How to Clean Mushrooms the Right Way (Without Making Them Soggy!)

Mushrooms have a lot to offer. They can hold their own as an umami-packed element of a dish, or as a satisfying, meaty-without-being-meat alternative. And they add a texture to dishes that’s unlike almost anything else. Mushrooms have a spongy texture that makes them especially good at soaking up the flavors of whatever they’re cooking in, whether those are butter and miso or garlic and soy. The flip side of that absorbency, though, is that mushrooms can also absorb a lot of plain ol’ moisture, which leads to the following question: Should you wash mushrooms?

There are a lot of hot takes out there about washing mushrooms. Some people say you should never wash them because the moisture they absorb will prevent them from browning when cooked and you’ll end up with mushy, gray mushrooms instead of crisp golden-brown ones. Another piece of advice is to simply brush excess dirt from the surface of mushrooms, and that giving them a full wash isn’t really necessary. On the other hand, plenty of people can’t imagine eating mushrooms that hadn’t been washed prior to cooking. With all of these conflicting opinions floating around, what are you supposed to actually do with mushrooms before you cook them? Let’s break it down.

The answer to this question depends on where the mushrooms came from. Cultivated mushrooms — the kind you find packaged and sold at the grocery store — are grown in sterile compost that is heat-treated to remove potentially harmful bacteria. They’re quite clean to begin with and shouldn’t require more than a quick brushing away of any excess compost clinging to their surface. Per the American Mushroom Institute, “Mushroom-washing methods have been developed only as a means to enhance appearance, and remove mushroom compost flecks, not for food safety concerns.” Foraged mushrooms, on the other hand, do not have the benefit of that extra layer of protection and should always be washed to remove any dirt and/or insects.

To avoid rubbery, soggy mushrooms we first have to consider the type of mushroom we’re looking to clean and cook. The best technique to employ when cleaning mushrooms depends on their variety. 

• For varieties with exposed gills: The most absorbent types of mushrooms are ones with exposed gills, like oyster mushrooms, portobellos, and shiitakes. When cleaning these types of mushrooms, it’s best to take a dry approach and brush any dirt from their surfaces with a paper towel (you could also use a pastry brush or mushroom brush.)
• For varieties without exposed gills: Button mushrooms, creminis, and porcinis absorb much less water than the ones mentioned above and can handle a rinse in cold water. These types of mushrooms can be rinsed in the sink in a colander to remove dirt and then laid on a clean dish towel or paper towels to dry before cooking. You can also rinse these varieties of mushrooms in a salad spinner and then spin them dry. Avoid submerging any variety of mushroom completely, as it can allow water to make its way into the crevices — even of varieties without exposed gills. 

Nope. Once mushrooms have been cut they become much more absorbent. Always wash mushrooms before cutting or slicing them. If you can’t imagine cooking with mushrooms that haven’t been cleaned, opt for whole mushrooms instead of pre-sliced.

• Brush them clean. Cultivated mushrooms don’t require more than this. They’re grown in pasteurized compost and simply require excess dirt to be removed so they’re not gritty.
• Don’t soak them. A quick rinse is all you need to rinse away excess compost. Soaking mushrooms can lead to them absorbing moisture and becoming water-logged and mushy.
• Wait until just before cooking. Don’t wash mushrooms until just before cooking them. Exposure to excess moisture can speed up rotting.
• Dry mushrooms thoroughly before cooking. Lay mushrooms on a clean dish towel or paper towels and gently pat them dry. A salad spinner is also a quick way to throw off excess moisture from rinsing.
• Foraged mushrooms are a different story.  If you’re dealing with mushrooms that were foraged or you’re not sure the conditions they were grown in, give them a wash.