    • Portobello Mushrooms
    • King Trumpet (King Oyster) Mushrooms
    • Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
    • Recommended Equipment
    • Mushroom Recipes
    • Video
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    How to Clean Mushrooms

    Before working with mushrooms, it’s important to remove any dirt. Depending on the type, they can be very dirty! To clean mushrooms, use a damp paper towel to wipe the dirt away. You can also rinse mushrooms under running water. However, they absorb water like a sponge, so they may end up mushy if you rinse them.

    woman wiping a mushroom with a damp towel over a cutting board

    How to Trim Mushrooms

    Most mushrooms need to be trimmed before cutting them, but some do not. Trim off any woody or dried out pieces of the stems of button/white mushrooms, cremini/baby bella mushrooms, king trumpet/oyster mushrooms, and Lion’s mane mushrooms.

    woman trimming a button mushroom on a cutting board

    For shiitake, chanterelle, and portobello mushrooms, remove the stems entirely. Their stems tend to be woody and dried out all the way up and don’t taste good in recipes.

    woman trimming a shiitake mushroom on a cutting board

    Button and Baby Bella Mushrooms

    Button (white) and baby bella (cremini) mushrooms are both small varieties that look very similar except for their color. Baby bella mushrooms are brown and button mushrooms are, well, white. You can cut them into slices, quarters, or diced pieces.

    To slice these mushrooms, first trim off any dried out parts of the ends. Then cut them into slices of your desired size.

    woman cutting a button mushroom into slices on a cutting board

    To quarter these mushrooms, slice them in half, turn them 90 degrees, then slice in half again.

    woman cutting a white mushroom into quarters on a cutting board

    To chop these mushrooms, cut them into slices or quarters then chop them into smaller pieces.

    woman chopping a button mushroom into pieces on a cutting board

    Shiitake and Chanterelle Mushrooms

    The stems of these mushrooms tend to be fully dried out and tough, so you should remove them entirely. Then, slice into pieces of your desired size.

    woman slicing a shiitake mushroom on a cutting board

    Portobello Mushrooms

    You can remove the entire stem from portobello mushrooms, since it’s usually too dried out and woody to be palatable. It’s also common practice to scoop out the gills of portobello caps, since they will get mushy when cooked.

    woman cleaning out the gills of a portobello mushroom

    After scooping them out, slice the cap into pieces of your desired size.

    woman slicing a portobello mushroom on a cutting board

    King Trumpet (King Oyster) Mushrooms

    These mushrooms are known for their meaty texture, so it’s best to cut them into slighter thicker slices. You do not need to remove the stem, but you may want to trim it if you see any dried out pieces. Then, cut lengthwise into slices.

    woman cutting a king trumpet mushroom on a cutting board

    Lion’s Mane Mushrooms

    Lion’s mane is a lesser known variety of mushrooms with a shaggy appearance that looks like a lion’s mane. You can cut them lengthwise into slices of your desired size or just pull them apart.

    woman cutting a lion's mane mushroom on a cutting board

    Recommended Equipment

    My favorite tool for cutting mushrooms and other vegetables is my Shun chef’s knife, but a paring knife also works well. For cutting boards, I use these bamboo ones with rubber stoppers that prevent slipping.

    Mushroom Recipes

    Now that you know how to cut mushrooms, let’s talk about how to cook them! I like to use sliced or quartered mushrooms in stir fry and soup, sliced mushrooms in pasta and pizza, and chopped mushrooms for recipes that use them in place of meat. If you have a lot of mushrooms on hand, you can also freeze them.

    Here are some of my favorite ways to cook with mushrooms:

    • Caramelized Mushrooms
    • Mushrooms on Toast with Ricotta
    • Mushroom Lentil Ragu
    • Baby Portobello Mushroom Stir Fry
    • Mushroom Gratin
    • Asparagus and Mushroom Naan Bread Pizza
    • Grilled Stuffed Mushrooms with Caprese Salad
    • Slow Cooker Mushroom Barley Stew

    Video

    I’d love to hear how you like this recipe! Rate/review using the stars on the recipe card or in the comments, and follow the Veg World on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Looking for something totally different? Browse the recipe library.

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    five different types of mushrooms cut up on a cutting board

    How to Cut Mushrooms

    Learn how to clean, trim, slice, quarter, and chop mushrooms of many varieties.
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 0 minutes mins
    Total Time: 10 minutes mins
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 50kcal
    Author: Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN

    Equipment

    • Cutting board
    • Chef's knife

    Ingredients 

    • 1 pound mushrooms - of choice

    Instructions

    • Clean your mushrooms by wiping them with a damp paper towel to remove dirt and debris.

    Button or Cremini Mushrooms

    • Trim off any dried out or woody parts from the stems.
    • To slice, cut the mushrooms into slices of desired size.
    • To quarter, cut the mushrooms in half, turn 90 degrees, and cut the halves into quarters.
    • To chop or dice, cut the mushrooms into slices or quarters and then into smaller pieces.

    Shiitake or Chanterelle Mushrooms

    • Remove the entire stem.
    • Cut into slices or smaller pieces.

    Portobello Mushrooms

    • Remove the entire stem. Scoop out the gills with a spoon and discard.
    • Cut into slices or smaller pieces.

    King Trumpet/Oyster Mushrooms

    • Trim if needed.
    • Slice lengthwise into thick pieces.

    Lion's Mane Mushrooms

    • Slice or pull apart into pieces of your desired size.

    Video

    Notes

    • Use cut mushrooms right away or store in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. They will go bad more quickly after being cut than if they are left whole. You can also freeze mushrooms for later use.
    • Mushrooms are delicious in soups, pasta, stir fry, and many other recipes.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.5pound | Calories: 50kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 721mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @vegworld_recipes and follow me today!

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