Don't fear the fungi. Here's how to select the best mushrooms ever.

Whether you're getting button, portobello, or shitake, we'll help you figure out how to choose the ultimate mushrooms.

• Look for firm mushrooms with no bruises.
• On the underside of the mushroom, the gills should be tight; gills will spread open as mushrooms age.
• Button mushrooms should have white caps; most other mushroom varieties come in varying shades of brown.
• Refrigerate; store your mushrooms in a paper bag to make them last longer.
• Use within a few days of purchasing.

Nestpert: Rosanna Campitiello, MS, MEd, and RD, is the Manager of Nutrition Education for City Harvest, Inc. in New York City.

-- The Nest Editors

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