Why You Shouldn't Sleep On Frozen Mushrooms (Hear Me Out)

Let me first say, I've always loved mushrooms. Even when I was little, I was the weird kid forgoing cheese or pepperoni pizza and reaching for the mushroom-laden slice. Now as an adult (and a non-meat-eater at that), I still eat them almost every day, as they pack that umami-rich punch that can (for me) satisfy like a burger.

As the executive editor at mbg, I've also fully embraced the array of health benefits mushrooms have to offer. Shiitakes, in particular, have demonstrated antiviral activity2 in some research, immunologist Heather Moday, M.D., previously shared with mbg. "When specifically studied on influenza, shiitake was found to inhibit the growth of the virus2 by preventing the entry and uncoating process of viral infection."

Brace yourself for a dramatic sentence: My life changed when I found these frozen shiitake mushrooms by Woodstock (on Amazon). Whenever I want mushrooms, I grab the bag from the freezer and throw them in the pan—no tender cleaning required. There is nothing like the flavor of shiitake mushrooms. I'm not a food writer, so I won't bore you with an impression of one—but the exquisite taste of this product, plus the ease of use, makes me feel like I've uncovered a secret treasure.

Whether you want to add a little something-something to your morning eggs or you're throwing a bunch of veg together to top pasta, the frozen mushrooms make it a breeze to get these immune-supporting powerhouses into your diet.

You don't have to go with the variety I suggested (although I highly recommend); this is merely a heads-up that whatever type of mushroom you prefer, remember frozen is an option. So to start, I recommend sticking with one variety and cooking it on its own in a nonstick skillet with a bit of avocado oil to see how it browns. Once you get a feel for how they cook up, you can toss them in a stir-fry, an omelet, or really any dish that could benefit from some mushrooms. I've found the bags of frozen mixed mushrooms aren't as easy to evenly cook, due to varying sizes and pieces. So I'd stick with one variety.