● Species profile
White Button
Agaricus bisporus
Photo: chris_73, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The most eaten mushroom in the world. White button, cremini, and portobello are all the same species picked at different ages. Exposed to UV light, it becomes one of the few non-animal food sources of vitamin D, and it's rich in the antioxidant ergothioneine.
Historical Use and Context
French growers began cultivating this mushroom around Paris in the mid-1600s. By the early 1800s they were raising it in the old limestone quarries under the city, which is why it is still called champignon de Paris. It is now the most widely grown mushroom in the world.
How to Cook White Button
- Flavor
- Mild when white; deeper and earthier as cremini and portobello
- Texture
- Firm and juicy
- Best ways to cook
- Roast or sauté until deeply browned. Grill portobellos like burgers.
- Pairs with
- Butter, garlic, thyme, red wine, cream
- Prep tip
- Don't crowd the pan and salt at the end so they brown instead of steaming.
- Storage
- Paper bag in the fridge, about a week.
Cooking isn't only about flavor. Mushroom cell walls are built from chitin, which is hard to digest raw. Heat breaks it down, which helps your body get at the beta-glucans and other compounds the research focuses on.
Similar Culinary Mushrooms
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