The white mushrooms that most of us buy at supermarkets are all really the same kind, Agaricus mushrooms. They might look like different mushrooms, but that’s just because they are sold at various stages of growth.
While growing, Agaricus mushrooms will double their size every 24 hours. The longer they are allowed to grow before harvesting, the more flavour they will have.
White Mushrooms are sold as white mushrooms in the following stages, listed in order of youth:
- Button Mushrooms
- Closed Cups
- Open Cup Mushrooms
- Large Open Cup Mushrooms
If allowed to grow beyond these stages, the white mushroom moves into the Cremini / Portobello stages – and price ranges.
Cooking Tips
A teaspoonful of lemon juice added drying frying can help mushrooms stay white and firm.
Equivalents
1/2 pound (225 g) fresh sliced mushrooms = 2 cups fresh sliced = 1 cup cooked
750 g (1.65 pounds) fresh large white or chestnut mushrooms, quartered = 8 cups volume
4 oz sliced mushrooms, canned = 2/3 cup drained
1 pound (450 g) fresh mushrooms = 12 oz tinned, undrained = 6 oz (170 g) drained = 20 to 30 medium mushrooms = 3 oz (85 g) dried = 6 cups fresh slices = 2 cups sliced and cooked
Storage Hints
See main entry for mushrooms.