Mushrooms: The go-to ingredient for 2016?

By Elaine Watson

- Last updated on GMT

Ground beef + chopped mushrooms = a tasty, nutritious, and less costly burger, says the Mushroom Council
Ground beef + chopped mushrooms = a tasty, nutritious, and less costly burger, says the Mushroom Council

Related tags Meat

Mushrooms will feature more prominently in plant- and meat-based dishes in 2016, predicts the Mushroom Council, which says domestic production and value are at an all-time high, while ‘blended’ burgers, meatballs and tacos combining ground meat and chopped mushrooms are gaining significant traction in the foodservice market.

Mushrooms – which are not technically plants, but fungi - can play a unique role in multiple dishes, in that they are fat-free and low in calories but contain protein, fiber, and important nutrients including vitamin D, potassium, calcium, selenium, ergothioneine, niacin, pantothenic acid, copper and riboflavin, Mushroom Council CEO Bart Minor told FoodNavigator-USA.

Chopped over-roasted mushrooms have a 'meaty' texture and flavor

They can also add texture, bulk, and ‘meaty/umami/savory’ flavor notes to dishes such as burgers, tacos and carne asada that enable manufacturers to slash the meat content by 50%, and in some cases up to 80% - significantly reducing calories, saturated fat and sodium (and ingredients costs) - without negatively impacting taste or texture, he said.

“When cooked properly ​[via searing or oven roasting at high temperatures, which can enhance the umami properties of mushrooms seven-fold], mushrooms can take on the texture and consistency of meat, and we’ve seen a lot of interest in what we’re calling ‘The Blend​’​ – a mix of fresh mushrooms and ground meat - which has opened up an entirely new market for mushroom sales.

“Blended burgers are delectable, nutritious, more sustainable, and more cost effective.”

The Blend: 'We're just scratching the surface'

Research​ also shows that consumers given traditional ground meat recipes prepared with 50% mushrooms and 50% meat liked these blended products just as much as the 100% beef versions, he said.

“If you’re using 20-30%, people barely notice, it’s seamless; if you’re at 50%, people notice a difference, but they like them just as much.  Even burgers with 80% mushrooms and 20% ground beef taste amazing, so we’re really just scratching the surface when it comes to potential here. Kids really like these products, and we also think there is a lot of potential working with companies supplying food to colleges and universities.

“Hundreds of restaurants are now using the ‘blend’, but what’s really exciting is that it’s also being adopted in schools​, and we’re having lots of conversations with retailers and packaged food manufacturers now about taking it to the retail market.”

Mushrooms-pic-TheMushroomCuncil
Mushrooms are fungi - not plants - and contain several nutrients that are lacking in the American diet, including vitamin D and potassium

Double digit growth for organic fresh mushrooms

According to the latest US Department of Agriculture (UDSA) data, the value of domestic mushroom production jumped by 10% in 2014 vs 2013, with production increasing by 6%, he said.

There has been growth across the board, but particularly strong momentum for specialty mushrooms such as shiitake and oyster varieties and certified organic mushrooms – both growing at double digit rates, although the latter account for less than 5% of dollar sales, he added.

“Nutritionally, I think there is this perception that brown mushrooms are the better option, but what’s really interesting is that white buttons mushrooms actually outperformed other varieties in cancer research work done with mushrooms a few years ago, although it all depends on what your focus of your research is​ [as to which mushrooms are the best nutritionally].

US retail data for the year ending June 28, 2015, showed that the mushroom category reached nearly $1.1bn in retail dollar sales, according to IRI/Freshlook Marketing.

Read more about 'The Blend' HERE​.

Related news

2 comments

Medicinal Mushrooms are amazing

Posted by neal,

Mushrooms are one of my favorite things they play so many roles in ecology and creating a healthy environment as well as providing an amazing food source for us humans.
Also certain mushrooms like reishi and cordcyeps can be taken as herbs to sustain health and even treat aggressive diseases like cancer and diabetes.
If you interested in taking medicinal mushrooms please have a look at my site where i sell high quality organic medicinal mushrooms :)

http://vitalherbs.co.uk/product/organic-red-reishi-extract-100grams/
http://vitalherbs.co.uk/product/organic-cordyceps-extract-100grams/

Report abuse

Mushrooms

Posted by Dwight Freymiller,

By placing Say Button size, in a bowl of water. Than place,them under Vaccum! Mushrooms will double in size by pulling in the water! This would reduce the cosh of the Mushroom by 50% We sell Equipment to do this!See "Tumblers" at www.metalbud.com Or E-mail me!

Report abuse

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars