Can seafood mushrooms be eaten without blanching?

Sep 30, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
Hai xian gu (seafood mushroom) is in itself a non-toxic edible fungus rich in beneficial nutrients such as amino acids, proteins, and polysaccharides, which can boost immunity and enhance physical health. Although blanching can remove the mushroom's unpleasant odor and impurities, if one does not mind its natural seafood-like smell and ensures the mushrooms have been thoroughly cleaned, blanching may not be necessary.

Generally speaking, enoki mushrooms can be eaten without blanching, but only in small amounts. The detailed explanation is as follows:

Enoki mushrooms are inherently non-toxic edible fungi that contain abundant nutrients such as amino acids, proteins, and polysaccharides, which are beneficial to human health and can help boost immunity and strengthen the body. Although blanching can remove undesirable odors and impurities from enoki mushrooms, if you don't mind their natural seafood-like smell and ensure the mushrooms have been thoroughly cleaned, it is acceptable to cook them directly without blanching.

For food safety and better taste, it is recommended to fully cook enoki mushrooms. This ensures any potential bacteria or parasites are effectively eliminated while preserving their nutritional value and delicious flavor.