No one likes finding mold growing unchecked in their home, but it has its own place in the world.  Oddly enough, mold is a type of fast-growing fungus that’s filamentous (giving it that stringy-sprawling build).  What you may not have realized is that mold and mushrooms are the same basic type of plant, they’re both fungus.  Mushrooms are a yeast-based fungus, and that is the difference between the two.  So while we’re not fans of mold in our home, we are big fans of bringing in the occasional yeast-based fungus for pizza.

1. Button Mushrooms

The archetypical mushroom for the classic American pizza.  No matter where you order it from, a basic pizza with mushrooms is going to feature the humble button mushroom.  Interestingly enough, the button mushroom is an immature portobello, harvested before the cap opens.  The humble button mushroom is one of, if not the, most commonly eaten mushroom in America.  For the best flavor on a pizza, always pre-cook the mushrooms before cooking the pizza.

2. Portobello Mushrooms

Large, perfectly edible and flavorful mushrooms, portobello mushrooms can be cooked any number of ways.  Many people will even grill them similar to steaks.  In fact, for a vegetarian diet, Portobello mushrooms are a great source of nutrients.  They’re perfect for pizzas too.  They pair well with the cheeses, spinach, and dried tomatoes on a pizza.

3. Porcini

If you’ve ever seen any of Beatrix Potter’s stories (e.g. Peter Cotton Tail, etc) you’ve likely seen a porcini mushroom.  They can be eaten raw and are one of the most flavorful mushrooms used in meals, the world over.  They have a nutty and woody flavor, making them a good pairing for strong cheeses and heavier meats such as steak.  If you’re looking to make a pizza with a bit of a punch, smoked flavors and the porcini mushroom will do nicely.

4. Chanterelles

The chanterelle mushroom has an interesting fruity flavor.  In many ways it’s likened to apricots, from the color to the flavor.  It backs up its flavor with a subtle pepper taste.  They pair well with most pizza toppings, giving you a great deal of room to work with when deciding on what will make the very best flavor of pizza.  A pizza with sweet meats (e.g. pork or poultry) will help to bring out the flavor of the chanterelles for and amazing slice of pizza. A word to the wise: never eat a chanterelle mushroom raw.  They’re fine when cooked, but a raw chanterelle can make you sick.

Of course, there are plenty of other toppings you can choose, and many more mushrooms you can try like shiitake mushrooms or truffles.  Just don’t leave your pizza uneaten for too long (and we can’t imagine you would with such tasty toppings) or you’ll be dealing with the more common filamentous fungus.

Regardless of whether the fungus in your house is mold in the walls or mushrooms on the pizza, we’re ready to come over.  RestoPros techs are experts on the kinds of molds that grow in your home, but we’re also knowledgeable when it comes to pizza.

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