Mushrooms are fruits formed from underground fungi, many of which are edible. Chefs appreciate mushrooms for their unique flavors, rich textures, and versatility. However, if you don’t store mushrooms properly, they can rot and become unappetizing.
How you want to store mushrooms depends largely on how you received them. To some extent it may also depend on the actual type of mushroom, but most mushroom species are stored in roughly the same way.
Mushrooms should generally be stored in the refrigerator.
Many store-bought mushrooms will be packaged when you receive them. They are usually in a Styrofoam tray, covered with some kind of plastic wrap. You can simply leave them in their store-bought packaging, which is designed to store mushrooms. Put them in the fridge, somewhere outside the drawer, and you’ll be fine. Prepackaged mushrooms can last a week or more without going bad, as long as they don’t break open. Once opened, follow the directions for storing loose store-bought mushrooms if you don’t use them all at once.
Loose mushrooms should be stored in a paper bag.
If you want to store mushrooms that you bought new, put them in a paper bag. The paper bag will absorb excess moisture from the mushrooms, rather than letting it build up inside and rot the mushrooms, which a plastic bag will do. Because the bag can get wet, some people prefer to use the two-bag technique for storing mushrooms. First place the loose mushrooms in a paper bag, fold over the top, then store the paper bag inside a slightly perforated plastic bag.
mushrooms.
Store the entire bag in the refrigerator, but don’t store it in the crisper drawer. You want the mushrooms to stay fresh, but you always want moisture to get out of them and not collect in the bag with them. Store mushrooms away from any foods in your refrigerator that give off strong odors. Mushrooms absorb odors incredibly, and if you place them near fragrant foods, they tend to absorb some of that smell.
Enoki mushrooms can be stored in plastic in the refrigerator for up to a week.
If you store mushrooms correctly, they will keep for a few days. Try to use them as often as possible, as their freshness can wear off quickly. Most of the lighter tan mushrooms darken as they age, so it’s a good idea to try using the darker mushrooms in the bunch first, so you can use them before they go bad. Mushrooms should also be stored whole. It’s a bad idea to cut them or prepare them in any way before storing, as this will shorten their shelf life. You can pickle or can the mushrooms, in which case they will last almost indefinitely. Mushrooms can also be dried, which will allow them to last forever if protected from moisture.