Funghi
Button Mushroom
Button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) is the world's most widely cultivated edible fungus, sold as white buttons, brown chestnut or cremini, and fully mature open-capped portobellos. Mild, meaty, and versatile, it suits raw salads, sautés, grilling, stuffing, and drying. Stage of maturity defines culinary identity more than species: closed buttons stay firm and pale, cremini deepen in flavour, and portobellos offer steak-like caps for roasting and grilling.
Also known as: Closed Cup / Flat, Button / Portobello, Champignon de Paris, Prataiolo / Portobello, Champignon
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History
Paris-region growers began systematic Agaricus cultivation in quarries and caves.
Commercial mushroom farms expanded in North America and Europe for urban markets.
A spontaneous white mutation of brown Agaricus became the modern white button standard.
Portobello branding of mature brown caps created a premium steak-mushroom category worldwide.