Simple mushroom question!

[lady topaz]

I was just preparing some large closed cup mushrooms and did as I always do, remove stalk and peel prior to adding some garlic butter. Then I wondered why I de-stalk and peel other than making room for the butter. When using button mushrooms they are washed and cooked whole.
Is there any purpose to these actions which I seem to do automatically?

The more exotic mushrooms I occasionally use are cooked as bought unless otherwise stated.

Just curious.

Di

[Davey S2]

I never do. Just cut off a little bit off the end of the stalk which can be tough.

Just lightly brush off any mud or grit and away you go.

[Don]

You can eat all of a mushroom. I never peel and if I remove the stalk I cook it up seperately. No need to waste anything.

Do not wash mushrooms if avoidable - brush away any compost instead if you can.

Mmmm. 'shrooms.

[grumbledoak]

You don't need to peel them. But I do normally remove the stalk if I'm going to 'stuff' them.

[Mobile Chicane]

No need to peel 'shrooms, and never wash them.

Any bits of 'substrate' (what they're grown on) should be wiped off with a kitchen towel or brushed off with a pastry brush.

Plastic containers are the death of mushrooms. Either store them in a paper bag, or remove the plastic film and cover with a kitchen towel.

The odd few left over can also be dried. I slice these and dry them on kitchen towels on top of radiators.

[cinque]

I always slice and dry mine out after i've collected them, but i only collect Porcini and similar variety.

Heres a pic of what i found last October/September (was a very good year in this country).

[OzzyR1]

For some reason I like peeling mushrooms even though I know there's no need to.

Very theraputic.

[TIGA84]

Brush them, cook them. I never peel them, same for carrots, same for potatoes, except roasts. Its like peeling an apple to eat it, why bother?