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Since I was a child, I never really liked mushrooms. To be honest, I was extremely picky, but now, I eat anything. Well... Almost anything. I can't stand mushrooms. Except, I can't understand why, and I want to learn to love mushrooms since they're really useful as a vegetarian.

For example, yesterday, I made some pretty simple miso soup and added some, supposedly delicious shiitake mushrooms to it. I salted them and fried them at medium-high heat for a few minutes until they had a nice color and texture. Did doing that affected the taste in a bad way?

I also remember making mushrooms risotto some time ago and getting the same disgusting taste.

Am I missing something obvious here? Is this not how you're supposed to cook mushrooms?

Hugo
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3 Answers3

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There's nothing wrong with the way you cooked those mushrooms, you fried them to give them some color and seasoned them, which is perfectly fine. You didn't mess them up, you just don't like them. No matter how you prepare them you probably still won't like the flavor, there's nothing wrong with that, it's just how you are.

GdD
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The answer to your question is: It was not a "wrong" way to cook them., people just like different things. Mushrooms have glutamates and maybe you are either sensitive to them physically or sensitive to them taste-wise.

That said, if you fried (pan fried, right?) at medium high and the edges got darkish, you likely intensified some of the flavors, which you seem to not care for. Shiitake can be strong flavored to begin with. If you want to try again, I suggest trying a mild mushroom like a white button (at least that is the common name in the USA) and sautee at low heat with salt and pepper until they look cooked, but not "caramelized" or burnt on the edges.

Disclaimers: I adore mushrooms, pretty much any variety cooked in any manner.

Damila
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Have you considered that maybe you're in the very slightest allergic to mushrooms? Is it just the taste or is it also the smell and or texture of the mushrooms?

For example I'm allergic to raw cucumbers and, I'm assuming as a defence mechanism, I can't stand the smell of them if someone is preparing or consuming them near me. I also can't stand the taste and smell of most melons as they're in the same family. It could just be your body telling you that it doesn't like mushrooms even if it isn't bringing on a full-on allergic reaction (vomiting/rash/anaphylactic shock).

yetanothercoder
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