How to store your mushrooms

Discover how to store your mushrooms to preserve their taste and freshness longer.

Most people do not realize that you should not freeze uncooked mushrooms. Instead, follow these simple steps to preserve the flavor and freshness of your mushrooms.

1. Use a damp cloth instead of placing them in a ziplock or other baggie. Since mushrooms may become slimy if placed in a bag without airflow. The damp cloth will keep them moist and prevent anything from landing on them in the fridge.
2. Caution you do not want to use the fridge crisper drawer for most varieties it will be too moist.
3. Once you have sautéed or cooked your mushrooms you can then store them in that cooked state for up to 30 days in the freezer.
4. Mushrooms made into a sauce may last longer if the mushrooms are covered by the sauce in the container and then frozen. The submersion in the sauce can extend the life some more.
5. Do not stack anything on top of the mushrooms any bruising will reduce the appearance and also the shelf life.
6. You can dehydrate mushrooms for long term storage. This is fine for mushrooms that will be used in soups, or other sauces mostly for flavor.
7. Freeze drying is also an option but freeze dryers are expensive and are most likely an option only for growers who often have a larger crop than they can sell or share fresh.

Some people have reported positive results storing mushrooms in containers meant for fruit but I have not personally tested these results.