How to Use Enoki Mushrooms: 4 Tips for Cooking With Enoki

Enoki mushrooms—botanically identified as *Flammulina velutipes*—are long, thin mushrooms with tiny caps that typically grow in clusters on trees. Enoki mushrooms are most known for their long, thin, and spaghetti-like shape. They are chewy, with a mild, fruity flavor that is slightly earthy. Also known as Enokitake or Golden Needle mushrooms, cultivated enoki mushrooms are harvested in a carbon-dioxide-rich environment where their stems can grow white, thin, and long, while wild enoki mushrooms have shorter stems and larger caps. This thin, noodle-like fungus can be added to various types of foods, including Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese cuisines. Enoki mushrooms are versatile and have a shelf life of up to one week if they are stored in a paper bag in the refrigerator. Here are some tips for cooking with Enoki Mushrooms: 1. __Trim the mushrooms, and wash them thoroughly__. When you’re prepping your mushrooms, thoroughly wash them and trim their stems—which will be fused together—which get mushy when cooked. 2. __Infuse the mushrooms with flavor__. Enoki mushrooms can be simmered in [soy sauce](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/soy-sauce-explained) and [mirin](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-cook-with-japanese-sweet-rice-wine)—a sweet Japanese rice wine—to create a side dish for rice, soup, or pasta. When stored in an airtight jar in the fridge, these infused mushrooms will keep for about two weeks. 3. __Sautée the mushrooms briefly to soften them__. With just a little bit of salt and [sesame oil](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/learn-how-to-cook-with-sesame-oil-11-sesame-oil-recipe-ideas), enoki mushrooms will soften in your pan after about a minute or so. From there, you can add them to any number of [rice](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/all-about-rice-how-to-cook-with-9-common-rice-varieties) and protein dishes. 4. __Add them to a warm dish__. Most commonly, Enoki mushrooms are used as a textural addition to hot pot soups, stews, or [stir-fry](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vegetable-stir-fry-recipe) dishes. They pair nicely with [soba noodles](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-soba-noodles) and miso [ramen](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/ramen-recipe) bowls. Become a better chef with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com). Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Niki Nakayama, Gabriela Cámara, Chef Thomas Keller, Yotam Ottolenghi, Dominique Ansel, Gordon Ramsay, Alice Waters, and more. Popular in soups, stews, and stir fry dishes, enoki mushrooms are noodle-like mushrooms that grow in countries such as China, Japan, and Korea.