Mushrooms aren't exactly the hardiest of ingredients! Once home, they can become slimy and develop brown spots within just a few days. If we can't use them all right away, we try to do whatever we can to eek out just a little more life from our mushrooms. Here's how...
Lots of theories seem to exist about the best way to store mushrooms: in a paper bag, wrapped in damp paper towels, in a sealed container... And we've tried them all at one time or another!
Surprisingly, we've had the most success storing mushrooms in their original packaging, which is also what the test cooks at Cook's Illustrated Magazine recommend. If we know it's going to be a few days until we cook them, we just put the mushrooms directly in the fridge still in their shrink-wrapped container. Unopened, we've had mushrooms keep with very little browning for over a week!
If we know we're not going to use an entire container of mushrooms, we make a small opening in the plastic wrap toward one end of the container and draw out just what we need. You can then re-wrap that half of the container with plastic wrap. We also sometimes just put the container in a large zip-top plastic bag and push out most of the air before closing.
When buying loose mushrooms, try putting those you don't use right away in the smallest size container that will hold all the mushrooms and then wrapping the container (without its lid) with plastic wrap. Poke a few small holes in the plastic wrap to let air escape (mimicking commercial packaging).
All mushrooms can be stored in the fridge or other 40-45° environment. Mushrooms actually continue to grow after picking and refrigeration slows down their metabolism.
What do you think - is this really the best way to store mushrooms?
Related: Quick Tip: The Best Way to Store Potatoes
(Image: Emma Christensen for the Kitchn)
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I also use the "keep it in the original container method" in the fridge but once I open the plastic wrap, I place a paper towel over them and then reseal the plastic wrap. It has consistently made my mushrooms last longer without going slimy
Totally agree--unless you want dried mushrooms which can come in handy, then use a paper bag.
I agree--I've got a carton I bought Saturday, and while they're still young, they still look like "new."
i store all my mushrooms in a paper bag and they never get brown or slimy. sometimes if i have them in there for over a week or so, they dry out a bit, but not significantly. and they're still fine to cook with.
I mostly buy loose mushrooms, so the original packaging method does not work for me. I find they last longest when I put them first in a paper bag and then in a plastic bag. That way the plastic bag prevents them from drying out and the paper bag prevents them from going slimy by absorbing the moisture.
Eke out. Not eek out. Sorry for the grammar-police moment.
Bubble, paper bag inside a plastic bag is genius!
I'm a mushroom fanatic (and kind of a geek as I'm a member of the local mycoogical society and go foraging for wild ones) so we often have pounds and pounds of the stuff.
Clean, shallow UNGLAZED terracotta pots and their saucers (make sure they're not from Mexico as those have lead in them) work exceptionally well for regulating the moisture in mushrooms. I put the mushrooms in the saucer and turn the pots upside down to cover them. If you can find them, azalea or orchid pots are the best because they have extra openings in them. Stored this way in the refrigerator, some mushrooms can keep up to 2 weeks.
They do start to dry out after a bit but you can also wet down the pot/saucer if you notice the mushrooms drying too much and it will slow that process down.