Mushrooms are fungi, which may sound gross but which cooks know are inspiring—inspiring for their unique earthy flavors and unmatched toothsome textures. While the mushrooms below are all singular in their look and taste, they are all mushrooms, which means they have a few things in common.
First and foremost, always look for bright, unblemished mushrooms and store them in paper bags (no plastic! they'll get mushy!). Use within a few days of buying. For longer storage, consider drying them.