Sometimes, we are left with extra mushrooms and are confused about how to use them at one go? You can preserve them for future use by freezing them. Moreover, this does not affect their taste.
Be Careful in Storing
Only certain types of mushrooms are edible, while some people are allergic to them. Also, incorrectly stored mushrooms can cause food poisoning. Hence, always ensure good storage and keep an eye out for any molds when you want to use your frozen mushrooms.
Mushrooms have made their way from the wild to every cuisine. It has become quite an important ingredient in many delicacies. While they are good to taste and healthy, they can also be harmful to humans if stored or cooked incorrectly.
Different Type of Mushrooms:
There are many types of mushrooms available in the market. But, always be sure of their edibility and preparation or cooking procedures. Some can be eaten raw, while some can be toxic, so be sure of what you’re eating.
You can forget the toxic part, as long as you take utmost care. Let’s talk about the taste they bring to our food. Not only the taste, they are also rich in vitamins as they’re exposed to sunlight. Now, you can proudly finish off all the mushrooms because you’ll be eating healthy!
Mushrooms can perish quite soon. Some fresh mushrooms may stay up to a week, but freezing them is a better option because this will ensure that they last much longer. And most importantly, freezing doesn’t change their taste or texture. Let’s learn how to freeze them.
Before You Begin
Selecting the right mushrooms is important. Choose those which look and smell fresh. Avoid those which have dark molds and bad odor.
Cleaning mushrooms is always recommended because they can grow in the dirtiest of places. Some prefer not to wash them in water as it can make them soggy. You can just wipe them if you want. But, running them under cold water can help.
Trimming also can be done. Cut the ends of the stem and slice as you prefer.
While using freezer bags, try to remove as much air as possible, and then pack.
Another important thing is to write the type of mushroom and the date on the container or freezer bag. The date on which you kept it for freezing will remind you how long it has been kept there.
Freezing Raw Mushrooms
The first step is cleaning and slicing them.
Take a cookie sheet and spread all the mushrooms on it such that no piece sticks to the other. *You may dust some flour to prevent them from sticking. Freeze them for 2 – 3 hours.
After that, you can just take them out and put them in an airtight container. The previous step is done to keep all the slices loose.
Freezing Cooked Mushrooms
Some mushroom types like oyster, tooth, chicken of the woods, and button mushrooms have a better texture when frozen after they have been cooked. There are two options to freeze them. But, first clean and cut!
Option #1: Steaming:
Steaming and then freezing will extend the freezing time and will also hold their flavor and texture longer. They are first given an anti-darkening treatment. It can be done by boiling mushroom slices in 2 cups of water and 1 tsp. of lemon juice. Steam the mushrooms for 3 – 5 minutes, depending on the size of the slices. Drain them and let them cool. After they are completely cooked, freeze them in any airtight freezer container or bag. Ensure that you keep 1/2 an inch as the head space.
Option #2: Sauté/Frying
Take a frying pan and add a little oil or butter to it. You can also add a pinch of butter, salt, and herbs for flavor. Add the mushrooms and stir them occasionally. Cook them for almost 3 – 4 minutes, till they’re almost full cooked. Let them cool completely, and then, you can pack them in freezer bags or airtight containers.
