How To Use An Air Fryer For Portobello Mushrooms

With strong earthy notes and a meaty texture, portobello mushrooms are celebrated by foodies all over the world.

Their simplicity and depth of flavor make them a great choice for a variety of dishes, especially as a meat substitute in burgers and sandwiches.

They are easy to prepare, requiring only a simple wipe and trim, and can be cooked in a variety of methods including baking, grilling, sautéing, broiling, and air frying.

Air fryer portobello mushrooms are an incredibly delicious vegetarian dish enjoyed by adults and children alike.

They have a slightly crispy exterior coupled with a moist and meaty interior, can be ready in just 15 minutes, and can be paired with a variety of equally delicious side dishes.

So, how do you use an air fryer for portobello mushrooms? Preheat the air fryer to 380°F and cook the cleaned and marinated mushrooms for 6-7 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Depending on the type and size of the air fryer, the cooking time may vary slightly.

Read on for a step-by-step guide for cooking portobello mushrooms in an air fryer, different ways to do so, and some useful tips and tricks on preparing them for cooking!

What Are Portobello Mushrooms?

Portobello mushrooms, also sometimes referred to as portabella, are the mature form of the edible fungus Agaricus bisporus, which also includes other common types of mushrooms such as button mushrooms and cremini mushrooms.

Out of the lot, button mushrooms are the least mature, followed by cremini mushrooms, and then portobello mushrooms, which are the largest and most mature variety.

Portobello mushrooms are dark brown in color and have a firm texture. They average at about 6 inches wide, at which stage, they reach their full size.

They have a rich, earthy, and meaty flavor, which is a combination of flavors called umami.

This umami flavor is naturally found in several types of foods, although it is particularly intense in portobello mushrooms due to their less water content and the flavors being more concentrated. 

Ways To Cook With Portobello Mushrooms

Portobello mushrooms can be prepared in a variety of ways due to their large size. In addition to roasting and grilling, they can also be sautéed, stuffed, baked, air-fried, and cooked under the broiler.

Their rich, meaty flavor makes them a great substitute for meat and a popular item among vegans. They can be used in place of meat for several dishes including burgers, sandwiches, tacos, fajitas, and enchiladas.

They can be used as a base for different seasonings and toppings, much like a pizza crust. Alternatively, you can chop them up nicely and use them as an ingredient for pasta, risotto, sauces, and pizza.

Some of the most popular ways to cook portobello mushrooms are:

• On the grill: the firm texture of the mushrooms allows them to hold their shape when grilled while also taking in the taste of the marinade.
• On a stovetop: portobellos make an excellent addition to dishes such as pasta and risotto when sautéed in a bit of butter until they caramelize.
• In the oven: a quick and delicious way to enjoy portobello mushrooms, marinating them for an hour before baking helps maximize their flavor.
• In an air fryer: an excellent way to achieve more or less the same results as baked portobello mushrooms in the oven, you can use an air fryer to make them slightly crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside.

How To Prepare Portobello Mushrooms

Before you start making portobello mushrooms in an air fryer, you will need to clean them to make sure you get rid of any dirt and contaminants.

Here are step-by-step instructions for cleaning and preparing portobello mushrooms prior to cooking them:

• Wet a folded paper towel or the soft side of a kitchen sponge and wring out the excess water so that it is just slightly damp.
• Gently wipe the cap and stem of the mushroom using smooth, quick strokes. 
• Since portobello mushrooms are big in size, make sure to clean them one by one.
• Be very careful to not apply too much pressure or you could damage them.
• For especially dirty mushrooms, use a mushroom brush to remove dirt and grit from the surface.
• Avoid soaking the mushrooms as it causes them to absorb water like a sponge, which can affect both their flavor and texture.
• Place the cleaned mushroom on a layer of paper towels and let it dry. 
• Move on to the next mushroom if you have more than one to clean.

Once the mushrooms are clean, you can start trimming them. Here are step-by-step instructions for you to follow:

• Remove the stem of the mushroom by grabbing it by the bottom, giving it a gentle twist, and pulling it sharply. It should pop right off. You may also use a paring knife for this.
• Turn the mushroom over and scrape away the black gills.
• Use the tip of a spoon to remove the meshy gills until they come off. They have a bitter taste and can ruin the flavor of your dish.
• Use a damp paper towel to clean the underside of the cap to remove any remaining bits of the gills.
• After scraping them off, run the edge of a sharp knife on the underside of the cap to remove a narrow lip. Slowly rotate the mushroom while you do so.
• Removing the lip will allow the cap to lie flatter on the surface which, although an optional step, will enhance the presentation of your dish.

How To Cook Portobello Mushrooms In An Air Fryer

Air fryer portobello mushrooms are a delicious take on baked mushrooms that take hardly a few minutes to cook. Using a simple seasoning, this vegetarian classic can be used as a side dish or in a delicious portobello burger. Yum!

Here are step-by-step instructions for cooking portobello mushrooms in an air fryer:

1. Clean the portobello mushrooms and place them onto a large plate or into a baking dish.
2. In a separate bowl, prepare your marinade by adding oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning and mix them well.
3. Brush both sides of the mushrooms with the marinade, using extra for proper coverage if the mushrooms are too big.
4. Preheat the air fryer to 380°F, meanwhile letting the mushrooms soak up the marinade.
5. When the air fryer is ready, add the mushrooms into the air fryer with the cap side down, making sure they don’t overlap with each other.
6. Cook them in two batches if you can’t fit them all in at once.
7. For medium-sized mushrooms, cook them for 6-7 minutes. For larger ones, 8-10 minutes should suffice.
8. Flip them halfway through to cook the other side.
9. When the mushrooms are done, remove them from the air fryer and serve as a side dish, with dips of your choice, or to be used in a burger!

Note: The total cooking time of the portobello mushrooms will depend on the type and size of the air fryer, the thickness of the mushroom, and how tender you want them to be.

Variations 

When it comes to seasoning your portobello mushrooms, you can swap or add herbs and spices of your choice to give them a different flavor every time you cook them.

Here are some popular ideas you can use:

• Garlic butter: use melted garlic butter in place of olive oil. You may also swap the garlic powder with fresh minced garlic for a strong flavor and aroma.
• Fresh herbs: sprinkle the portobello mushrooms with some fresh thyme and rosemary before air frying them.
• Balsamic vinegar and soy sauce: add ½ tbsp of balsamic vinegar and soy sauce each into the olive oil. Also, add some dried herbs such as thyme and parsley.
• Shredded cheese: top the mushrooms with some delicious shredded cheese and cook them until it has melted and turned slightly brown.
• Cajun rub: if you are a spice lover, you should definitely try pairing your portobello mushrooms with Cajun rub.
• Burger seasoning: if you want to use your air fryer portobello mushrooms in a burger, we suggest opting for a burger seasoning made with garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper powder. For an added kick, you can also add some cayenne pepper.

How To Serve Air Fryer Portobello Mushrooms

Air fryer portobello mushrooms taste absolutely divine and can be enjoyed in many ways. You can, of course, enjoy them on their own, and they can also be paired with other equally appetizing dishes to form a complete meal.

They can be served as a side dish with mains such as noodles, fried rice, and soup. In addition to that, you can pair them with some creamy mashed potatoes and gravy.

You can make portobello burgers by putting them in burger buns and adding lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and condiments of your choice. A real treat for vegans, it can give “real” burgers a serious run for their money.

You may also chop up the mushrooms into small pieces and use them as a topper for salads such as pasta salad, rice salad, or quinoa salad.

Related Questions

Now that you know all about portobello mushrooms and how to use an air fryer for them, here are a few additional questions we thought you might have:

How do you know which portobello mushrooms are best?

To make sure your air fryer portobello mushrooms turn out irresistible, you need to start with the right ingredients.

Before you buy them, inspect the stem and cap for any bruises or blemishes as they may indicate that the mushrooms are probably past their prime.

The condition of the gills will also indicate their age as an old portobello mushroom will have moist, slimy, or shriveled gills.

A fresh portobello will be firm to the touch, have a uniform color, and will be between 4-6 inches wide. To get the best hand-picked portobello mushrooms, we suggest you buy them from a loose bin rather than in a package, if possible.

How should you store fresh portobello mushrooms?

Fresh portobello mushrooms must be taken out of their original packaging and transferred into a paper bag or sheet of paper towels (these mesh bags are also great for storing mushrooms in).

Since mushrooms give off moisture, leaving them in a plastic bag may cause them to turn soft and soggy.

The key to storing fresh portobello mushrooms is proper ventilation. You may also trim the caps and wrap them in a double layer of damp towels.

How long do fresh portobello mushrooms last?

Like most fresh produce, portobello mushrooms are best when utilized right away. The longer they sit, the less fresh they are bound to be.

That being said, it is best to use the mushrooms within 3 days of purchasing them.

Regardless of when you use them, examine them properly before you start cooking them. If they have a dull appearance, feel mushy, or emit a questionable odor, discard them immediately.

How should you store leftover air-fried portobello mushrooms?

The best way to store leftover air-fried portobello mushrooms is to keep them in a sealed airtight container in the refrigerator where they will last for 2-3 days.

When you are ready to eat them, you can either enjoy them cold, heat them in a pan or air fryer for 1 minute on each side, or heat them quickly in the microwave for 15-30 seconds.

It is not recommended to freeze them as they may turn wet and soggy when defrosted.

Are the stems and gills of portobello mushrooms edible?

The stems of portobello mushrooms are edible, but since they have a tough fibrous texture and look unappealing, they are usually removed before cooking.

Gills are edible too, although they have somewhat of a bitter taste and release a brown liquid upon cooking, affecting the overall appearance of the final dish. For these reasons, the gills are commonly removed as well.

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