Lucas Sin Explains Why You Should be Braising Your Mushrooms

[@biberfan]

Lucas is a natural born professor; someone who has immense knowledge to share, passion, and loves the audience. The result is clear, efficient and practical knowledge that inspires you to go cook. Mushrooms are on the menu tonight!!

[@Maityist]

I will literally watch anything with Lucas in it.

[@rubes8065]

Same!

[@TheKamoteKing]

Every video is a serious lesson.

[@drtrowb]

Because of him, I don’t make eggs the same way

[@havokhwt]

Absolutely

[@Zipfei_Kloatscher]

You should literally avoid using the word "literally", like literally...

[@ChriPhenix]

I see Lucas Sin, I click play immediately. Never disappoints.

[@gd-mn2yw]

I made these this morning. Great flavor and texture. Like what you get in a big Chinese banquet in the course that is braised Chinese (rehydrated dried shitakes) mushroom. That is one of my favorite dishes. So, my takeaways from my cooking: 1. Amount of water - If you "cover" the mushrooms with water, make sure you press all the mushrooms down in your measure, otherwise you're going to use too much water. I realized this after the water started to boil and scooped a bunch (2 cups?!) and proceeded. 2. Just a note about the cut size - go big. Leave the fresh shitakes whole. Otherwise, the end product, while delicious, is not the unctuous big bites that Lucas and the crew are chomping on, i.e. you'll need a fork to eat rather than chopstick unless you have mad skills with the latter. 3. I added about a tablespoon of oyster sauce along with the soy sauce. Had the mushrooms as a side with grilled chicken and some polenta and declared them great. 4. The longer they sit after cooking, the better they get. All in all, another great video by Lucas (Thank You!). Made me think about making the traditional braised mushrooms with dried tofu.

[@rhonda478]

Thanks so much! It makes total sense. I’m doing this totally in the future.

[@thomp9054]

Lucas is full of great tips and techniques

[@mescellaneous]

that is so cool seeing a wok there. im also glad lucas is not just randomly using a chuan, it's not necessary! i think better to use the typical tools, even silicone spatula.

[@patricknez7258]

Watching this has given me some ideas and inspiration thank you

[@melginger3794]

Chef Lucas is the best❤

[@MrBie]

Even when I have to stir fly mushrooms, I always start with water and finish with oil so that they do not absorb a lot of oil.

[@abrinks]

This is a great video. Thanks, Lucas.

[@briankim7364]

I love you, Lucas.

[@jamesparker8066]

This technique blows my mind and challenges everything I know about cooking mushrooms! As an avid forager, I wonder what wild species could be successfully prepared this way?

[@travisgeurin6950]

Personally, I don't like the texture boiling produces. Dry frying until water is released and then adding fat is still my go-to.

[@bidoofismyking8962]

how does this work with dehydrated mushrooms, do you rehydrate and then boil as well?

[@jonathanantscherl]

Yo Lucas. Any particular oil you prefer to use (or conversely to avoid!) - cheers. Lovely stuff as always

[@chefe2152]

Love the comment about cooking school.Just like regular education, it teaches your the basis ,but indoctrinated you and prevent you from being creative ,some of the best chefs I know never went to cooking school,they learned by working and they were not afraid to experiment

[@mge91_]

Where can I get this apron Lucas?

[@PWCDN]

cooking school teaches you never to let mushroom touch water...yet in nature, they thrive in moist watery conditions with really good water resistant qualities, especially the top because surprise! they're already consist of water...unless you're using dried mushrooms, which needs to be rehydrated anyways. Some food scientists already debunked that myth that it makes absolutely very little difference if you wash your mushrooms under a tap vs using a brush. Sometimes you have to take what you learn in cooking school with a grain of salt, sometimes nothing they teach is based on science, its based on "that's what I was taught and what my chef was taught, so I do out of discipline". Cooking is about results, not rules. Cooking school teaches rules, which is fine for beginners but its not the definitive answer.

[@Leto_0]

Lol the moisture of the environment it grows in has almost nothing to do with the chemistry of cooking You think mushrooms take in water through the cap? 😂 You're also not supposed to boil certain vegetables because they bleed nutrients as well. But vegetables need water to grow too... 🤔 hmm

[@eprebys]

I am just googling to try and figure this out. Isn't this really a stew technique as opposed to a braise?

[@temuulentem1391]

what do you mean when u say chinese in origin they only grow in china?

[@VortexMagus]

Always wash your mushrooms. If you've ever seen the vats they're grown in, trust me you don't want any of that stuff in your mouth. The base they grow mushroom spores on commercially is mostly a mix of dirt, poop, wood chips/sawdust, and straw.

[@ghostgirl6970]

Multiple chefs, including Kenji and Alton Brown have debunked the mushroom/water myth. It's so silly.

[@fthagnryleh4951]

Nice day drinking lol

[@Bowser558]

Is he like in some cooking class? 😂

[@kanetao]

no to "boiled mushrooms" How about sauteed fall mushrooms, in mushroom gravy.

[@mosesjeromelazaro2841]

As an Asian, I resonate with this - first of all, I did not go to culinary school. second of all, I am not a western chef so I don't know about those rules.

[@Yesnog05]

Im Japanese-American and my dad does something similar to this! He would boil his mushrooms with a little bit of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and dashi and reduce it by half. Once its reduced hed take out the mushrooms out and add miso to the broth and a little bit of water to make mushroom miso soup. Then he'd saute some green onions, garlic, and sesame oil with the mushrooms til theyre lightly browned. And thats our breakfast!

[@rhequiem]

Wow, that sounds really lovely. It must be an umami bomb with the miso and dashi added to the mushrooms. Served over white rice, I bet it's amazing

[@hollywebster6844]

That sounds delicious!!!!

[@lineetta]

I’m glad to see this! I got tired of adding heaps of butter to mushrooms trying to get them cooked, so I started throwing water into the pan first and steaming them a little, and only adding butter at the end. I feel validated now!

[@dzhiurgis]

Try drying them in a pan first. Like 5-10 mins to dry the surface, then brown with oil. Probably 5x faster than their method.

[@Bpaynee]

​@@dzhiurgisfast isn't always what you're looking for. I feel what is essentially a browning>steaming>frying, and the method described here produce different results. That can be good, and it is what I'm looking for sometimes, but I thought I didn't like mushrooms until I moved to Asia and started trying them done in this style. If nothing else, worth trying once or twice some time you want to highlight the mushrooms in a dish

[@laurawilliams1991]

Finally, a chef who debunks the mushroom myth. Love Lucas!

[@MichelleDavis-n7p]

One of my sons (all 3 are chefs) didn’t go to culinary school either. They are all awesome chefs. But the advantage of Isaac not having gone to school is he is very “free” with his food. Allowing him, like yourself I would imagine to think outside the box.

[@myamikolo5547]

100 % agree wash your mushrooms in water- dont eat dirt

[@myamikolo5547]

unless you go to that restaurant in japan

[@jaqenhghar2446]

It's disgusting if you don't wash mushrooms, imo. There is so much dirt on them!

[@elt5509]

I love listening to him. He's so eloquent. I aspire

[@Baifelicia]

I love how you explain the cell structure and where the mushrooms come from. I am a child of science and absolutely love that you're teaching more of us through cooking. Thank you, Lucas! 😊

[@KN-xl6lw]

Fun fact: Mushrooms are made out of chitin, the same material as crab and shrimp shells. It's almost impossible to overcook or 'burn' mushrooms because chitin can withstand temps up to 700°F

[@Baifelicia]

So mushrooms and a Gozney oven go hand in hand... 😀

[@xheyderek3356]

If you boil only oyster mushrooms with onion and salt, it tastes nearly identical to chicken broth. It's amazing that you can achieve that with only those ingredients. I'm sure if you added other stock ingredients it would taste the same. I had a particular miso in Japan that tasted like the best beef broth you've ever had. The umami was incredible. I should be using these ingredients more.

[@richandglorious]

i might have been Mugi Miso (barley), comes super close!

[@xheyderek3356]

@@richandglorious Awesome, thanks for the tip! I've been trying various miso but nothing comes close. It was getting to the point where I was going to make my own. I'll buy some mugi.

[@richandglorious]

@@xheyderek3356 if you find a longer fermented one - 2 years - i might be even better, as they get stronger than. good luck!

[@48956l]

You gotta figure out what kind of miso that was 😂

[@Thomas-ck1tm]

um...mushrooms are more closely related to animals then they are to plants that's why they have a meaty flavor...learned that from SciShow lol

[@froz3ncat]

If anyone here wants to try for the classic Chinese restaurant style, I recommend adding a little bit of slurry (1.5:1 | water:corn starch)at the end to give the sauce a gravy-like thickness, which goes so well over rice.

[@lesslighter]

just to add another "flair" is to use water thats been soaked in ginger, garlic and a few bits of sichuan pepper

[@sactownism]

He is really good at explaining things without wasting your time

[@sleazycakes]

mushrooms don't have starch. Fungi store energy as glycogen, like animals. What's thickening the broth is probably beta-glucan, a type of soluble fiber.

[@mantizshrimp]

fun fact: Glycogen is the storage form of carbohydrates in mammals. In humans the majority of glycogen is stored in skeletal muscles (∼500 g) and the liver (∼100 g).

[@danielhakimi]

Interesting, Dan at ATK recommended a similar technique, except he's using much less water, suggesting that pretty much steaming them is enough to saturate the hyphae and prevent the mushrooms from absorbing oil. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jn2zfXajrKd_eLs

[@mXENO]

Here's another one from ATK covering the same technique, this time from Lan Lam, and showing how it works for onions and gravy (as well as mushrooms) kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKuvYWqsa9xrd6M

[@xbchng]

Favourite thing to order at a rice stall place, braised mushrooms!

[@shidinpisincrying]

Is there now a Food52 test kitchen a la Bon Appetit's? Absolutely great, Lucas rules, this format is stellar. I look forward to more.

[@ohwowoh7281]

I always wash my mushroom in water because of all the dirt and grit. And also fills in the pockets to use less oil. It is very hard to over cook a mushroom.

[@paulbegley1464]

I've tried the boiled method once before with white button mushrooms. And it was very good. Only once because I haven't been buying mushrooms lately for cooking. Just to take to work and eat raw.

[@Nolooo]

Ahh this just sounds like someone trying to be edgy

[@leonawroth2516]

If you want to cook down stuff like onions and leek faster, you do the same! Not as much water, but a little water at first helps to wilt the onions/leeks and after the water evaporates they actually brown up faster, than if you would wate for the water from inside the onions to get out.

[@sublimnalphish7232]

I've never listened to that idea of no water on your mushrooms. I mean ever seen a package of button mushrooms from a grocery store? Like I'd want THAT flavor in my foods 🤣🤣🤣 idts. So I wash them in running water . In other words, I'd love to try this recipe and know the combo of different types are very good together , I've made bistro style cream of mushroom soup and it was phenomenal. The flavors match so well together ! I do love shrooms!

[@mrsnulch]

I don't think one method is better than the other, like most things in cooking it's really up to preference and style. I find that the more traditional oil or fat-based methods provide more visually-appealing and larger / firmer mushrooms, but they can get a bit oily. This boiling method shrinks down the mushrooms (since the water within them evaporates along with the boiling water) and they come out looking small and shrivelled, but the flavour is absolutely delicious. So I typically use this style to pour over rice or noodles or in scrambled eggs, but stick to oil or bacon fat for a more mushroom-focussed side dish or pasta. Both styles slap.

[@theeclecticchef]

Excellent video, thank you chef. I don't know why you don't develop your own channel instead of appearing on other folks'. I have found smaller shiitakes, e.g., COSTCOs braise very well in dashi (home-made, konbu, katsuobushi, shiitake). Larger, older shiitakes, which I prefer as they have a fuller flavour, do well in a 50:50 gelatinous beef stock (Home-made) and the previously referenced dashi. Although, having been stimulated by this video I believe I am going to experiment with different braises that might include, shaoxing, sake, mirin etc, combined with stock and dashi. Once again, thanks.

[@PINKALIMBA]

I just tried this braising and browning method. It taste really good. I sliced the shiitake mushrooms. Comparing both sauteed in oil vs braising+quick sauteed. The first sauteed in oil method is a bit hard to get the timing right. I kept looking for the browning and by the time the browning is good, its texture is hard and rubbery. and the flavour is not intense but bitter. I guess I overcook them. I then use the water method, adding the salt into the water, braising the mushroom until all the liquid is gone, then add some oil on it and finish it off. I didn't look for a full browning this time, but just a little brown and i took it off the heat. Although visually it is not as brown as I like, but the texture and the flavor is intense. It is very umami and taste really really good. I am happy that now i can cook flavorful mushroom for my family and I'm sure they will love it. Thanks Lucas.

[@annechenlowey7462]

Definitely going to try this one sometime, maybe with some dry sherry in the water for another flavor profile.

[@RudyRumbo]

On insta

[@RudyRumbo]

Brayntrips

[@maggiechan33]

THANK YOU, Lucas, for telling the internet our "doong gu", was culturally appropriated by the japanese - like hundreds of Chinese things. I was eating our doong gu long before the word "shiitake" enter the zeitgeist.

[@DoctorMcHerp]

The French are in shambles right now.

[@olivia-kw5nk]

When aren't they 😗

[@samuraibat1916]

Glad to know how I've been cooking mushrooms for a while is Lucas Sin approved. B)

[@nemo1342]

Not to contradict the point of the video too much, but what he's saying about adding lots of oil to keep the mushrooms from sticking is really not necessary. Add mushrooms to a hot, dry pan and the rapid evaporation from the mushrooms will (mostly) prevent them from sticking as long as you keep moving them around. You should literally get a funny squeaky sound. Then only at the end, when you've cooked most of the moisture off, should you add butter, oil, whatever, to the pan.

[@Centrioless]

His initial point is mushroom will absorb the oil so you end up with less oil on the pan

[@Leto_0]

​@@Centrioless yes and nemo is saying that's an amateur problem.

[@Mac-t4y]

My adjustment to this recipe: - Add water just to cover half of the level mushroom in the wok due to mushroom contains a lot of water. This will reduce the cooking time - Add shiitake mushroom first, cook for 10 minutes then add the rest after that since shiitake has a stronger fiber structure.

[@soothingmoments2139]

Western chefs know nuts about cooking s hitske mushroom... Chinese chefs have been soaking it in water and use the water back to cook for flavors..

[@syntacticalcrab]

I am literally drinking a bowl of chicken and shiitake mushroom soup where the dried mushrooms soaked for hours as I watch this and learn that western cooks are told not to let mushrooms touch water lol Thanks for another one Lucas!

[@ohwowoh7281]

Just made this dish. It is an umami bomb and so easy to make! Definitely adding this to my weekly rotation.

[@usnamunav]

When you're boiling mushrooms to the point when the liquid reduces, aren't you (kind of) just making mushroom ketchup?

[@sorensouthard927]

People are dumb, this is clearly a great way to cook mushrooms.

[@flowercook3142]

I am lucky enough to often find wild oyster mushrooms and maitake. Trust me those guys get a real washing as insects love the gills of oyster mushrooms, and maitake grow around every stick and leaf in their area.

[@etheleh5115]

This guy is a natural. Who'd a thought? Boiled mushrooms? Right after I fry the tofu.

[@tyghe_bright]

I love to throw my mushroom stems into my stock bag in the freezer. They really boost the flavor of a veggie stock.

[@chambersstevens3135]

I learned this method this summer. It is amazing! Thanks Lucas!

[@TygerBleuToo]

I started doing this a year ago. It makes a HUGE difference.

[@dc33333]

this would be a good TG dish w bok choy

[@archiekleung]

Yes, opened a new window for me. Tks.

[@nickyang1143]

Yeah never understood the washing thing, mushrooms exist in very damp environments and are mostly water by weight so it made no sense that you couldn't wash the compost off them before eating

[@Leto_0]

It makes perfect sense. Mushrooms are spongey. Absorbed water doesn't do anything, but if _they're_ in water they bleed nutrients much faster than vegetables. Besides, don't you know that plants and fungi take in water through their roots? None of your statement has any reason to it. Pseudoscience like this whole video.

[@bryantanwz]

Asian Chris Bumstead

[@monoculars]

Is this the old BA test kitchen?

[@nataliemscrzysxycoolharris]

This was interesting.

[@aolster3198]

I've been cooking mushrooms this way since the mid 1970s. My motivation was building flavor and reducing calories. I used the same technique with onions to caramelize them. Never knew it was a Chinese approach, but always glad to learn.

[@jessicamariatolentino5317]

Martini with pickled mushrooms whaaaaaat ? Where’s the recipe for that ? 😢

[@druidOcelot]

YES. braising mushrooms in stews is one of my FAVORITE things. pound of fresh crimini mushrooms, wedged into 6-8 wedges per, in a stew with tiny beef meatballs (think like.... garbanzo bean sized added maybe 5 minutes before serving, they cook FAST), celery, onion, carrot, blended pork and beef stock, some reconstituted dried mushrooms, bay leaf, some red wine, salt, pepper. braised until everythings nice and flavorful and tender, served over pasta or rice? YUM.

[@lesterliu8166]

Can you do this with the dried shitake mushrooms or only fresh? BTW, how do you tell someone you are Chinese without telling them? Use chopsticks in your drink. Love it!

[@RudyRumbo]

On insta

[@RudyRumbo]

Brayntrips

[@ErdingerLi]

I just wondered about this, went into my kitchen and put three dried shitakes into a bowl, then filled it with water, sealed the top with film and left it in the fridge. I have buttons and straws along with those shitakes but I'm thinking of getting oysters to replace either button or straw for tomorrows mushroomancing

[@lugaretzia]

Why not braise in a flavoured liquid, perhaps a dash of soy and a slice of ginger

[@teetylang6197]

❤❤fc

[@mannagrynet]

Most of the mushrooms I eat have been "boiled" and then frozen, because me and my dad pick several pounds of them in the autumn. I also wash my foraged mushrooms (mainly chanterelles and porcinis) by putting them in a tub of water with some starch, that helps clump up the dirt and then you just rinse the mushrooms before you cook them. For cooking them, I just add some water in the pan with the mushrooms until the water has reduced away and the mushrooms have "wilted", then I lower the heat and add butter.

[@bigboldbicycle]

I do a similar thing with chicken wings where i braise it first to get flavour in, before reducing the liquid down to nothing, leaving only the oil from the chicken which browns beautifully.

[@sauceokay]

Most chefs: mushroom medley Lucas Sin: fungus mix

[@zukacs]

americas test kitchen's Dan did a video on this a while ago

[@emmahardesty4330]

Good job: I'm converted. Plus mushroom martini! Thank you.

[@henri-5606]

This is basically the same as adding water to bacon, or onions, with a little oil to make them sweat juices and caramelize?

[@milank11]

the amount of starch is mushroom is close to none or negligible.. maybe something else is making the broth seem "thicker"

[@jakeMontejo3272]

This guy and the Acroyoga dude are the combo of whom I want to be when I grow up.

[@emerillg]

Just made these today, and they came out awesome. Great recipe!

[@KingoftheJiangl]

Also pro tip - use dried shittake mushrooms for more flavor

[@inyourface127810]

This looks like a smart move for so many recipes....

[@accordiongordon]

Lucas Sin, more of an everyman than Johnny Sins 😂

[@robdogracing]

Just made this and my wife is Obsessed! 10/10

[@rudysmith6293]

Excellent presentation and excellent idea! Thank you!

[@JimmyBrazy]

I like Lucas Sin! Subscribed ez

[@ceciliangwhng1915]

Thanks Lucas, try out next n get back to u 🙏

[@smudge82_]

I did not know Luke Dunphy can cook

[@papichefitup]

I don't know about this one but he is legit

[@Shazam999]

Love cooking mushrooms this way. Easy and you end up with an incredibly flavourful product.

[@benjaminwoo7587]

now put those mushrooms on a burger

[@rizkyugrasena]

I see Lucas, I watch it. Easy peasy.

[@hasnaingillani2587]

more lucas sin!

[@walkertongdee]

not