Oyster mushrooms

Mushrooms are neither plant nor animal. They’re a type of fungus. There are over 10,000 known types of mushrooms.

Oyster mushrooms come in a range of different colors:

Oyster mushrooms are rich in antioxidant compounds such as flavonoids and phenolics. Antioxidants are substances that reduce or prevent cell damage in your body. Antioxidants fight free radicals, which are linked to diseases like cancer.

Oyster Mushrooms Nutrition

Oyster mushrooms are low in calories and rich in minerals and vitamins. A 100-gram serving of oyster mushrooms contains:

Calories: 33

Protein: 3 grams

Fat: 0.4 grams

Carbohydrate: 6 grams

Dietary fiber: 2.3 grams

Potassium: 420 milligrams

Folate: 38 micrograms

Niacin (vitamin B3): 5 milligrams

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5): 1.3 milligrams

Riboflavin (vitamin B2): 0.3 milligrams

Oyster Mushrooms Taste

Oyster mushrooms have a sweet, delicate taste. Some types have an anise-like scent. Others, like the yellow oyster mushroom, have a fruity aroma. The stems of the yellow variety, though, may be bitter to some people.

Mushrooms have an amino acid called glutamate. This gives mushrooms a strong umami flavor. Umami is categorized as the fifth taste, also referred to as savory. The other tastes are:

• Sour
• Sweet
• Bitter
• Salty

Umami flavor can help enhance foods that are low in sodium. This reduces the need to add more salt. This means that mushrooms make a great substitute for meat.