Button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus), or white button mushrooms, are one of the most widely consumed fungi in the world. Surely, you've heard of them and maybe even eat them regularly. They're mild, versatile, and easy to grow on a commercial scale. But for home cultivators and gourmet mushroom enthusiasts, there’s an entire world of unique, flavorful, and nutrient-dense mushrooms that go beyond the standard white cap.
While button mushrooms are a staple in many kitchens, they lack the complex flavors, textures, and medicinal benefits found in other cultivated species. Specialty mushrooms offer a richer culinary experience and, in many cases, are easier to grow at home with simple setups. Let's highlight a few of our favorites.
Gourmet alternatives to button mushrooms
If you love button mushrooms, consider trying these cultivated species that offer unique flavors and textures:
1. Almond Agaricus
Often considered the closest gourmet alternative to button mushrooms, Almond Agaricus (Agaricus subrufescens) is in the Agaricus family, shares a similar growth habit and flavor profile, with the added bonus of a subtle, nutty aroma. It grows in compost like button mushrooms but does not require pasteurization, making it a bit more approachable for home cultivators. With its mild taste and pleasant scent, Almond Agaricus lends itself well to a wide variety of dishes. It is often valued for its potential medicinal benefits and higher nutritional content compared to common white mushrooms. Its adaptability and forgiving nature make it an excellent choice for beginner growers looking to expand beyond the basics. Many enthusiasts also enjoy cultivating it for its fast growth cycle and satisfying yields.
2. Blue Oyster
Unlike button mushrooms, Blue Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) have a delicate, velvety texture with a mild umami flavor. They grow quickly on a variety of substrates, including straw, sawdust, and coffee grounds, making them one of the best choices for home cultivation. Their striking blue-gray caps fade to a soft gray as they mature, adding visual appeal to any dish or growing setup. Blue Oysters also produce generous flushes, often within just a few weeks of inoculation. They thrive in humid environments and can tolerate a range of temperatures, which makes them ideal for indoor growing. In the kitchen, they’re excellent when sautéed, roasted, or added to soups and stir-fries for a rich, meaty texture.
3. Wine Cap
Wine Caps (Stropharia rugosoannulata) are garden-friendly fungi often referred to as "garden giants" due to their impressive size. They thrive in outdoor beds with wood chips or straw and develop a meaty texture with a mild, nutty flavor. These robust mushrooms are excellent companions for garden vegetables, as they help break down organic matter and improve soil health. Wine Caps are relatively low-maintenance and can be established in perennial beds, pathways, or shaded areas. Once colonized, they often return year after year with minimal effort. Their striking burgundy caps and thick white stems also make them a visually rewarding addition to any garden.
4. Shiitake
Known for their rich, smoky flavor, Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) are a popular alternative to button mushrooms. They require a wood-based substrate but reward growers with dense, nutrient-rich fruiting bodies. Typically grown on hardwood logs or sawdust blocks, Shiitakes take longer to mature than some other varieties but offer a high yield over time. Once established, logs can produce mushrooms for several years with minimal maintenance. Their chewy texture and deep umami taste make them a favorite in soups, stir-fries, and grilled dishes. In addition to their culinary appeal, Shiitakes are also prized for their immune-boosting and medicinal properties.
5. Chestnut
If you enjoy the texture of button mushrooms but want something with a richer, earthy taste, chestnut mushrooms (Pholiota adiposa) are a perfect alternative. Their crunchy, caramel-colored caps hold up well in cooking and provide an umami boost to any dish. Chestnut mushrooms grow well on supplemented sawdust or hardwood and are relatively easy to cultivate for intermediate growers. They produce dense clusters of small to medium-sized mushrooms with a slightly nutty flavor. Their appealing appearance and hearty texture make them a favorite for sautés, risottos, and roasted vegetable medleys. With the right conditions, they offer multiple flushes and a rewarding harvest experience.
6. Lion's Mane
If you’re looking for a mushroom with both culinary and medicinal benefits, Lion’s Mane is a fantastic option. It has a seafood-like texture and is packed with compounds known to support cognitive function and nerve regeneration. This unique mushroom grows in cascading white spines, resembling a Lion’s Mane, and thrives on hardwood sawdust or logs. It’s a great choice for indoor cultivation, especially in controlled humidity environments. In the kitchen, Lion’s Mane can be shredded and used as a crab or lobster substitute in everything from “crab” cakes to creamy pastas. Beyond its culinary uses, it’s gaining popularity in the wellness community for its potential to enhance memory, focus, and overall brain health.
Unlike button mushrooms, which are typically grown in composted manure, these gourmet varieties thrive on logs, sawdust, straw, or hardwood substrates. Many of them can even be cultivated using simple at-home methods, such as bucket grows, indoor grow kits, or outdoor garden beds.
Elevating your palate and culinary game
While button mushrooms will always have a special place in our hearts and kitchens, expanding your experience with different mushroom species opens the door to new flavors, health benefits, and home-growing possibilities. Whether you’re interested in the quick-growing ease of oyster mushrooms, the brain-boosting benefits of Lion’s Mane, or the garden-friendly nature of Wine Caps, there’s a gourmet mushroom for every grower - so why not grow beyond?