What is known as the common mushroom referes to what is scientifically called the Agaricus bisporus, which has many different common names depending on when you pick it and which country you live in.
Its probably best known in its white state when its picked young and refered to as a button mushroom, or when fully grown when its most often just known as the “common mushroom”, or table mushroom, though it has many different names across the world.
This mushroom also comes in a brown version, when it again bears many names, such as the roman brown mushroom, swiss brown mushroom, chestnut mushroom, brown cap and baby bella mushroom, amougst a few others.
One of the most important things to remember about the white version of this mushroom is that it looks similar to the Destroying angel, which is especially deadly, though they have different gills, with the Destroying angel having pure white gills and a small skirt at the base of the stem, and the common mushroom having much darker brown and even black gills. though as always if your not 100% sure what it is dont risk it, because if you accidently eat one of the angels, theres a good chance you’ll become one.
Common Mushroom Breakdown
Scientifically known as Agaricus Bisporus
Nicknames for the white version include: common mushroom, button mushroom, champignon mushroom, white mushroom, cultivated mushroom, table mushroom.
Nicknames for the black version include: Chestnut mushroom, Roman brown mushroom, Swiss brown mushroom, Brown cap, Crimini mushroom, Baby bella and Italian brown mushroom.
Habitat: This mushroom is known as the common mushroom because it is the most heavily cultivated mushroom in the world, mostly because its so easy to grow. It can be found anywhere in grassy areas, normally after a few good periods of rain. It can be found all across Europe, the United states, canada, the mediteranien and anywhere the climate is not particularly harsh, such as anywhere that experiences extreme hot or cold regulally.
Season: April to Autumn if you live in the UK, but for anywhere else they generally appear from late spring to the end of summer, so adjust dates accordingly for your location.
where to find them: Anywhere grassy, these mushrooms sure do love their open fields. they can sometimes be found on grassy strips next to roads and such but if your going after these specifically you cant go wrong with large open fields. Try to find some quiet, out the way fields in the country side instead of areas such as parks and common ground as mushrooms of any type tend to be cleared from these kind of places as soon as they pop up.
As for where abouts in the field it really doesnt make a difference, as long as its covered in grass and its wet, they can appear, it really doesnt matter about anything else.
How to identify a common mushroom: The most important feature to distinguish this mushroom from any poisonous species is the gills. They will always be either dark brown or black, and never white. Checking the gill color is the best way to tell the difference between this one and the deadly Destroying angel mushroom.
Top: The cap of the mushroom will always be a gentle bowl shape, and never a cone shape or flat. When the mushroom gets older it can reach around 10cm in diameter, and can flatten out with age, though it will always curve round to the gills and never be completely flat.
When the mushroom is young, the cap can curve round until it is touching the stem, and covers the spores completely. If you find some at this age always rmemeber to check the gills before cooking as they will still be either dark brown or black.
Pores: This mushroom has spore gills under the cap and will always be very soft to the touch no matter its age.
Stem: The stem normally grows quite straight and generally doesnt reach longer than 6cm tall and 2cm wide. It will always white in color and should also contain a slightly whiter core stem through the middle.
Color: The white version is white through out appart from the gills, which should be dark brown or black. The stem should be white throughout with a lighter, white core stem.
The brown versions are exactly the same appart from the cap will be a gentle bread crust brown color, though the gills and stem should be the same as on the white version.
Now for the science stuff:
Scientific name: Agaricus Bisporus
Average energy per 100 g: 22 calories
Average protein per 100 g: 3.09g
Average sugars per 100g: 1.98mg
Average potassium per 100g: 318mg