Since they tend to absorb a lot of water and spoil very easily, mushrooms are some of the most difficult plant products to store. To keep them fresh longer, try to leave them in their original packaging, place them in a paper bag or wrap them in paper towels, or freeze them.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use the Original Packaging
Step 1. If you are not going to use the mushrooms right away, you can very well leave them in the original packaging, usually consisting of cardboard and plastic film
The film often has holes that favor the escape of excess moisture, without drying the mushrooms.
Step 2. Rewind them with cling film
If you need a handful of mushrooms right away, try to dilate the original plastic cover as little as possible. Once you have the mushrooms you need, rewind the part you opened using cling film.
Step 3. Once you have bought the mushrooms, keep them in the fridge leaving them in their original packaging
Keeping them in the refrigerator slows the growth process and can prevent them from spoiling quickly. This technique should keep them fresh for about a week.
Method 2 of 3: Use a paper bag
Step 1. If you don't want to leave the fresh mushrooms in their original packaging, you can put them in a paper bag
Sizes vary depending on the amount of mushrooms. In any case, the most suitable bags are those used to store bread and other foods.
Before putting them in the bag, you can also wrap them with damp paper towels
Step 2. Leave the paper bag open, without folding it
In this way the humidity level will be balanced. The bag will retain some moisture, but leaving it open will prevent the mushrooms from absorbing too much water.
Step 3. Put the bag in the fridge, preferably in one of the drawers for storing fruit and vegetables
In this way the mushrooms will not be contaminated by the smells and tastes of other foods. The refrigerator drawers are also designed to allow you to keep fruit and vegetables fresh longer. Using this method, the mushrooms should stay fresh for a week or 10 days.
Method 3 of 3: Freeze the Mushrooms
Step 1. To start, wash the mushrooms
If you've bought fresh mushrooms and don't plan on using them within a week, you may want to freeze them for best preservation. Wash them and let them air dry. You can spread them on a paper towel or tea towel to absorb excess water.
Step 2. Once they are relatively dry, wipe them with a paper towel or mushroom brush to remove stubborn dirt
Step 3. Cut them into evenly sized slices or pieces with an egg slicer
Brown them using a tablespoon or two of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Step 4. When cooked, spread them on a baking sheet creating a single layer and let them cool
Freeze them once they are cool to the touch.
Step 5. Once the mushrooms have cooled, put them in an airtight plastic bag and freeze them
By cooking them before freezing them, you will prevent them from absorbing too much moisture during defrosting.
