If you love mushrooms, you’ve probably considered growing them yourself. The categories we will be going over here are mycorrhizal, saprotrophic, parasitic and endophytic.
People often ask: Is a mushroom a vegetable? Although they may be classified as such in the produce aisle at the store, technically they are fungi, not plants. That doesn’t take away from the fact that they are both delicious and nutritious.
But it’s overwhelming to figure out the different types – Morels, White Button, Reishi, Cordyceps, Shiitake – and how to grow each different species, and how to eat the various types.
Some mushrooms share similar traits, allowing scientists to classify them into one of four categories, based on how the mushrooms receive nutrients. Understanding these four categories may help you decide what kind of mushroom to grow and eat.
So, we have compiled a guide to growing the 4 categories of mushrooms.
1. Mycorrhizal
Mycorrhizal mushrooms have a symbiotic relationship with the plant they take on as host, meaning both the mushroom and the plant benefit. The mushroom provides the plant with water and protection against certain diseases, and the mushroom receives some of the plant’s sugar, helping it to thrive.
Mycorrhizal mushrooms are broken down into several categories, but most are in the sub-category ectomycorrhizas. These mushrooms latch on close to a plant’s root system, and grow through the soil, actually extending the plant’s root system. By doing this, the mushroom and the plant both receive better access to nutrients deep within the soil. Mycorrhizal mushrooms include truffles and chanterelles.
2. Saprotrophic
Saprotrophic mushrooms include many common edible mushrooms, including morels, cremini, white button, portabella, and shiitake. These mushrooms are able to break down plant matter and convert it into nutrients. As a result, they thrive on dead and decaying wood, helping to speed the decomposition process of the tree or plant.
This species of fungi can be further broken down into 2 categories: litter decomposers, which break down plant matter and are often found scattered across the ground in the woods; and, wood decay fungi, which can actually break down the wood on trees. Most saprotrophic mushrooms are litter decomposers. A few, such as reishi mushrooms, are wood decay fungi.
To grow saprotrophic mushrooms, the conditions must be just right. They require water, oxygen, soil with a pH of 7 or less, and cooler temperatures.
Check out our blog on 5 easy steps to cooking with morels.
3. Parasitic
Parasitic means that one side of the relationship receives more of a benefit than the other side. In the case of parasitic mushrooms, they receive benefits without providing a return. Parasites also steal vital nutrients from their host.
Cordyceps are one of the best-known parasitic mushrooms. They grow on the backs of caterpillars and other bugs and replace the host’s tissue with that of the mushroom. Chaga and Lion’s Mane are two other examples of parasitic mushrooms, and they grow on tree bark. Parasitic fungi do eventually kill their host.
4. Endophytic
Endophytes are a complex category of fungi, taking over the host’s tissue similar to parasitic mushrooms. With Endophytes, however, there is no harm to the host. The relationship is more symbiotic, in that the mushrooms help their plant host obtain vital nutrients from the soil, provide water, and protect them from diseases.
Many types of endophytic fungus do not produce mushrooms. They are difficult to see in nature but easy to cultivate in a lab. It’s also interesting to note that nearly every plant has an endophytic fungal infection of some kind.
Enjoy These 12 Types of Mushrooms
Now that you know the four categories of mushrooms, and some examples in each category, it’s time to take a deeper look at the different varieties of mushrooms. Just about anyone can identify a button mushroom, for instance, and has cooked with them at some point. But it’s time to expand your “mushroom repertoire.”
Different types of mushrooms add variety to the flavor and texture of recipes. Some can form the basis of a meal, be added to a dish, or be served as a side.
There are also health benefits to all mushrooms, since they contain plenty of essential vitamins and minerals, along with fiber, while being low in fat and cholesterol. Specific types of mushrooms add even more advantages, like fighting cancer and boosting the immune system.
So let’s take a look at 12 types of mushrooms, so you can experiment with adding them to your diet and enjoy a boost to your meals and your health and well-being.
1. White Button Mushroom
As you broaden your experience with cooking and eating different mushrooms, it’s easy to scoff at the modest white button as the most basic of mushrooms. But these remain one of the most common and readily available mushrooms, stocked in most grocery stores and common in restaurant meals. This saprotrophic variety is easy to grow, too. In fact, when you’re asked “What is the most common mushroom for eating?” – the answer is most likely the white button.
White buttons are also delicious if prepared properly, adding flavor and texture to meals, along with protein. They can be prepared by frying or eaten raw in a salad. And they provide the same health benefits of other mushrooms, with a low fat, high fiber addition to your plate.
2. Cremini Mushroom
Cremini is another saprotrophic mushroom that is actually an aged white button. Creminis taste similar to white buttons but have a firmer texture that holds up when cooking. That makes cremini a good option to use in stews, casseroles, soups, and other recipes that feature a lot of liquid.
3. Portabella Mushroom
A saprotrophic mushroom from the same species as the button and cremini, the large portabella is a common find in the grocery store. Portabellas are actually fully mature button mushrooms. Their size and texture make them a versatile addition to the kitchen. Portabellas stay firm when heated, and have a unique, meaty texture, making them ideal as a meat substitute. Use them in place of a beef patty in a burger, for instance, or stuff them and grill them. Portabellas also boost energy with their Vitamin D and Vitamin B content.
4. Oyster Mushroom
There’s a wide variety of oyster mushrooms, as this saprotrophic variety is common in the wild and is one of the most widely cultivated mushrooms. It’s also one of the easiest types to grow at home, particularly with the use of a mushroom growing kit. The oyster mushroom is a delicious addition to many dishes, with fried oyster mushrooms being particularly tasty.
Studies are also showing that the oyster provides the following boosts to health and well-being: supports cardiometabolic health; helps prevent insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity; it’s antibacterial; it also has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-tumor effects.
And here’s an interesting fact: The oyster mushroom is one of the few known carnivorous mushrooms. Its mycelia or vegetative section releases a chemical that attracts nematodes or roundworms and then paralyzes them with a sticky toxin. It’s believed that gives the mushroom a boost of nitrogen.
5. Morel Mushroom
The morel is a prized find for those who like to forage for mushrooms in the wild. There are different colors of morels, and more than a dozen distinct groups of morels in North America. This saprotrophic fungus has imposters, however, so it’s important to know a morel from a false morel. The morel may be the answer to the question: Which type of mushroom is costly? That makes it worth finding them in the wild if possible.
Once you get the real thing, you’ll enjoy their distinct earthy flavor. You’ll also enjoy their medicinal properties. The polysaccharides from the Morchella species of morel seem to have both antioxidant and antitumor properties, along with anti-inflammatory activities and immunostimulatory activity (boosting the immune system).
6. Reishi Mushroom
This saprotrophic type is known as the “mushroom of immortality.” That’s because the Reishi has a bigger health punch than other mushrooms, including antioxidants and detoxifying properties. They are also believed to have the following benefits: cancer fighter; detoxifies the liver; stabilizes blood sugar; boosts mood; protects your brain; reduces blood pressure; regulates sleep; lowers anxiety and stress levels.
It’s not common to eat Reishi whole, as it can be bitter. It’s best consumed as a capsule, powder or extract. It appears that extracts may be the best way to take Reishi (also known as lingzhi) because there is better control over the final elements in the product.
7. Shiitake Mushroom
This is another saprotrophic that is found in the wild and is commonly cultivated. It has long been used in traditional medicine and its benefits are being proven by clinical trials. Shiitakes are a good source of iron; they have antioxidants; they contain D-Eritadenine, or DEA, which supports cardiovascular health and helps lower cholesterol; they may boost immunity; and, they can help fight cancer.
8. Chanterelle Mushroom
The Chanterelle is a mycorrhizal mushroom that’s commonly foraged for in the wild. Like so many other mushrooms, it has medicinal benefits that make it worth finding: anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and antihypoxic (supports getting oxygen to your tissues.) They are also similar to other mushrooms in that they make a tasty addition to a meal.
9. Pioppino Mushroom
The saprotrophic Pioppino is not as well known as many other types, but they are common in Asian and South European cooking. They have a firm texture and a nutty or earthy flavor, making them ideal in rice, pasta, risotto and meat dishes, as well as in soups, stews and stir-fry dishes. They can serve as a meat substitute, too. The health benefits have not been as widely studied as other mushrooms, but there are indications that they have antioxidant properties, are a good source of proteins and contain all the essential amino acids.
10. Enoki Mushroom
The cultivated Enoki is unique looking, with a long, skinny white stem and a tiny, firm cap. A saprotrophic type of mushroom, the Enoki is popular in Asian cuisine, and can be eaten raw or cooked. The Enoki has been used since ancient times, as it was believed to prolong life in China, and in ancient Egypt only pharaohs were allowed to eat it because it was considered a food of immortality.
It’s no wonder, since studies in medicine and science are returning results that show so many health benefits. Here’s just a snapshot: the biological activities of the Enoki, including the protein, lipids, and more, have a positive impact on cholesterol, support liver health, and display antioxidant activity. It’s worth reading our Enoki mushroom benefits guide to get the full picture of why you should be eating this powerful little fungus.
11. Maitake Mushroom
The saprotrophic Maitake is not as well known in the Western World as it is in Asia, but its health benefits are raising awareness about the many reasons to add the “Mighty Maitake” to your grocery list. It helps with diabetes, hypertension, boosts the immune system, slows the growth of certain tumors, and lowers blood sugar levels. It also has what’s described as a “feathery” texture, making it more palatable to those who don’t really like eating other mushrooms that have a coarser bite.
12. Chaga Mushroom
Don’t be alarmed by the fact that Chaga is a parasitic mushroom. Traditional medicine has long used Chaga for its medicinal benefits: it is a powerful antioxidant, and has been used as a remedy for gastric problems and other ailments. Studies are showing that Chaga mushrooms may have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and analgesic effects. Chaga is bitter if eaten whole, so it’s usually made into a tea, or consumed as a supplement or capsule.
Wrap Up
There are a wide variety of mushrooms, from the decadent morel to the meaty portabella. Knowing a little about the 4 categories of mushrooms can enhance your knowledge and help if you want to grow mushrooms of your own.
When it comes to eating mushrooms, you may be asking: Which type of mushroom is best? The answer is all of them! By experimenting with these 12 types of mushrooms, you’ll find new flavors and textures for cooking, or you can warm up with a cup of mushroom tea, or add supplements to your diet. All of them will provide a boost to your health and well-being.
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