Cleaning Portobello Mushrooms

[shel]

Last night I watched Dinner: Impossible and the chef gave instructions for cleaning Portobellos. Apart from ridding the 'shrooms of the gills, he wanted the crowns peeled to show the white of the 'shroom under the skin, saying that he wanted a "cleaner" taste (iirc). I'd never seen that done before. Is this a usual practice? Does it result in a cleaner, or different, taste than an unpeeled Portobello? Any suggestions on how to do implement this technique efficiently? Are there specific situations where this is a preferred treatment of the 'shrooms? When might it not be appropriate?

Thanks for any comments ...

Shel

[KYHeirloomer]

I saw that, too, Shel.

My impression was that he wanted them white because he was using them in a salad. Otherwise only the stems and gills would have been discarded.

I've never found an easier way than how he instructed the lunch ladies. After scraping out the gills, just reach under the edge, then pinch and pull. the skin will come off in strips.

[foodnfoto]

I'm so glad someone is showing people to clean out the gills of portobellas. I have stopped ordering them in any restaurant because this is never done. The result is a slimey, gritty mushroom infused with the flavor of dirt.
Peeling the tops seems like a bit of overkill and might discourage the home cook from attempting to use these flavorful, meaty mushrooms.

[Luc_H]

Originally Posted by foodnfoto

Peeling the tops seems like a bit of overkill and might discourage the home cook from attempting to use these flavorful, meaty mushrooms.

I agree with Foodnfoto: peeling is overkill. I am back from camping and experimented cooking on an open fire alot. I brought some huge portobellos to flame broil then sprinkle with some butter, black pepper and garlic powder (the only thing I had on hand). They were tasty but the gills were slimy... live and learn (I will take the gills off next time). Luc H.

[MattFin]

Mushroom Peeling is one of those things that finer restaurants will do with almost all of their mushrooms - even creminis and white buttons. It is done the same way for all of those, and is indeed overkill.

Which of course begs the question about just how "impossible" are the meals that guy is making if he is taking the time to peel mushrooms?...

Anyway, the point about the gills is right - they must be cleaned out. There is another element they impart on a dish, and that is color. They will dye eveything they are mixed with black if you don't take them out. Some people think it is too much work to remove the gills, but that is a load of crap - and unlike peeling the tops, it is well worth the effort.

[shel]

Originally Posted by MattFin

Mushroom Peeling is one of those things that finer restaurants will do with almost all of their mushrooms - even creminis and white buttons. It is done the same way for all of those, and is indeed overkill.

If, as some have said, peeling improves the appearance and provides for a "cleaner" taste and nicer texture, and, if as you've said, it's "one of those things that finer restaurants will do," why is it overkill? If the objective is to put out the best product for your customers or guests, it would seem to me that there are times when the extra steps may be warranted.

Shel

[Ishbel]

If I am doing a dish with a cream sauce, I usually peel the mushrooms - it only takes a minute, and the tops are 'clean' and blemish free, which makes the resulting dish look 'cleaner'. I suspect it's just a personal preference, though.

I don't bother to peel them if I'm sauteeing, for instance, or adding to a dark sauce.

[oldschool1982]

It all comes down to the level of attention to detail you want to use when presenting your dish. For a restaurant that is of the "fine dining" calibre, I wouldn't expect to see anything less. Those blemishes that are removed are basically remnants of the organic matter that the mushrooms forms from. And allbeit an earthy taste, there are some dishes that don't lend well to it. So yes imhpo it does lend to a cleaner fresher tasting mushroom when peeled.

As far as the gills go on a portobello, even the most casual of places should clean them. If I wanted to taste a hand full of dirt, I'd go to my back yard and have at it. Nothing ruins the flavor of that particular mushroom more than leaving the gills intact. Again JMHPO.

[shroomgirl]

a teaspoon works best for scraping out the gills.
first time I've seen a P in imh(P)o, had to stop and figure out your a food professional thus P.....nice addition.

like peeling tomatoes or fileting tomatoes.....or brunoise veg......
I don't peel portobellos but then I don't use them for higher end menus.....most of those have wild shrooms.

[Luc_H]

I was looking forward to Shroom's comment here.

(... I don't peel portobellos but then I don't use them for higher end menus.....most of those have wild shrooms.....) obvious comment coming from the Queen of Shrooms (not to confuse her with the girl smurf).

Wink at you ShroomGirl.

Luc H

[ChefRAZ]

I like that show. The chef he was cooking with on that episode, took things a little too personal, ( I really liked seeing him on the grill sweating big time.) I love me some mushrooms.

[KYHeirloomer]

Not the first time that the home-chef has demonstrated his/her resentment of Irvine's presence though lack of cooperation.

Just part of the challange, I guess.

[shroomgirl]

nope I'm not blue and my perferred cooking style is rustic.......comfy, clean clear flavors.....peeling portabellos=fussy fine dining......mostly enjoyable to consume but not to cook IMHPO.....and I'm so glad some of you out there get a thrill out of tall white hatness, we benefit in many ways. Give me morels, chanterelles, boletes, blk trumpets, hen & chicken of the woods and I'm a very happy girl.

[siduri]

I'm not quite sure what portobello mushrooms are, they came in vogue in the states long after i left. But i always thought they were the kind of cultivated mushrooms that are brownish color, as opposed to white.
Here there are 2 primary cultivated mushrooms, champignon is what they sometimes call them, the white and the brown.
However, what i always knew is to buy them when the gills are still closed in. If you can see the gills, they are too old.
It never occurred to me to clean out the gills because i never bought mushrooms where you could see the gills.
As for the skin, why on earth would you like to take away the flavor of the mushroom??? Then buy the white ones, which have little flavor to begin with!
Good cuisine should be mainly concerned with flavor. The color should be integral to the dish, I mean, you don;t try to bleach black truffles do you? It would be ridiculous. The black has to be used to enhance the dish. That's my feeling, anyway.