Hate Soggy Mushrooms? An Expert Chef Says You May Be Storing Them Incorrectly

Few issues excite me as a lot as procuring at my native farmer’s market each Sunday. Though the distributors not often change—I’ve my favorites—the choice isn’t the identical, and nothing brings me extra pleasure than discovering new elements to play with in my kitchen each single time. (Therefore, I lately ended up with one too many cartons of trumpet mushrooms than anticipated.)

However mushrooms are way more forgiving, in contrast to the superbly ripe avocados I picked up—which have a most shelf lifetime of a few day earlier than they brown within the blink of a watch. That’s if you know the way to retailer them accurately.

Forward, Michael Handal, chef-instructor of culinary arts on the Institute of Culinary Schooling’s New York Metropolis campus, shares a couple of foolproof suggestions for conserving this nutrient-dense veggie (sure, mushrooms are technically thought of a vegetable¹) good and plump for days on finish.

The best way to wash mushrooms

In line with Handal, the easiest way to clean mushrooms is, effectively, you simply don’t (at the least you do not wish to submerge them in water totally). “Generally, mushrooms are higher served by not washing them earlier than cooking,” Handal says. “[Most commercial-grade] mushrooms are grown in fastidiously managed indoor environments and are dealt with beneath situations that stop contamination from [harmful] pathogens.” Introducing water into the combo can disrupt the spongy and porous texture of sure forms of mushrooms. The truth is, in response to America’s Take a look at Kitchen, after submerging mushrooms with uncovered gills—suppose oyster mushrooms—in water for only one minute, they absorbed as a lot as 25 p.c of their weight in liquid.

Handal says the higher technique to “wash” mushrooms is by merely dismissing any dust. “The commonest motive proposed for laundry mushrooms is to take away the compost used to develop the mushroom,” he says. “It will be sufficient to easily brush away this materials with a dry pastry brush or, at most, wipe with a moist paper towel.”

Understand that cleansing mushrooms earlier than storing them is pointless—just a little dusting proper earlier than cooking them must be greater than sufficient. The much less moisture, the longer they’ll maintain up. You may see the place that is going, proper?

How do you retain mushrooms recent longer?

For max freshness, Handal recommends storing recent mushrooms within the unique container you obtain them within the fridge’s predominant compartment. “There, they’ll obtain correct circulation of cool air. The produce compartment or crisper bin doesn’t enable for correct airflow,” he says—the final word purpose: Key moisture beneath management to stop a soggy mushroom catastrophe.

In the meantime, if the mushrooms are bought unfastened, Handal says it’s greatest to switch them to a brown paper bag earlier than stashing them within the fridge. “Fastidiously place the mushrooms contained in the bag and seal it by folding the highest a number of instances,” he says. “The bag will enable for cool airflow and moisture management.”

Handal additionally recommends avoiding meal-prepping mushrooms earlier than storing them within the fridge. “Recent mushrooms must be saved complete and never sliced; slicing will trigger the mushrooms to oxidize and brown considerably sooner than their complete counterparts,” he says.

How lengthy will mushrooms final within the fridge?

As a rule of thumb, to make sure most freshness and style, Handal says mushrooms saved within the fridge must be used inside seven days. To reiterate, keep away from washing them till proper earlier than use to assist restrict the moisture publicity as a lot as doable and the expansion of any dangerous micro organism because of trapped humidity.

On the flip facet, dried mushrooms will final for much longer. To dry mushrooms, first, clear them completely to take away any dust or particles. Then, both use a meals dehydrator or lay them out on a baking sheet in a single layer and dry them within the oven at a low temperature (round 140°F or 60°C) till they’re crisp and fully dry, which often takes a number of hours.

“Dried mushrooms ought to stay fairly usable for six months or longer when held in a tightly-sealed plastic bag or plastic dry meals container,” Handal says. Plus, there’s no must freeze them both.

Are you able to freeze mushrooms uncooked?

For those who aren’t planning on utilizing mushrooms inside seven days from if you obtained them, it’s greatest to freeze them. For optimum outcomes, Handal recommends cooking them—”a light-weight sauté or quick oven roast,” he says—earlier than freezing them, as freezing mushrooms uncooked could compromise their style and texture as soon as thawed.  “Washing the mushrooms after which freezing them of their uncooked state would enable them to change into soggy and moist when defrosted,” Handal says.

What’s the easiest way to prep mushrooms for cooking?

When you’re able to prepare dinner your mushrooms, all you’ll want is a pair of sharp knives. “Trim away dry stem ends and the fringed areas on the ends of the mushroom caps with a pointy knife,” Handal says. In line with him, a paring knife or small utility knife ought to do the job properly. Keep in mind: All the time preserve your knives sharp—a kitchen security greatest observe.

Handal notes that sturdier varieties, like white mushrooms, are very versatile—they are often sliced, diced, quartered, you title it, relying on what the mushroom recipe requires. Alternatively, oyster mushrooms solely require a slight paring of the stem finish and a mild tearing of the mushroom’s prime part to prep them for cooking.

Now, when you’re working with portobello mushrooms, you’ll must enlist the assistance of a small spoon for the perfect outcomes. “Portobello mushrooms, of any measurement, profit from a elimination of the darkish gills beneath the cap,” Handal says. “Merely scraping away the gills with the facet of a teaspoon will do the trick. This can even significantly improve the preparation of the mushroom whether or not it goes on to be sliced, sautéed, or left complete for grilling.”

When you’re all prepped and able to prepare dinner, the world is your oyster (mushroom). “Generally, mushrooms of every kind are significantly appreciated in a variety of recipes, from a easy sauté for a quick pasta, to grilled mushrooms to go together with a ravishing porterhouse steak, to a basic French boeuf bourguignon. Having fun with them is vital,” Handal says.

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