How to store mushrooms - this question often arises among avid mushroom pickers who bring home whole buckets of forest gifts. Boiled or fried, mushrooms become a tasty addition to various side dishes, soups, and pies. How to prolong their freshness as much as possible will be discussed in our article.
The height of the mushroom season is the time to harvest mushrooms for the winter
Is it possible to store mushrooms?
First, you should figure out whether it is possible to store such “vegetable meat” at all.
Experts classify mushrooms as perishable foods. They, like any other plant matter, without receiving nutrition, soon begin to die, that is, to decompose and rot. At the same time, mushrooms release toxic substances that are dangerous to health. This can happen within a few hours after cutting. It is almost impossible to stop the decay process. But under certain conditions, there is a chance to keep mushrooms fresh for 3 days or even longer.
Frozen mushrooms
Today, freezing vegetables, fruits and berries for the winter has become popular. Fortunately, this is facilitated by the latest refrigeration chambers. Mushrooms were not spared from this method of storage.
By resorting to this method, you can preserve the product for a long time without losing its positive properties. This is not difficult, but following certain rules will help achieve the desired result:
- Young, freshly picked, unspoiled and undamaged mushrooms are suitable for freezing. The less time passes from the moment of collection to loading into the freezer, the better.
- The mushrooms are lightly washed and dried until completely dry.
- Place the product on a baking sheet in one row and freeze, then place in prepared containers. Should be stored in the freezer.
- For greater safety, many mushrooms are boiled before freezing. Cook for a short time, about five minutes. If the fruit is large, it is divided into pieces. Cooked mushrooms are cooled well and dried thoroughly.
- To defrost the mushrooms, remove them from the freezer but leave them in the refrigerator for several hours.
- These products are not subject to secondary freezing.
Frozen mushrooms do not spoil for up to twelve months.
There are many ways to store mushrooms at home. And it's quite simple. It’s a completely different matter if you want to bring home mushrooms from a hike. There is no way to deliver them fresh, but there is a way out, although you will have to work hard.
Storage conditions
There are several rules that, if followed, will slow down the decomposition process and prolong the freshness of plant-based meat.
1. The most important condition is coolness. The ambient temperature should not be high. For mushrooms, temperatures of 20 degrees and below are permissible.
2. The second most important rule is the absence of light sources. If they are directed at the fruit, then this can be equated to warm storage. The best solution is to leave the mushrooms in a dark place.
3. Another enemy of plant-based meat is high humidity. It only provokes the process of decay.
So, how to keep porcini mushrooms and any other species fresh for several days? They should be left in a cool, dark place with relatively low humidity.
Common storage errors
Such a fastidious product to store as mushrooms often begins to deteriorate ahead of time - within a day after collection and processing. This may be due to many factors related to improper preparation and storage of the product.
The most common mistakes made during storage are:
- Store in tightly tied plastic bags. Due to the release of condensation, the contents of bags without periodic ventilation quickly begin to rot and deteriorate.
- Store open in the refrigerator next to strong-smelling foods. Mushrooms quickly absorb the odors around them, losing the richness of their aroma.
- Storing mushrooms of the same variety together. They have different storage characteristics, as well as excellent shelf life, so mixing them is not recommended.
- Adding insufficient vinegar to the marinade. In this case, it will not be possible to preserve the contents of the jars for a long time.
- Neglecting recommendations for pre-soaking the crop in a saline solution. It is this stage that often helps to preserve the mushrooms in their previous state for a long time, avoiding their spoilage.
Features of storing store-bought mushrooms
If you purchased mushrooms in original packaging, you should follow the dates indicated on the container itself. Ideally, this should be a vacuum bag, then the product is guaranteed not to deteriorate within a month, as the manufacturer claims. It is recommended to leave the product in the same packaging. But it’s better to play it safe and store mushrooms for no more than 3-5 days.
Trays simply covered with film can usually be stored for up to one week. But in fact, the process of decomposition under polyethylene begins much earlier. In this case, it will not be possible to keep the mushrooms fresh for more than 2-3 days. Therefore, it is better to transfer them to another bowl. Which one exactly will be discussed a little later.
Store-bought mushrooms are usually clean, but before cooking they should be rinsed with running water, dried on a paper towel, and all yellowed parts removed. The product should be used immediately, maximum within two to three hours.
How to preserve porcini mushroom
The king of mushrooms is the boletus (ceps), which is strikingly different from its fellows. This applies to size, taste, and nutritional properties. Boletus is rich in protein, a large number of microelements and amino acids that affect digestion.
There is an assumption by medical researchers about the property of this fungus, which protects the body from the occurrence of malignant tumors.
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Therefore, the question of whether porcini mushrooms can be stored does not even arise. This unique mushroom is perfect for various types of preparations and storage.
Preparing wild mushrooms
Regarding mushrooms collected in the forest, there will be slightly different recommendations. They must be carefully prepared for storage. First, you need to carefully inspect the crop and discard any unknown or apparent fruits. They may be inedible or poisonous, so it is better to avoid further processing. You will also have to throw away all rotten and damaged copies. To keep mushrooms fresh for at least two days, they must be young, strong and undamaged. Such fruits must be cleared of soil, sand, pine needles, moss, blades of grass and other forest debris so that the microorganisms on them do not provoke rotting. If there are minor darkened areas (brown or black) on the mushroom, they should be removed. Dirt from the stem also needs to be cut off. Afterwards, you can start washing the harvested crop.
It is recommended to soak the mushrooms to get rid of any remaining sand and twigs. This will also help drive out worms and insects, which are directly involved in damaging the fruit and therefore shorten the shelf life. The water should be sufficiently salty (for 5 liters - approximately 100-200 grams). All mushrooms must be dipped into the resulting solution. After 6-12 hours they need to be taken out and washed again. Place on a napkin to drain. While the mushrooms are drying, they can be examined again. If darkened areas appear, they need to be cut off with a knife.
There are several ways to keep mushrooms fresh for 3 days. But the most important thing is to choose the right place.
Preparation for storage
In order to preserve the quality of mushrooms in the same condition for as long as possible, you need to immediately pay attention to their processing and preparation for storage.
It consists of several stages:
- Sort the harvest carefully. Get rid of all leaves, dirt, sand, rocks and other forest debris.
- Rinse the mushrooms generously under running water for 3-5 minutes.
- Soak them in a container of salt water for 1-2 hours. This will help get rid of unwanted insects and neutralize pathogenic microflora. Lamellar mushrooms, unlike tubular mushrooms, are recommended to be soaked in a salty solution overnight.
- Rinse the crop again and trim off any damaged or spoiled parts.
- Place the mushrooms on a horizontal surface lined with paper or regular towels. Let them drain and dry spontaneously. There is no need to rub them with your hands in an attempt to dry them, this will only damage them.
- Carefully transfer them to an open container and place them in the refrigerator.
Important! It is recommended to store mushrooms in a container made of stainless materials. Metal containers can oxidize, leading to premature rotting.
Selecting a location
As already mentioned, plant-based meats should be stored in a cool, dark, and not humid place. A refrigerator is ideal for these criteria. The fruits can remain fresh in it for up to several days. Without refrigeration, they will spoil in a matter of hours. In a private house, mushrooms can be temporarily sent to the cellar. It is usually dark and quite cool there.
Whatever location is chosen, it is important to comply with one condition. Mushrooms perfectly absorb foreign odors, so they should not be stored next to foods that have a pronounced aroma. These include onions, garlic and herbs.
How to preserve freshly picked mushrooms
There are many ways to preserve this unique forest gift. First of all, remember - mushrooms have the ability to actively absorb surrounding odors. Therefore, they are stored separately from other products.
It is better to process fresh mushrooms immediately and eat them. In the case when you have to use them in a day (maximum, in three), use a capacitor.
Air temperature
The shelf life of mushrooms depends on the ambient temperature. The colder it gets, the longer the time interval becomes.
- At 7-10 degrees, mushrooms are stored for up to 12-17 hours.
- From 2 to 6 degrees – 1-3 days.
- From -2 to 2 degrees – 3-4 days.
That is, how to keep mushrooms fresh for 3 days? You need to leave them in a place where the temperature is close to zero. In the refrigerator on the lowest shelf, fruits can remain fresh for up to 7 days without loss of taste. After this, harmful substances begin to be produced. For longer storage, you should resort to drying, canning or freezing. These processing methods stop the spoilage of mushrooms for up to 2-3 years.
Frozen boletus
Freezing is simpler and easier than other storage methods. There are several freezing options:
- It is very easy to freeze raw mushrooms - lay the mushrooms on a flat dish and freeze. Then the frozen pieces are placed in containers.
- Boiled boletus mushrooms remove moisture well and are packaged in bags. Then place it in the freezer.
- Fried mushrooms can also be preserved by freezing. Fry in oil until the liquid has completely evaporated, let it cool and only then put it into bags.
The temperature in the freezer should be -18 degrees. Frozen mushrooms are subjected to heat treatment before eating; they cannot be eaten raw.
Selection of cookware
To store mushrooms, it is better to take a glass or metal container with enamel walls. To prevent them from drying out, they need to be covered. You cannot seal it with a lid - the product must breathe. Cotton fabric or paper is ideal. If you need to preserve fresh mushrooms for a day, you can put them in an airtight container.
Some people prefer to use craft bags. They are made of durable paper that does not get wet and at the same time allows air to pass through. Bags made of natural fabric (cotton or linen) have a similar property. They create natural aeration necessary for mushrooms. But such packaging does not protect from moisture. To improve the quality of such bags, they need to be placed in a strong saline solution for several hours. Afterwards, you need to pull them out and hang them up so that the fabric dries thoroughly. Salt will not only draw out moisture, but also protect against pests.
It is not recommended to store mushrooms in aluminum containers. It will provoke early oxidation, which will lead to spoilage of the product. In addition, even aluminum tools (spoons, scoops, tongs, etc.) should not be left in containers with mushrooms.
You should also stop using plastic bags. Due to temperature changes, condensation forms in them, which is favorable soil for the appearance of mold. If there is nothing else besides polyethylene, you will have to periodically ventilate the product to prevent moisture accumulation.
Of course, any dishes with mushrooms must be sent to a cool place.
How to store fresh mushrooms?
Immediately after harvesting, you need to pay attention to its storage. Mushrooms are not a product that can remain unprocessed at room temperature for a long time; it will begin to deteriorate after 6-7 hours.
Fresh mushrooms should be stored in the refrigerator in the vegetable compartment, as it maintains a temperature of 0 to +5 degrees Celsius, which will preserve the valuable product.
When storing fresh mushrooms, pay attention to the following recommendations:
- Pre-sort the different types. There is no need to mix them and store them in one place, provided they are in direct contact with each other.
- Do not put specimens that begin to deteriorate in the same place with young and fresh mushrooms. Even minor signs of rotting, insect damage, or cracks can lead to damage to the entire contents of the container.
- Do not store them near strong-smelling foods - salted and smoked fish, fried chicken, etc.
- Do not store mushrooms in plastic bags. A large amount of condensation will lead to their rapid rotting. It is better to choose open bowls or even pans. A large amount of mushrooms can simply be poured into the vegetable drawer in the refrigerator, which must first be rinsed and disinfected.
Useful tips
How to keep mushrooms fresh for several days? To do this, it is important to observe some nuances.
- For short-term storage, it is better to take only whole fruits, without breaks, dents or other defects. Therefore, you need to harvest the crop as carefully as possible. You should also not cut the mushrooms into pieces.
- You don't need to wash the mushrooms for too long. They quickly absorb water, which impairs taste and shortens shelf life. After washing, you need to dry the fruit thoroughly using napkins or a paper towel.
- It is advisable to process plant-based meat within a few hours. If you need to postpone this task and keep the mushrooms fresh until the next day, then it is better not to wash them, but only clean them of debris and wipe them with a cloth. Afterwards you need to leave it in the cold in the recommended container.
Necessary canons
Freshly picked mushrooms do not last long in the refrigerator. Products purchased in the store are already packaged properly (vacuum packaging) with expiration dates indicated.
So, how to properly store them?
- Select intact specimens without any damage. To do this, when picking, do not pull out the mushroom, but cut off the stem with a knife.
- They should not be washed. Place them in a container (preferably enameled) and cover with a clean towel.
- Do you decide to wash the mushrooms? Don't get carried away, because they absorb moisture very much. After washing, dry them thoroughly.
- To clean the harvested crop from unwanted worms, you need to immerse it in salt water for about ten minutes, then dry it.
- Storage containers should facilitate ventilation of the product. Paper bags and enamel containers are suitable. The dish with mushrooms placed in it is covered with a cotton towel or paper.
- Plastic bags are strictly contraindicated - mushrooms spoil faster in them.
Having fulfilled all the instructions, we will be able to preserve mushrooms for a short period of time, but we want this nutritious and healthy product to always be at hand. Therefore, you can freeze, pickle or preserve mushrooms and dry them. Consider each published option.
Salting mushrooms
This is a very interesting way to preserve the freshness of mushrooms, which few people know about. Pour a layer of salt into the pan. Place a row of clean mushrooms on it. Alternate layers until the pan is filled to the top. The mushrooms will be tasty because they will take as much salt as needed for storage. The container can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Drying and drying
It is believed that dried porcini mushrooms are much tastier than natural ones. As they say, the taste and color, however, are noted for the rich and concentrated aroma and taste of dried boletus.
This storage option requires pre-processing and has its own nuances:
- Only high-quality products can be dried, without the slightest damage, and even more so, signs of spoilage;
- mushrooms are not washed;
- dry cleaning;
- remove the end of the leg;
- sort;
- Do not use metal knives;
- very large specimens are crushed.
There are several ways to dry and cure. Traditionally, they are dried in the sun (removed at night to prevent them from getting damp). Boletus mushrooms are also dried in the oven or using an electric dryer.
Store in glass containers, fabric and paper bags. Dried mushrooms can be stored for up to six months. Mushroom powder can be prepared from them; its shelf life reaches three years.
Mushrooms in a net
This method is even more unusual; it involves hanging storage. Mainly suitable for the oyster mushroom genus. The fruits need to be cut into strips and wrapped in tight balls, the diameter of which is 10-20 centimeters. Then place them in nylon tights, stockings or mesh. Hang the resulting bags in the basement or cellar. You can store even more than one day, up to one month. Over time, such balls become even tastier and more aromatic, as they produce new mycelium.
Types of mushrooms
Porcini
Before preparing a porcini mushroom in any way, it, like all other types of mushrooms, must be washed and inspected, suspicious areas must be cut off - rot, traces of insects, rodents, etc.
Fresh porcini mushroom can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours at a temperature below 2 °C degrees. It is best to freeze raw boletus mushrooms in the freezer - this way they last longer than frozen boiled ones. Properly dried porcini mushrooms should not be fragile, but flexible; they can be stored for more than a year.
Milk mushroom
Kefir Tibetan mushroom is very unusual. It has the ability to create a healthy product - kefir. Milk fungus is usually stored in a jar, filled with milk, but how to store it if there is no milk? Or what to do with the mushroom during a break from making kefir? Just fill a jar with water and put it in the refrigerator. This way the mushroom can be stored for a couple of days. If you need to leave for several days, the mushroom can be frozen in the freezer.
Tea mushroom
Kombucha, like milk tea, is stored in jars. Storing it is very simple - in any situation, put it in the refrigerator - during a vacation or your long absence for another reason, for the winter, for a period when you do not need the mushroom.
Oyster mushrooms
It is best to store oyster mushrooms in the refrigerator after harvesting. This is done in the same way as with all other mushrooms.
Champignon
Unpackaged raw champignons can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than three days. If they are packaged in plastic bags or closed containers, the mushrooms can be stored there for a week. It is important to know that if you have chosen plastic bags for storing champignons, you should take them out of the refrigerator, untie them and let them “breathe” sometimes. In the case of containers, you don't need to do anything like that.
Chanterelles
To preserve all the many useful substances in mushrooms, and at the same time have the opportunity to prepare any dishes from chanterelles all winter, it is best to freeze them. The freezing process itself is no different from freezing any other mushrooms, but, unfortunately, chanterelles tend to taste bitter after freezing. To reduce the chance that chanterelles will be bitter, do not collect them in coniferous forests or after a dry summer. Pre-cooking the chanterelles will also save you from bitterness. Tip: freeze chanterelles in small portions.
Outdoor storage
Usually no one takes a refrigerator with them to the forest. But even there you can preserve mushrooms for several days. How to do it? To do this, the peeled fruits need to be spread out in one layer in a well-ventilated place. This will help evaporate excess water from the caps and legs. Afterwards, the mushrooms should be cut into pieces and hung over the fire, strung on a thread. They will dry out quite quickly, so you should be careful not to burn them. In this form, the harvest will be able to “survive” home.
So, if certain conditions are met, it is quite possible to prolong the freshness of mushrooms. In this case, it is not at all necessary to resort to drying or freezing.
Long-term storage
One of the most common methods of long-term storage of mushrooms is freezing . But to save space in the freezer, it is better to blanch the mushrooms first or boil them briefly in salted water (1 tablespoon of salt per 1 liter of water).
Blanching is the rapid processing of a product in boiling water, which allows you to preserve most of the beneficial substances.
To obtain a high-quality workpiece, follow the following sequence of actions:
- Clean the mushrooms and rinse them under running water. If there is a large amount of sand or specimens damaged by worms, soak the mushrooms for 2-3 hours in salt water, and then rinse several more times.
- Cut large specimens into pieces.
- Let the mushrooms dry, then immerse them in boiling salted water for a couple of minutes (blanch).
- Place lightly boiled honey mushrooms, boletus or saffron milk caps in cold water for about half an hour, then remove them to a colander.
- Wait until all the water has drained, then place the mushrooms in containers for freezing (food-grade plastic containers or bags are suitable).
- Place the preparations in the freezer.
If the temperature is maintained, frozen mushrooms can be stored for about a year.
How long can frozen mushrooms be stored in the freezer? The following table shows at what temperature and for how long it is recommended to store fresh mushrooms:
Storage | Temperature | Shelf life |
Freezer | −14… −12 ℃ | 3-4 months |
−18… −14 ℃ | 4-6 months | |
−24… −18 ℃ | up to 12 months | |
Fridge | −2…0 ℃ | 3-4 days |
0…+5 ℃ | 1-3 days | |
+7…10 ℃ | 12-17 hours |
Storing mushrooms at home is easy. But what to do if there is a need to process a fresh harvest on a hike? The best way for emergency harvesting is drying . Drying will allow you to preserve porcini mushrooms, boletus, boletus, Polish, autumn honey mushrooms and other species without leaving the forest. To do this you need:
- Peel the mushrooms and remove the caps. It is better to cut large ones, small ones can be left whole. It is recommended to use the legs for cooking and eat them immediately or cut them lengthwise into several pieces, as they take much longer to dry.
- Place the prepared product in a well-ventilated area to remove excess moisture as quickly as possible.
- String the mushrooms on a string and hang them over the fire at a safe distance from the fire.
- Wait until it dries completely, constantly monitoring the condition of the workpiece.
- Place dry mushrooms in a tightly sealed container so that they do not absorb moisture from the air.
There is another way to dry mushrooms on the go . It’s more difficult to implement, but you don’t have to monitor the process all the time. In the evening, dig a hole in the ground and line it with stones from the inside. Light a fire in the prepared niche to heat the stones. When the fire dies out, carefully remove the hot coals. Thread the mushrooms onto twigs or skewers and place them in the hole so that they do not come into contact with the stones or with each other. When the stones have cooled down a little, cover the improvised drying rack with oilcloth and leave it overnight. In the morning, take out the workpiece, sort it out and sort it. If there are a lot of undried pieces, then heat the stones again and repeat the process. Wrap the finished mushrooms in gauze or any other breathable material and let them air.
Well-dried mushrooms can retain their quality for 2-3 years if stored properly
You can dry mushrooms at home - in a dryer or in a regular oven. The finished product is placed in a closed container and placed in a dark, dry place. Before use, it is recommended to soak them in water for several hours.
You can learn more about storing dried mushrooms from this article.
How to preserve mushrooms for the winter without freezing or drying? You can salt or marinate them in jars. On our website you will find recipes for canning milk mushrooms, milk mushrooms, chanterelles, russula, honey mushrooms or butter mushrooms for every taste. Each method of mushroom preparation has its own advantages and disadvantages, so the choice is yours.
You can store mushrooms in jars (salted, pickled) with a tin lid in a cold place for no more than a year
What are the benefits of mushrooms?
Mushrooms are a special product; the benefits and harms of consuming them raise a lot of controversy. There is an opinion that mushrooms can replace meat. This is wrong. More than 80% of the mushroom consists of water. The protein content in mushrooms is 5 times less than in meat, and this is not the easiest product for the human body to digest. But there are many other reasons why you should include mushrooms in your diet.
Benefits of mushrooms in the diet:
- This is a low-calorie product that gives a long-lasting feeling of fullness. A good dish for diet and lenten menus.
- Mushrooms contain a certain amount of vitamins, microelements and beneficial acids (for example, porcini mushrooms contain vitamin PP, which strengthens the heart muscle).
- Stimulates gastric secretion and liver function.
- Help regulate blood sugar and insulin levels.
- Contains anti-cancer substances.
Despite all the benefits, mushrooms are a difficult product for digestion, and they are associated with an increased risk of food poisoning, so they are not recommended:
- children under 7 years old;
- pregnant and lactating women;
- To old people;
- patients with acute forms of gastrointestinal diseases.
Mushrooms can be eaten no more than twice a week. They are used to diversify the diet, but not as its basis.
About storing mushrooms in the refrigerator and freezer
Under standard conditions, raw and at the same time whole mushrooms will remain suitable for consumption for four to seven days. As for the chopped ones, you should not wait with them for more than two days.
If we are talking about preserving such a product, then the need for low temperature is minimal until the moment of opening. Place the container in the refrigerator and you won’t have to worry about anything for three to four days.
As for the freezer, this is for fried mushrooms. All others will simply lose the freshness effect.
Freezing
You can freeze any mushrooms. If they are pre-washed, wait until they dry completely, otherwise freezing water will disrupt the structure of the fruiting body. This will have a bad effect on the taste and consistency of the product after defrosting.
Small mushrooms (for example, honey mushrooms) can be frozen whole, large ones can be cut into pieces up to 2 cm thick. Spread the mushrooms in a thin layer on a tray and place in the freezer for 12 hours. Then pour it into bags or containers.
To save time on cooking, mushrooms can be boiled or fried before freezing. But you need to take into account that they will be stored less (boiled - up to 6 months, fried - up to 3 months). It is convenient to freeze mushrooms in portions in plastic bags or containers to defrost the amount needed for one dish.
Storing dried mushrooms for the winter
So, the useful gifts of the forest have been sorted and dried, now we need to find a place where they could be stored in the best way.
If we are talking about a country house, this is, first of all, an attic - unheated, dry and well ventilated. During the cold season, it is easy to maintain a temperature of 11 – 15ºС; it is considered optimal for storing dry mushrooms. It is better to avoid the cellar due to high humidity, which will lead to molding of the product. The attic intended for storage must be additionally insulated, the cracks must be sealed to prevent drafts and temperature changes, and, in addition, the wooden surfaces must be treated with antiseptics.
Sun drying
You can dry mushrooms in a more “natural” way, if the weather cooperates: only hot days without precipitation are suitable for this purpose. You need to take strong thick threads and string mushrooms on them. You can string 50 or more pieces, ranging from the largest to the smallest. It is necessary to hang mushrooms in full sun. If there are several threads, it is important to maintain a distance between them and not hang them close to each other; the mushrooms should not touch.
Commercial storage of mushrooms
Not everyone has the opportunity to pick mushrooms in the forest every summer, but everyone wants to cook various dishes from them, so the business associated with selling mushrooms is very profitable, but at the same time there are a lot of difficulties in it. The main one is that mushrooms are a perishable product, so they should be stored in special conditions. Most often, the fruiting bodies of mushrooms for sale (in stores, restaurants, cafes) are stored at low temperatures (from 0 to 4 degrees). This way the mushrooms remain fresh, but at the same time do not freeze.
Processed mushrooms
Frozen
Frozen boiled mushrooms can be stored in the freezer for the same amount of time as raw mushrooms - 1 year. It is best to store them in special food bags or freezer containers.
The shelf life of frozen mushrooms in raw form is 1 year.
If fried or boiled mushrooms are frozen, their shelf life in the freezer does not exceed three months.
Frozen mushrooms are stored in a freezer, the temperature of which does not exceed −18 °C . At home, thick plastic bags or special molds are used to store frozen mushrooms.
Pickled
Optimal conditions for storing pickled mushrooms are a temperature of approximately 18 °C, cool, dark. The cellar is best suited for this. We recommend using small glass jars with glass lids. If done correctly, pickled mushrooms can be stored for up to two years. Canned mushrooms in jars in the refrigerator can also be stored for about two years.
The shelf life of pickled mushrooms is one year if the jar is closed with a tin lid. The glass lid allows you to extend the shelf life up to two years.
Important to know: Canned mushrooms are produced using special processing to increase the shelf life of mushrooms!
The shelf life of pickled mushrooms is also affected by temperature storage conditions and the amount of acetic acid in the marinade.
Store mushrooms only in non-oxidizing containers in a cool room where the temperature is maintained no higher than 8 degrees. If the lid on the jar is swollen, then you cannot eat such mushrooms.
Dried
Dried mushrooms are best stored in breathable fabric. It will save the mushrooms from dust and insects, and at the same time does not block access to air. Dry mushrooms wrapped in cloth are best placed in a dry, well-ventilated place.
The shelf life of dried mushrooms is 1 year 6 months, at a temperature not exceeding 20 ° C and low humidity (60 - 65%).
In damp, poorly ventilated areas, mushrooms become moldy and spoil.
- Dried mushrooms are stored separately from other products in a dry place;
- Paper or fabric bags are used as containers;
- During storage, it is necessary to ensure access to fresh air to the product;
- Also, well-dried mushrooms can be stored in glass jars with an airtight lid.
The optimal shelf life of dried mushrooms is one year. In order for dried mushrooms to retain their properties for a long time, it is necessary to follow the storage rules for this product.
Dried mushrooms must be stored in a dry and well-ventilated area, away from sunlight and products with a strong odor.
The optimal container for storage is linen or paper bags. Completely dry mushrooms are stored well in a glass container with a screw-on lid.
Ready meals
If you need to store fried mushrooms for the winter, put them in jars, fill them with oil and cover with nylon lids. Place in the refrigerator. If you do not store the mushrooms in the refrigerator, the jars must be sterilized after rolling.
Drying
Drying is a great way to prolong the life of mushrooms. Knowing how dried mushrooms are stored, you can use this processing method, which allows you to store mushrooms for twelve months, sometimes longer.
For this type of storage, it is best to choose mushrooms that have a base under the cap in the form of tubes; they are perfect:
- White mushrooms;
- Butter;
- Saffron milk caps and so on;
Among the lamellar mushrooms suitable for drying are champignons, chanterelles and others. You cannot dry old mushrooms, as well as those that have defects. Properly dried mushrooms do not crumble and have a pleasant smell.
Dry mushrooms should be stored in a place where it is cool, dry and has ventilation. They absorb different flavors well, so it is better to keep dried mushrooms away from other foods and vegetables.
When asked whether it is possible to store mushrooms in a cellar, you can immediately answer in the negative, since there is often no dry air in cellars.
What mushrooms to prepare
You can harvest any edible mushrooms that grow in your area, are well known and are unmistakably recognizable to the picker.
It is best to eat, and even more so to store for future use, young mushrooms. Overgrown fruiting bodies accumulate more toxins and retain fewer nutrients. You should not take any mushrooms whose appearance is questionable: moldy, broken, damaged by pests or diseases.
Wormy mushrooms are not prepared; they can spoil the taste of the dish and even cause food poisoning. In addition, while the mushrooms are waiting for processing, one wormy mushroom can ruin half the harvest.
Attention: Mushrooms have the ability to accumulate toxins from the air and soil. You should not eat mushrooms collected near highways, industrial enterprises and landfills; the likelihood of poisoning even from edible species increases significantly.
The production of champignons in Russia is strictly regulated. It is believed that therefore champignons are free from the lack of wild mushrooms that accumulate harmful substances from the environment.