How to cook honey mushrooms properly and how long does it take (+18 photos)?

For those who enjoy the "quiet" hunt, it's hard to pass by small, round-capped mushrooms growing in clusters. This is no surprise, as honey mushrooms are very aromatic and delicious. They have captured the hearts of not only mushroom pickers but also chefs, as their delicate flavor pairs beautifully with many ingredients and can easily add a touch of originality to even the simplest dish. But to ensure the dish doesn't disappoint, you need to know how to properly boil and fry honey mushrooms.

Features of the species and useful properties

Honey mushrooms belong to the Physalacriaceae family and include several species, which differ not only in appearance and growing location, but also in taste. Despite some differences, all species share some common characteristics:

The cap's color depends on the mushroom's habitat and ranges from cream to red. Autumn honey mushrooms are very popular among culinary experts, as this species is considered the most delicious and aromatic of its family. Other varieties of the genus include winter, summer, and meadow honey mushrooms.

The fruiting body contains many beneficial microelements necessary for normal bodily function, including phosphorus, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, as well as valuable amino acids and fiber. Additionally, the product contains B vitamins, vitamins C, E, and PP.

Cooking time for mushrooms

Because mushrooms are quite difficult to digest, they should not be eaten raw. Therefore, it is recommended to cook them before baking, freezing, pickling, or otherwise preparing them.

Preparing mushrooms for heat treatment

Before you begin cooking the product, you need to sort it, remove any rotten or worm-infested items.

If there are minor blemished areas on the fruiting body, they can be cut off, leaving the healthy portion. It's also recommended to trim the long stem slightly, especially the portion buried in the soil. To more thoroughly remove debris from the surface, the fruit can be gently scraped with a knife, removing only the dirt.

Next, rinse the mushrooms thoroughly under running water. If all debris remains after washing, soak the fruiting bodies in water with salt. Since honey mushrooms absorb water quickly, don't soak them for long; 20-30 minutes is sufficient.

General principles

Many people wonder how long to cook honey mushrooms to preserve their delicious flavor. If the mushrooms won't undergo any further processing after cooking, they should be cooked until tender, which takes an average of 30 minutes.

The washed and cleaned "harvest" is immersed in salted boiling water for 5 minutes. The water is then drained and the mushrooms are rinsed under running water. Next, the mushrooms are placed back in clean boiling water with salt for another 25 minutes. Any foam that forms during the cooking process should be skimmed off.

Before frying and baking

Before frying, it's recommended to boil the mushrooms for 20 minutes in two stages: the first stage lasts 5 minutes, and the second 15 minutes. Between stages, replace the water with clean water and rinse the mushrooms. In this case, there's no need to cook the mushrooms until they're fully cooked, as they'll be cooked again later. Therefore, the cooking time is reduced by 10 minutes.

Before baking, mushrooms are boiled in the same way as before frying. Since the mushrooms will be baked, they can be boiled until half-done, so 20-25 minutes is sufficient.

Before pickling

Before salting, the product requires thorough heat treatment, so the cooking time is extended by 45 minutes.

Place the honey mushrooms in boiling water with salt and cook for 5 minutes, then drain and transfer to clean, cold water. Cook the mushrooms in the second water for 35-40 minutes. Once the mushrooms have settled to the bottom of the pan, remove them from the heat.

Before freezing

Before freezing, there are two ways to boil the product. The first method is no different from boiling it before pickling, but the second method has its own peculiarities.

To do this, place the main ingredient in a container of cold, salted water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Then, simmer for another 60 minutes.

How to cook honey mushrooms?

Many housewives who have never cooked honey mushrooms before are interested in the question of how to properly, quickly, and most importantly, deliciously fry this product and prepare other dishes from boiled honey mushrooms.

Frying honey mushrooms in a frying pan

To prepare you will need:

• boiled mushrooms – 700 g;
• onion – 1 pc.;
• butter for frying;
• salt and other spices to taste.

Cooking time: 20-25 minutes.

The onion is finely diced and fried in oil until golden brown. The main ingredient, in turn, is fried in butter in a separate pan for 5 minutes. Then, the contents of the two pans are combined, stirred, and fried for another 5 minutes. After turning off the heat, add salt and other spices to taste. The dish is ready to serve.

Fried mushrooms pair beautifully with potatoes, rice, and pasta. Some cooks recommend simmering them in sour cream with garlic and other spices after frying. The sour cream will make the dish more mellow and fresh, while the garlic will add a piquant and spicy flavor.

Popular dishes made from boiled fruits

To prepare mushroom salad you will need:

• boiled honey mushrooms – 300 g;
• boiled chicken fillet – 300 g;
• walnuts – 100 g;
• eggs (pre-boiled) – 3 pcs.;
• mayonnaise – 100 g;
• salt – ½ tbsp.

The honey mushrooms and chicken fillet should be cut into large cubes or slices. Next, dice the eggs.

Once all the boiled ingredients are chopped, you can begin grinding the walnuts (they should be finely ground). A coffee grinder or blender works well for this. If you don't have one, you can use a rolling pin and literally crush the nuts. Dress all the chopped ingredients with mayonnaise, salt, and mix well. Serve the dish on lettuce leaves.

Answers to frequently asked questions

Honey mushrooms are aromatic and a delicious addition to any table. They can be used to make soups, salads, casseroles, and other healthy dishes.