Mushrooms are a popular food, and their flavors range from buttery to beefy while their textures range from tender to chewy.
According to horticulture specialists, varieties include:White button - Easy to prepare, these are all-purpose mushrooms. Their meaty taste and firm texture are a plus in soups, stews, casseroles and stuffings. They can be prepared using any cooking method.
Shiitake - This exotic Oriental variety has a smoky taste. The dark-brown cap with its creamy-white underside can grow to be as large as 8 inches in diameter. Perfect for soups, sauces and stir-fry dishes, shiitake can be bought fresh or dried.
Chanterelle - Trumpet-shaped with a dainty reddish-yellow color, this mushroom has a delicate apricotlike flavor. Ideal with fowl or in stews and casseroles, chanterelles are sold fresh or dried.
Morel - With a hollow, spongy cap, and an aromatic, nutty taste, morels range in size from a button to a duck's egg. They complement chicken, veal, Cornish game hens, pasta and rice dishes.