Even worse than "tinned button mushrooms" are those nasty little slippery rubbery beige things they serve in some cafés as part of "the full English breakfast." In the worst cases you'll find a tiny pot of lukewarm baked beans on the same plate, which have no business being anywhere near the eggs, bacon, sausage, fried bread and black pudding. Another minus point can be the tasteless half-tomato that is nowhere near cooked enough.

I've never tried microwaving mushrooms and I'm not about to try. The nutrients may well be better retained, but I'm cooking food, not medicine. Well seasoned, sliced and fried in butter, possibly with a sliced garlic clove and some chopped parsley, lovely. If the oven's on anyway, I put that same mix on a little oven tray and whack it in, though you need to make sure the melting butter coats everything. Just as good. I'm not cooking mushrooms in liquid any time soon. I never want them in beefy stews. If I want a nice mushroomy flavour in a stew I'll soak a handful of dried porcini and add the soaking water. Beware of the grit...