Make room on your plate for these tasty treats
Button, flat, portobello, chestnut, oyster, shiitake, take your pick, there are plenty of delicious mushrooms to try, and they're exceedingly good for you, too, being low in calories and cholesterol-free.
Mushrooms are full of nutrients including B vitamins, antioxidants, iron, selenium and potassium; all essential for good health.
There are 30,000 different types of fungi in Britain – some are edible but some are poisonous.
Some mushrooms have cancer-fighting qualities. Japanese scientists discovered that a community with very low cancer rates ate a lot of Enokitake mushrooms.
Mushrooms keep on growing after they have been picked.
Truffle mushrooms are considered a delicacy and are highly prized by chefs, and they command a premium price.
To keep mushrooms fresh store them in the fridge in the packaging they came in, in a paper bag with the top folded over if you bought them loose, or put them in a glass container and cover with a moist paper towel.
There are plenty of different ways to enjoy mushrooms. Slice them raw and add to a spinach salad with a little avocado and a drizzle of walnut oil. Or, brush large, flat portobello mushrooms with olive oil, top with a slice of goat’s cheese and then grill, griddle or barbecue and serve with a crisp green salad. Alternatively, stir-fry button mushrooms with a teaspoon of honey, wholegrain mustard, a sliced clove of garlic and a splash of balsamic vinegar.