Mushrooms are among the most popular edible mushrooms. There are around 50 different species in the wild, many of which are edible, although some are also poisonous. The cultivated mushroom is the most commonly cultivated mushroom worldwide. Different varieties are now available, such as stone mushroom, brown or white mushroom. But whether from the forest, meadow or supermarket: freshly cut mushrooms do not last long and should therefore be processed or preserved quickly.
How long do fresh mushrooms last and how can you preserve them?
Fresh mushrooms last a maximum of four days in the refrigerator and should not be cut or cleaned beforehand. To make them last longer, mushrooms can be frozen, dried or boiled. Dried mushrooms have a particularly long shelf life and intensify the aroma.
Shelf life of fresh mushrooms
Fresh mushrooms last a maximum of four days in the refrigerator; outside the refrigerator they usually go bad after just one day. In contrast, you can store cleaned and sliced mushrooms in the freezer (not freezer!) at 18°C for between six and ten months. Dried mushrooms last even longer provided they are stored properly. Dried mushrooms belong in a dark, cool place and in an airtight container.
Store fresh mushrooms properly
If you only want to store fresh mushrooms in or outside the refrigerator for a short time, it is best to remove the plastic outer packaging for mushrooms from the supermarket. If the mushrooms remain in there, they will mold very quickly and then have to be disposed of. The mushrooms should also be cleaned and cut immediately before processing, as this will keep them fresher for longer. You should not remove any remaining soil or substrate residue when storing it in the refrigerator. Mushrooms are best stored in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator. If there is no space, store them in an airy, dark and cool place.
Preserving fresh mushrooms
Fresh mushrooms can also be preserved for longer by freezing, drying or preserving. The advantage of preservation in this case is not only the longer shelf life, but also the intensification of the aroma - dried mushrooms in particular have a particularly strong mushroom aroma. Dried mushrooms must be soaked in cold water for about two hours before preparation. The pickling water, added to the dish, can provide additional flavor. Frozen mushrooms should not be thawed but placed directly into hot fat or liquid.
Can you reheat mushrooms that have already been prepared?
Basically, you can reheat mushrooms that have already been prepared. However, to prevent food poisoning, you should follow the following instructions:
- Do not leave mushroom dishes or leftovers at room temperature for a long time.
- Instead, cool these down as quickly as possible and store them in the fridge.
- Mushroom dishes, freshly prepared, can be preserved by flash freezing.
- Once reheated, mushrooms must not be frozen again or cooled and reheated again.
Caution is particularly advised if you have added parsley to a mushroom dish: this quickly makes the dish sour and should therefore only be added when it is finally used.
Tip
It is particularly practical to cultivate mushrooms yourself. Then you can freshly cut exactly the amount of mushrooms you need right before preparation.
