Prevent mold growing on your mushrooms: here's how to store them correctly
One of the most appreciated and versatile of foods are mushrooms. We know that there are many species of mushrooms found in nature and many of these are edible. But do you know how best to store and preserve mushrooms?
We all know mushrooms are delicate and typically do not last for long. So, given this, what preservation pointers do we need to be aware of? Well, keep reading:
Why does mold appear on mushrooms?
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As mentioned, mushrooms are a delicate foodstuff and does not typically keep for long periods. So what is the main contributor to mushrooms spoiling?
The biggest problem tends to be humidity. Humidity attacks the surface of the mushrooms, keeps them constantly wet and encourages bacteria and mold to grow on them, causing them to wither very quickly. And moldy mushrooms have to be thrown away.
But there are ways to reduce this spoilage risk - keep reading:
Where and how to store mushrooms
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As indicated above, mushrooms should be kept away from humid areas. If you usually leave them out (exposed to room temperatures once we bring them home), this is a mistake. The ideal place for storing mushrooms is in the refrigerator. The low temperatures of the fridge will not allow bacteria and mold to develop on the mushrooms.
Once you have bought your mushrooms, do not wash them and place them inside a paper bag. Paper will absorb any water that the mushrooms give off themselves. And if we don't have paper bags, us paper napkins or paper kitchen towels.
Do not put mushrooms into plastic bags or leave them in their original packaging. Hermetically sealing mushrooms will provide the humid conditions that will allow damaging mold to grow.
Other preservation methods
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Keep your mushrooms dry if you want them to last for at least a week. And what if we want to keep them for longer? Well both cooked and raw mushrooms can be frozen!
Cooked mushrooms: Before placing mushrooms in the freezer, cook them for a few minutes on medium heat: this will ensure they do not lose their flavor when they are frozen. Once cooked, let them cool down and then place them in plastic ziplock bags (or vacuum pack them).
Raw mushrooms: To freeze raw mushrooms, wash and slice them (if you want) before transferring them to the freezer. Raw mushrooms will lose a bit of their flavor in the freezer, but not so much that it makes a major difference.
Summary...
To keep mushrooms at their best, just follow these few, simple rules:
- Always buy fresh mushrooms;
- Keep them in the refrigerator;
- Never wash them before storing them;
- Put them inside a paper bag (even better if it's lined with a paper napkin first).
Doing this, your mushrooms should last for about a week. To keep them longer, you'll need to freeze them.
