How to Store Mushrooms So They Stay Fresh and Slime-Free (2024)

Thanks to their meaty texture and umami flavor, mushrooms are among the most versatile ingredients you can use in your cooking—but to better maximize their potential, you need to know how to store mushrooms properly. The actual practice can be tricky to master given that finicky fungi are both delicate and perishable. The refrigerator is obviously the best place to keep them, but which spot you choose impacts preservation. We caught up with culinary pros to learn more about extending their shelf life and all the key fungi facts.

Keep Mushrooms Dry

Mushrooms are made of 80 to 90 percent water, says Traci Weintraub, chef and founder of Gracefully Fed, a meal delivery service and restaurant. "Mushrooms have a porous texture, meaning they soak up water like a sponge," she adds.

Because of their water content, mushrooms must be kept dry to stay firm and fresh. The goal of mushroom storage, then, is to prevent them from releasing water and pulling moisture from the air, says Richard LaMarita, chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education. It's also essential to avoid washing mushrooms before storing them; doing so will shorten their shelf life.

How to Store Mushrooms in the Refrigerator

Whether you're storing common mushrooms (like white button or shiitake) or fancier varieties (like chanterelle), the proper storage method is generally the same.

  • Brown bag them: "Simply put whole, unwashed mushrooms in a brown paper bag and fold the top over to seal it up. The paper bag will absorb any moisture, keeping your mushrooms safe," says Weintraub.
  • Use paper towels: If you don't have a brown paper bag, Weintraub recommends wrapping the mushrooms in a paper towel and placing them in a bowl in the refrigerator. Like the bag, the paper towel will absorb moisture, helping the mushrooms stay fresh.
  • Avoid plastic: If your mushrooms come in a sealed plastic container, take them out and store them using one of the methods above. This is especially important if the plastic wrap has no holes, which can trap moisture and speed up spoilage, says LaMarita.
  • Where to store: "Avoid placing mushrooms near strong-smelling food, as they'll absorb those odors," advises Weintarub.
  • Sliced mushrooms: If you've already sliced the mushrooms (or bought them sliced), Weintraub suggests storing them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.

Even when using the storage methods above, whole mushrooms should be used within a week of purchase. Sliced mushrooms should be used within three days.

How to Freeze Mushrooms

If you're unableuse mushrooms in recipeswithin a week, consider freezing them. However, fresher mushrooms tend to freeze better, so do this sooner rather than later—and remember that you'll need to cook them first.

Yes, the first step is to briefly cook the mushrooms, which will help preserve their quality and flavor when frozen. To do this, lightly sauté them in butter until they are just cooked or steam them whole for 5 minutes (quartered or sliced mushrooms can be steamed for roughly 3 minutes).

For the best color post-freezing, you can also dip mushrooms in a solution of 1 pint water and 1 teaspoonlemon juicebefore cooking, according to theNational Center for Home Food Preservation. Once the cooked mushrooms cool, place them in a freezer-safe bag and store in the freezer for up to 12 months, says Weintraub.

How to Dehydrate Mushrooms for Long-Term Storage

Another long-term storage option is to dry your mushrooms. Compared to freezing, this method better preserves the quality of the fungi while indefinitely extending their shelf-life. Dried mushrooms also have an intense umami flavor, and they reconstitute beautifully in asoup,stew, sauce, orstir-frysays LaMarita.

To dry mushrooms, use a dehydrator or the simple technique of air-drying, which involves placing mushrooms in a mesh container with good airflow (like a circular mesh strainer) for about a week. Once they are totally dry, store them in an airtight glass jar, says LaMarita.

Signs Mushrooms Have Gone Bad

Even when stored properly, mushrooms won't last forever. You can tell mushrooms have spoiled if they're slimy, wrinkled, soggy, spongy, and darker than their original color. They'll also be smelly and moldy, says LaMarita. But if your mushrooms only have a few dark spots, they're still safe to eat—just take it as a sign that they're in decline and should be used up soon, he adds.

How to Store Mushrooms So They Stay Fresh and Slime-Free (2024)

FAQs

How to Store Mushrooms So They Stay Fresh and Slime-Free? ›

Plastic traps moisture and mushrooms end up sitting in a damp container or bag, which causes discoloration, mold, and slime. While it's best to eat button mushrooms within five days of purchasing, you can extend mushrooms' shelf life when you store them in a brown paper bag — with or without paper towels.

How do you store mushrooms so they don't get slimy? ›

Keeping them in the dry, cool fridge is the best way to prolong their life, along with avoiding water (aka washing them) until the last possible second. A paper bag or paper towel-lined zip-top plastic bag will absorb the moisture mushrooms naturally release, preventing them from getting slimy.

How to store mushrooms to keep them fresh? ›

The secret to mushroom storage is that they stay fresh longer if you take them out of their container. Wrap them in paper towels placed in open plastic bags (paper bags are even better) and keep them in the fridge. Watch our how-to video for more.

How best to preserve mushrooms? ›

Mushrooms can be preserved by canning, freezing, drying and pickling. Caution: Because of density and texture differences, only domestically grown button mushrooms may be safely canned. Other varieties can be frozen or dried.

Should mushrooms be stored in an airtight container? ›

Storing them in an air-tight container or in a plastic bag will cause condensation and speed spoilage. McGee writes that mushrooms, "should be loosely wrapped in moisture-absorbing packaging to avoid having the moisture they exhale wet their surfaces and encourage spoilage."

How to avoid slimy mushrooms? ›

Place whole mushrooms in a paper bag and store the bag on a shelf in the refrigerator. If you didn't grab a paper bag at the store, you can place the mushrooms loosely wrapped in a paper towel inside a Ziplock plastic bag, just don't seal the bag so that air can circulate.

Why are my mushrooms so slimy after washing? ›

The number one rule of thumb when it comes to detecting freshness is that when mushrooms are slimy, they're no longer ideal for use. Sliminess occurs when mushrooms have been stored incorrectly or allowed to linger in the fridge for too long— it's a clear sign that the mushrooms are beginning to spoil.

Should you store mushrooms in paper or plastic? ›

Those rolls of plastic produce bags can trap moisture, leading to a damp environment that degrades the quality of the mushrooms very quickly. On the other hand, brown paper bags offer the ideal balance of air circulation and moisture absorption, ensuring your mushrooms stay fresh for a more extended period.

Can you freeze mushrooms in a ziplock bag? ›

Flatten the mushrooms into an even layer and wrap tightly. (A thin, even layer will facilitate thawing later.) Repeat with remaining mushrooms. Insert wrapped mushrooms inside a Ziploc-type freezer bag.

How to preserve fresh mushrooms in mason jars? ›

Cover with water in a saucepan and boil 5 minutes. Fill jars with hot mushrooms, leaving 1-inch headspace. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt per pint to the jar, if desired. For better color, add 1/8 teaspoon of ascorbic acid powder, or a 500-milligram tablet of vitamin C.

What is the best container to keep mushrooms fresh in? ›

Brown bag them: "Simply put whole, unwashed mushrooms in a brown paper bag and fold the top over to seal it up. The paper bag will absorb any moisture, keeping your mushrooms safe," says Weintraub.

How do you store mushrooms with a paper towel? ›

Mushroom Storing Method: Paper Bag with Paper Towels

About this method: I lined a brown paper bag with a folded piece of paper towel and placed the mushrooms inside the bag. The results: At the end of the 10-day period, there were no slimy mushrooms.

Can I freeze fresh mushrooms? ›

You can certainly freeze mushrooms fresh, but cook them beforehand for the best texture and flavor. Mushrooms are full of water and when they're frozen from fresh, they can end up soggy, mushy and all around unpleasant. Cooking them beforehand, though, removes some of that moisture and results in better mushrooms.

Are mushrooms OK to eat if they are a little slimy? ›

It usually won't take a taste test to know whether or not your mushrooms have gone bad. One of the easiest giveaways that your mushrooms are bad is if their texture has changed from firm and plump to sticky and slimy.

How do you increase the shelf-life of mushrooms? ›

One of the most common methods for extending the shelf-life of fresh mushrooms is washing them with aqueous solutions of citric acid or citrates.

Should you keep mushrooms in the refrigerator? ›

Because of their high water content, mushrooms should be stored in the fridge to keep them as fresh as possible. You can probably get away with stashing them on the counter for a day or so, but if you want to keep them for several days, or even up to a week, place them on a shelf in the fridge.

Should you wash mushrooms before storing? ›

To avoid slimy mushrooms and maximize freshness, always clean your mushrooms just before cooking. Never wash your mushrooms before storing them.

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