Guide to Portobello mushrooms

Mushrooms have been used in recipes and traditional practices for centuries, but their popularity has grown even more in recent years. Portobello mushrooms were once so unpopular and difficult to sell, but nowadays they’re in demand worldwide.

These mushrooms are large with a rich flavour and dense, meaty texture that are great when served grilled, stuffed or as a meat alternative in burgers or sandwiches.

But are there any benefits to eating portobello mushrooms? Here we’ll discuss the possible health benefits, potential side effects, and some ways to add portobello mushrooms to your diet.

These big mushrooms are actually the mature form of an edible fungus called Agaricus bisporus, which is the same fungus as cremini and button mushrooms.¹ In fact, all these mushrooms are the same, just at different stages of development. Portobello mushrooms are the most mature, meaning they are the largest and darkest of the three - they can sometimes grow to around 6 inches wide and have a dark brown colour.¹

Portobello mushrooms are cultivated worldwide on a large scale. But in the wild, these mushrooms can be found in the grasslands of North America and Eurasia.²

They feel less spongy than other mushrooms and, thanks to their meatier texture, are common in vegetarian and vegan dishes as a meat alternative. 

Portobello mushrooms are sometimes called portabella too. They were given the more glamourous sounding name, portabella, in the 1980s to make this meaty mushroom more appealing to the population and to encourage people to add them to their shopping baskets.⁴

Today, portobello mushrooms make up 90% of the production of mushrooms in the USA alone and are a popular addition to dishes by chefs and home cooks.⁵

So, next time you’re out shopping and see these delicious mushrooms labelled portabella instead of portobello, rest assured, they’re the same!

There is very little information about whether portobello mushrooms are safe for everyone to consume, so it is really important to check with your doctor before adding them to your diet, particularly if you are already taking medication.

As with many types of food, there is always a risk of allergies. So, you should stop consuming portobello mushrooms immediately if you have a reaction and avoid them entirely if you already know you are sensitive to mushrooms or have a mushroom allergy. In some cases, portobello mushrooms can cause mild stomach aches, so consuming them in moderation and as part of a varied, balanced diet is recommended.

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you should definitely check with a medical professional to make sure it is safe for you to have portobello mushrooms.

1. Grill up a portobello mushroom and use it in place of a typical meat burger or on its own as a plant-based steak
2. Add some portobello mushrooms to a pan and lightly fry until tender to add to pasta dishes and sauces
3. Stuffed portobello mushrooms are always a hit! Pack the middle of the mushroom with cheese and bake in the oven until golden
4. Slice up some portobello mushrooms and add them to a delicious stir fry or to the top of a toast!
   

So, it turns out there could be more to portobello mushrooms than we think! From their potential health benefits to their unique texture and flavour, there are so many reasons to add portobello mushrooms to your diet.

Cooking up a tasty portobello mushroom dish is easy, too, so why not give one of our recipes a try?