Mushrooms are a versatile food that can be used as a main dish or in a supporting role for a larger recipe. Either way, you always want to find the freshest options when it comes to your family's favorite foods. Foraging can be fun, but we don't like to leave any room for doubt where safety is concerned. When you grow them yourself, there is never any question. Check out this list of the best mushroom growing kits and start your adventure today. Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Kit Effortless Gardening Get yummy mushrooms in just 10 days with this fabulous kit.Best OverallFind on Amazon Convenience is important when you are first learning to do anything, and it doesn’t get more convenient than Back to the Roots’ Organic Mini Mushroom Kit. It makes growing your own mushrooms super easy, since all you need to do is keep the bag wet. Within ten days, you’ll have up to 3 servings of mushrooms for your favorite recipes and snacks. It rests right on your counter so you can grow mushrooms all year long and take pride in their progress. Pros: These mushrooms take minimal effort to grow Available in three varieties so you can choose which fits your tastes best This kit is affordable, making it a quick and easy learning opportunity for your kids and family while providing fresh food Cons: Each box only grows two crops, so you will need to replace them often if you always want fresh mushrooms The second crop often takes longer than the first Root Mushroom Farm Liquid Cultures High-Quality Your mushroom farm is as easy as 1-2-3 when you choose these awesome liquid cultures.Best Live CulturesFind on Amazon Many kits come contaminated with mold and other contaminants that can sneak their way into your mushrooms and ruin the whole crop. That will never be an issue again when you use Root Mushroom Farm Liquid Cultures. Each sterile syringe is packed full of active mycelium. They are completely free of any outside debris, so you can always feel confident serving the mushrooms you grow to your family. Pros: The syringe keeps your mushroom cultures clean while making it easy to put them exactly where you want them Wide variety of cultures to choose from You can grow a ton of mushrooms from one affordable syringe Cons: You’ll need to provide your own substrate for the mushrooms to grow on You will need to keep the syringe stored in the fridge until you are ready to inoculate your substrate 2funguys Shiitake Plug Spawn Grow AnywhereThese compact plugs will get your mushrooms started on nearly any organic surface.Best PlugsFind on Amazon Plug spawn is an easy way to grow a ton of mushrooms in a natural setting. The 2funguys Shiitake Plug Spawn is one of our favorite plug options because they are covered in spores and tend to offer large yields. All you need to do is drill a few holes, hammer in the plugs, and seal them with wax. After that, you just wait for lots of yummy mushrooms to grow. Pros: There are 100 plugs included in this kit, which is capable of producing a serious crop of mushrooms The included instructions are clear and easy to follow If you don’t want to use the plugs right away, store them in the fridge for up to six months Cons: Shiitake mushrooms take 6-12 months to grow, which is a bit longer than most other strains You will need your own drill and appropriately sized drill bits 2funguys Grey Dove Oyster Mushroom Plugs Chill OutNow you can garden your own mushrooms outdoors or in no matter where you live.Best for Cold ClimatesFind on Amazon When you live in an area that gets very cold throughout the year, you may struggle to find the appropriate mushrooms to grow. Even when you do find a good strain, it is difficult to get them started. Well, that was until the 2funguys Grey Dove Oyster Mushroom Plugs came along. Now all you need to do is drill a few holes and place these plugs, and you’ll be good to go in any climate. Enjoy tasty mushrooms without the hassle. Pros: These plugs are covered in spores to help you get the best crop possible This company is very responsive and does a fabulous job of helping you every step of the way You can plant these plugs in any climate Cons: You’ll need a drill and the correct bits to place these plugs properly The holes that contain the plugs need to be covered with wax, which is not included Dave Mushroom Inc. Oyster Mushroom Growing Kit Easy to UseGrow your mushrooms anywhere you have space with this simple inoculated log.Most InclusiveFind on Amazon When it comes to mushrooms or home gardening, do you struggle to get started? Does the idea of drilling holes or inoculating substrate seem like a lot of work? If so, the Dave Mushroom Inc. Oyster Mushroom Growing Kit is the best choice for you. This kit includes a spawn bag that is already inoculated and ready to grow high-quality Oyster mushrooms. All you will need to do is keep it moist and misted. That’s it. You can’t go wrong. Pros: The directions on this kit are easy to follow These mushrooms grow quickly, making them the perfect choice for kids and families It is affordably priced Cons: These mushrooms need to be grown in a temperature-controlled area and can’t take high heat or very low temperatures Frequently Asked Questions Why do you use terms like “spores,” “spawn,” and “cultures” instead of “seeds,” or “planting”? Mushrooms are fungi. Fungi, unlike other plants, do not grow from seeds or cuttings. They grow from spores that combine to make mycelium. Cultures and spawn are similar, except that spawn has a much more dense population of mycelium. You can grow your mushrooms from spores, but that takes quite a bit more work and is usually done by someone who already has experience. Spawn and cultures are much easier to use and the best for beginners. Why can’t I simply forage for mushrooms and save some money? You could forage for mushrooms, but you may end up getting yourself or your family very sick if you mix up the species. It can be tough to differentiate between species, and many are poisonous to humans. Growing your own not only supplies a more steady crop, but it will also ensure you have a safe, edible mushroom that won’t hurt anyone.