Buzz
Though mushrooms are delicious, nutritious, easy to prepare, and can enhance the flavor of nearly any dish, they are not the easiest ingredient to store. Within just a few days, mushrooms start to shrivel, which is a sign they are beginning to spoil. The clearest indicators of spoiled mushrooms include discoloration, sliminess, and a sour smell. To extend their shelf life, you should choose fresh, plump mushrooms from the store and store them in breathable packaging in the refrigerator.
Steps
Identify Signs of Spoiled Mushrooms
Check for wrinkles or dryness on the mushroom caps. Wrinkled or dried patches are the first signs that mushrooms are beginning to spoil. Use the mushrooms immediately if you notice slight dryness without color change, sliminess, or odor.
- Mushrooms that have shriveled at the top are almost spoiled. Once they start shrinking, they will soon become inedible.
Check for Bruises and Brown Spots. Be cautious of mushrooms with black spots. When it comes to food safety, color changes are never a good sign. Bruises and brown or black spots are often the first indicators that the mushrooms are on the verge of spoiling.
- If the mushrooms are bruised but show no other signs of spoilage, you can consider cutting off the affected areas and using the rest. However, if the mushrooms are covered in black spots, it's best to discard them.
Discard Mushrooms with Slimy Surfaces. Sliminess on the outside of mushrooms is a clear sign that they are no longer safe to eat. Even worse, visible mold spots indicate that the mushrooms should be thrown away. You should discard the affected mushrooms instead of risking foodborne illnesses.
- By this stage, the mushrooms have lost all flavor and nutritional value, so consuming them provides no benefit.
Safety Precaution: Eating spoiled mushrooms can lead to illness, so it is best to exercise caution. To stay safe, discard any food you believe is no longer fresh.
Remove Mushrooms with Sour or Fishy Odors. A foul smell is another surefire sign that mushrooms are no longer fresh. Fresh mushrooms should have a mild, earthy scent, not a sharp odor. If you detect a sour or fishy smell, it's time to throw the mushrooms out.
- Immediately discard spoiled mushrooms to prevent bacteria and mold from spreading to other foods in the fridge.
Track Mushroom Storage Time
Store Whole Mushrooms for 7-10 Days. As a general rule, common mushrooms like white mushrooms, button mushrooms, and cremini can be stored in the refrigerator for about a week. However, the safe storage time depends on how long the mushrooms have been on display in the store. Mushrooms that have been sitting in the store for several days might start to spoil within 1-2 days.
- For the best quality, purchase the freshest mushrooms you can find and use them within 3-4 days. When selecting mushrooms, look for plump, firm specimens with no signs of damage.
Store Sliced Mushrooms for 5-7 Days. While convenient, pre-sliced fresh mushrooms spoil twice as quickly as whole mushrooms. If you want to store mushrooms for a longer period, opt for whole mushrooms rather than pre-sliced ones.
Tip: When buying mushrooms, choose ones with intact caps and stems. Mushrooms with scars or blemishes will spoil faster than those in perfect condition.
Discard Cooked Mushrooms After 3-4 Days. Most cooked food, including mushrooms, meat, seafood, and vegetables, can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. After this time, you should either throw them away or freeze them. Frozen mushrooms can last 8-12 months.
- Be sure to refrigerate leftover mushrooms within 2 hours to prevent mold and bacteria growth. You can reheat leftover mushrooms to 74°C to kill any foodborne pathogens.
- Remember that the 3-4 day guideline ensures food safety, but not quality. For instance, cooked broccoli and asparagus can become soggy within 1-2 days, and stir-fried mushrooms will become mushy after 3-4 days.
Consume Premium Mushrooms on the Day You Buy Them. Many premium mushrooms, such as hen-of-the-woods and oyster mushrooms, can only be stored for 12-24 hours. Since these mushrooms are much more expensive than basic varieties, it’s best to enjoy them immediately to get the most value.
- Some premium mushrooms, like morels and shiitake mushrooms, can last 1-2 weeks. However, to ensure the best quality, they should still be consumed as soon as possible.
Safe Mushroom Storage
Ensure the Refrigerator Temperature is Below 4°C. Mushrooms, like other perishable foods, should be kept at temperatures under 4°C. You can store them on any shelf in the fridge, without needing to place them in the vegetable drawer.
- Always store mushrooms in the fridge, never at room temperature.
- If your fridge seems to be not preserving food as well as usual, check the temperature settings and adjust as needed.
Store Packaged Mushrooms in Their Original Packaging. If you only need a few mushrooms, you can cut a small hole in the package to retrieve the desired amount, then reseal it with plastic wrap.
- The packaging and plastic wrap allow the mushrooms to 'breathe,' reducing moisture buildup inside.
Store Loose Mushrooms in a Partially Open Plastic Bag. If you buy loose mushrooms, store them in a partially open plastic bag to allow air circulation. Moisture trapped in a sealed bag will cause mushrooms to sweat and spoil more quickly.
Note: Popular mushroom storage tips suggest using paper bags or wrapping them in damp paper towels. However, these methods are not the best. Mushrooms stored in paper bags quickly shrivel and become soggy, while damp paper towels speed up the spoilage process.
Không để nấm chung với thịt sống, trứng và hải sản. Luôn tách riêng nấm với các thực phẩm tươi sống khi để trong xe đẩy ở siêu thị cũng như khi cất trong tủ lạnh. Trong khi chế biến, bạn cần dùng một bộ dao thớt để thái thịt sống và một bộ để thái đồ chín.
- Việc tách riêng nấm với thịt sống và hải sản là đặc biệt quan trọng nếu bạn định ăn nấm không nấu chín.
- Ngoài ra, nấm cũng có tính hút mùi, do đó bạn cũng nên để nấm cách xa các thực phẩm nặng mùi.
Lời khuyên
- Nhớ rằng thực phẩm tươi càng ăn sớm càng tốt. Cố gắng ăn nấm trong vòng 3-4 ngày.
- Nấm tươi không đông lạnh được, nhưng bạn có thể hấp hoặc xào nấm, để nguội đến nhiệt độ phòng, sau đó cho vào tủ đông và bảo quản trong 8-12 tháng.
- Nấm là nguyên liệu cực kỳ đa dụng, vì vậy bạn sẽ không khó tìm được cách chế biến Ví dụ, bạn có thể làm món trứng rán với nấm, xào nấm với thảo mộc và dầu ô liu, hoặc cho vào sốt mì. Bạn cũng có thể đặt vài lát nấm tươi lên trên mặt bánh pizza đông lạnh, sau đó nướng như hướng dẫn.
Cảnh báo
- Đối với nấm hoang dã, tốt nhất là bạn nên cẩn thận khi kiểm tra chất lượng nấm. Đừng cố gắng tự mình xác định loại nào là nấm ăn được, loại nào là nấm độc. Đừng ăn nấm hoang dã, trừ khi có chuyên gia về nấm xác định là ăn được.
