How to Freeze Mushrooms

Fresh mushrooms when kept in the freezer will be soft and unappealing because the water molecules inside the mushrooms freeze into ice and break the cell walls. ^{[1] X Source of Research} The following recommended methods take only a few minutes to prepare but effectively preserve the shape and flavor of the mushrooms.

Table of Contents

Blanch Mushrooms to Freeze

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Blanch the mushrooms for easy storage. While steaming simply preserves the flavor of the mushrooms when frozen, blanching or pre-boiling will preserve the quality of the mushrooms for up to 12 months, although experts disagree with the effects of soaking mushrooms in water. water. ^{[2] X Source of Research}^{[3] X Source of Research} This method does not require many tools but only a pot of water and a stove to keep the delicious taste of mushrooms in the freezer for up to a year.

This method is extremely useful if you intend to use frozen mushrooms to make soup, because if the mushrooms are slightly mushy, they will not be easily visible.

Boiler. You need to prepare so that the mushrooms are submerged in water, then add a little water to prevent the water from drying out when boiling. If you want to keep the color of the mushrooms, you can add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to 1 quart of water. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Chop mushrooms (optional). While waiting for the water to boil, you can cut the mushrooms into quarters or pieces. Do this if the recipe includes chopped or sliced mushrooms.

While rinsing the mushrooms under running water will remove any dirt or grime from the mushrooms, boiling water will help clean the mushrooms during the cooking process. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Put the mushrooms in a pot of water and bring to a boil for 1-2 minutes. Since the mushrooms are at room temperature, when you add the mushrooms, the water will stop boiling. Wait until the water boils again and then turn off the heat after 1-2 minutes. Absolutely do not cook mushrooms because mushrooms will absorb water and become soft.

Soak mushrooms in cold water. To avoid high temperatures after cooking the mushrooms, put them in cold water. Then, wait until the mushrooms are cool enough to be touched.

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Wait for the mushrooms to drain and place in an airtight container to freeze. The container should be of the frozen type, sealed and have some room inside as the mushrooms expand when frozen. The quality of mushrooms will be preserved for up to 1 year. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Add frozen mushrooms directly to the dish you are preparing. If you’re making mushroom soup, add the mushrooms to the soup 20 minutes before you’re done. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Steamed Mushrooms to Freeze

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Use this method to preserve the full flavor of the mushrooms. Most mushrooms should be cooked before freezing so they don’t soften. Fresh mushrooms contain a certain amount of water, which makes them soft after being frozen and defrosted. No matter what cooking method you use, steaming mushrooms is the way to keep the most flavor, keep the mushrooms from becoming too hard, and work in any recipe that calls for mushrooms. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Mushrooms after steaming can be frozen for up to 12 months. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Wash mushrooms to remove dirt. Wash the mushrooms under running water and clean the dirt on the surface of the hat, under the hat and on the body of the mushroom. You can scrub the dirt with your hands or scrape it off with a knife.

Alternatively, you can remove the stalks and wash them separately if desired, or discard and just freeze the caps.

Slice or chop mushrooms (optional). You can steam and freeze whole mushrooms, cut mushrooms in quarters, or chop them. Whole mushrooms will need a few more minutes to cook, but the main purpose of slicing is to prepare the dish. Frozen mushrooms can be added directly to recipes without thawing, so you’ll need to cut them into small pieces for easy use later.

If you’re using a steamer or steamer, don’t cut the mushrooms too small to get through the small holes in the steamer.

Soak mushrooms in water with a squeeze of lemon (optional). The sole purpose of this step is to preserve the color of the mushrooms and prevent them from darkening during cooking. If you want to do this, soak the mushrooms in a little water mixed with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (or 500 ml of water and 5 ml of lemon juice). Soak mushrooms for 5 minutes then remove. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Experts are still debating whether soaking or washing mushrooms will affect the appearance and taste of mushrooms. ^{[11] X Research Source} If you are unsure, you can reduce this effect by scrubbing the mushrooms with a mixture of water and lemon juice.

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Make your own steamer if you don’t have one. To steam mushrooms, you need to steam them in a water bath so that only the mushrooms are exposed to steam. You can use a steamer or steamer, but you can also prepare your own if you don’t have one:

Prepare two pots. A small pot and a large pot to fit snugly together. You can also use a steamer instead of a small pot.
Use a round metal ring, a thick jar lid, or an object that can be used in high heat to create space when placing the small pot and the large pot. Put the circle in the pot before the water is hot, then place the small pot on top.
Have a lid ready to cover the large pot. The lid does not have to be completely sealed, but it should cover the steamer.

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Bring 5cm of water to a boil in a large pot. Add water to the bottom of the pot if you have a water bath. Otherwise, add water to the large pot set as described above. It will only take you a few minutes to boil this amount of water.

Put the mushrooms in a small pot. Or add mushrooms to the top of the steamer if you have one. The small pot must be empty at this point.

Cover and adjust steaming time according to mushroom size. Cover the pot and wait until the mushrooms are done steaming. Most whole mushrooms will need 5 minutes to steam, while mushroom caps or mushrooms cut into quarters will take 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Sliced mushrooms will take 3 minutes or less if the pieces are thin. ^{[12] X Trusted Source National Center for Home Food Preservation Go to source}

Pan-Fry to Freeze

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Use this method to preserve firmness or if you prefer the pan-fried taste. This method preserves the shape and flavor of the mushrooms for a shorter time than steaming and blanching. Some sources say this can preserve mushrooms for 1 to 9 months, the difference usually depends on the type of oil or butter you use. ^{[16] X Source of Research}^{[17] X Source of Research}^{[18] X Source of Research} However, this method will make the mushrooms harder than using other methods and also shortens frying time Freeze each time you use it. ^{[19] X Research Source}

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Wash and dry the mushrooms. Rinse the dirt or moss on the mushrooms under clean running water, then use a paper towel or clean towel to dry the water, avoiding the water splashing out of the pan when the oil is hot.

Chop the mushrooms or chop them. You’ll be frying the mushrooms on high heat so thick pieces or whole mushrooms will only be hot on the outside but still alive on the inside. Chop the mushrooms into equal pieces so that the mushrooms are evenly fried.

Heat oil in pan. You will only partially cook the mushrooms and then add frozen mushrooms to recipes to fully cook them. So you don’t have to be too precise about the ripeness of the mushrooms. About 1-2 tablespoons of oil (15-30 ml) is enough in a medium-sized frying pan. ^{[20] X Research Sources}^{[21] X Research Sources}

If you want more flavor, you can add minced garlic, onion or some other seasoning to the oil.

Advice

Write the mushroom packing date on the container to make it easier to see which mushrooms are older and should be used first.
While some experts advise against washing or soaking mushrooms because they absorb water, some evidence suggests this effect is minimal. However, this issue is still controversial and it is possible that this will affect the taste or cooking time. ^{[23] X Research Sources}

Warning

There are many different types of mushrooms, and very few mushrooms can last long after blanching or steaming. If you’re using Agaricus with an open cap or an exotic mushroom you’ve never frozen before, it’s best to try the pan-frying method. ^{[24] X Research Sources}

Steps

Blanch Mushrooms to Freeze

Steamed Mushrooms to Freeze

Pan-Fry to Freeze

Advice

Warning

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