Many of us have been in this situation. Just picture it. You’re at the farmer’s market and armed with knowledge of the health benefits of mushrooms, you spot a stand where they’re being sold. You eagerly purchase a ton because you’re so excited. Turns out, you end up buying more than you can consume in a week, and a few days later, you’re scrambling to find a way to make sure all your mushrooms don’t go to waste.
This is where knowing how to properly store and preserve mushrooms comes in handy. Thankfully, you’ve come to the right place. Whether it’s storing mushrooms in the refrigerator, drying them for longer-term storage, or freezing them, we’ve got you covered in this guide.
Before we dive in, let's answer an FAQ:
Some mushrooms just naturally store longer than others. But this guide applies to all mushroom types including medicinal, functional, gourmet, and magic mushrooms.
Fresh, raw mushrooms will last about 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator, but there are several things that can affect their lifespan.
Slicing them can shorten their lifespan while cooking or storing them in a paper bag can actually increase their shelf-life.
Depending on the sourcing of your mushrooms, cleaning before storage can be important.
However, the cleaning technique is critical, as too much moisture can compromise the quality of a mushroom and lead to a slimy or moldy mushroom.
PRO TIP: Do not rinse your mushrooms with water!
Instead of dunking your mushrooms in a bath of water, try using a damp paper towel or a veggie brush (like an old toothbrush) to gently wipe and clean any dirt or debris. If mushrooms are a big part of your life, consider investing in an inexpensive mushroom brush like this one from Amazon.
If you read this too late and already soaked your mushrooms, it might be a good idea to use those mushrooms today. It's critical that you don't store your mushrooms long-term if they're damp.
If there's simply no way you're going to use them today, consider dehydrating them for long-term storage using a dehydrator or one of these other methods. Worst case, you can very gently squeeze your mushrooms between paper towels to try and absorb some of the moisture.
Either way, it's safe to say that very wet mushrooms will store for at least half the time as drier mushrooms.
On average, any mushroom will last in the fridge from 7 to 10 days. However, a mushroom’s shelf-life in the fridge will vary on how they’re prepared.
Here’s a breakdown:
Although there are several ways to store mushrooms in the refrigerator, there are some universal rules to follow regardless of the method you choose. Mushrooms act like sponges and absorb moisture, smells, and flavors easily. That being said, here’s what you should not do when storing them.
Want to know how these and even more mushroom storage methods stack up against each other?
Read on below to see how long mushrooms will last using each of these storing methods and choose which is best for you.
Not all mushroom storage methods are equal. Kitchn’s article comparing mushroom storing methods is comprehensive and shows you the best and the worst ways to store your mushrooms.
According to this experiment, the best mushroom storage method for maximum freshness is a paper bag lined with a folded paper towel. Place the mushrooms on top of the paper towel and loosely close the paper bag.
We break down their findings complete with a rating for each method in the table below:
|
Storage Method |
Rating |
About this Method |
Results |
Takeaway |
|
Plastic Bag with Paper Towels |
1 out of 10 |
Wrap mushrooms in paper towels to trap moisture and place in an open plastic bag to allow for ventilation. |
After 10 days, all mushrooms were slimy and 4 were discolored. |
This storage method tends to trap moisture and after 6 days in the fridge the mushrooms’ quality started to deteriorate. |
|
Bowl with Plastic Wrap |
3 out of 10 |
Place mushrooms in a large glass bowl to prevent crowding. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and poke holes for ventilation. |
After 10 days, half of the mushrooms had a thin layer of slime and 2 of the mushrooms turned much darker than the rest of the batch. |
This test suggests that plastic film does not do an adequate job of preserving mushroom quality. |
|
Original Container |
3 out of 10 |
Put the package of mushrooms into your refrigerator. |
After 10 days, the mushrooms still look the same. Four of the mushrooms did have a thin layer of slime and one mushroom had mold. |
This method is generally good if you need to store your mushrooms for 5 days or less, as it takes little work.If you need to store longer, consider a different method to prolong shelf life. |
|
Bowl with Paper Towels |
6 out of 10 |
Line a large glass bowl with paper towels. Spread the mushrooms and then cover them with another paper towel. |
After 10 days, half had spots and two of the mushrooms were slimy. |
This method allows you to easily check on their freshness. |
|
Paper Bag |
6 out of 10 |
Simply transfer your mushrooms into a paper bag and place them in the refrigerator. |
After 10 days all mushrooms were dry but slightly wrinkly. Four of the mushrooms had dark spots but none had odor. |
This method is great at keeping moisture away and “tired looking” mushrooms like the wrinkly ones described tend to boast richer flavors much like dried mushrooms. |
|
Paper Bag with Paper Towels |
7 out of 10 |
Line a paper bag with a folded paper towel piece and place mushrooms on top. |
After 10 days, no slimy mushrooms. Three mushrooms were slightly darker and the rest tan. Three also had some wrinkles. |
The mushrooms fared even better than the mushrooms in just the paper bag alone. No slimy ‘shrooms! |
Drying your mushrooms is an excellent way to preserve your mushrooms, whether for gourmet or medicinal use, and maximize their shelf-life. However, you’ll want to make sure you store them properly or your mushrooms are at risk of growing mold or being vulnerable to bug infestations.
There are many methods to dry mushrooms, but no matter which way you prefer to dry them, the best way to store your dried mushrooms is in an airtight container. Doing so will prevent moisture from seeping back in and rehydrating them. You’ll also want to keep them in a cool, dark place to maintain the mushroom’s flavor.
There are three main methods to storing dried mushrooms. They work great whether you're storing whole, sliced, or powdered mushrooms - as long as they've been properly dehydrated.
Glass jars are often preferred, and are the best long-term storage containers, because they keep an airtight seal and allow you to see your mushrooms. Mason jars are a popular storage option for dried mushrooms.
Stainless steel containers offer excellent humidity control and can improve the mushroom’s smell and flavor. Recycling containers from other products are a great option here. Or use a stainless steel drinking bottle.
Vacuum seal your mushrooms from oxygen to minimize any elements that can degrade their quality. It should be noted that this option can be expensive. They usually require a vacuum sealer.
Dried mushrooms can last indefinitely if stored properly in an airtight container and in a cool, dry place.
Properly stored magic mushrooms, or psilocybin mushrooms, will retain their psychoactive properties for up to 2 years. After 2 years, they lose their “magic.”
Raw mushrooms stored in the refrigerator have a notoriously short shelf-life. Freezing mushrooms, like many other long-term food storage methods, can increase a mushroom’s shelf-life and prevent food waste. Not to mention, it allows you to stock up on all your favorite varieties and use them when you want them.
First, you may want to prepare your gourmet mushrooms by blanching or sautéing them first. This gives your mushrooms a more robust flavor and texture after freezing.
Many sources recommend blanching or steaming mushrooms before freezing them. That makes them more versatile for future cooking than raw frozen mushrooms.
This method is ideal for any time you plan to add your mushrooms to soups, stews, broths, or any dish that is moisture heavy and you want to retain the original flavor of the mushroom itself.
This method is ideal for those who want to add their mushrooms directly to a future sauté dish, on top of pizzas, or other methods where you want the mushroom to have more flavor when added.
Flash freezing is a way for you to individually freeze your mushroom slices before storing in the freezer. This allows you to grab just a small handful for your dishes. If you freeze your mushrooms in a clump they'll freeze as a clump. Then they won't thaw evenly leading to a very messy and unusable dish.
First, flash freeze them after the cooked mushrooms have cooled. Using an ice bath can help to speed up the process.
Mushrooms can be stored in the freezer in this way for up to a year.
Freezing mushrooms is a great option if you plan to hide them in soups, stews, broths, or sauces. In other words, it's the ideal solution any time mushrooms won't be the feature of your dish. That's because freezing keeps much of the mushroom flavor, but you sacrifice some of the texture.
Freezing your mushrooms will tend to make them mushy. (Mushier than usual, anyway). Which is fine if they're going into a moisture-rich dish. But not so great if you're simply sautéing them as a side.
That's why it's important to consider how you plan to use your frozen mushrooms in the future. Sautéing or balancing them can help them keep some of their flavor and texture in the cooking process. Much more so than freezing raw sliced mushrooms.
But if you plan to use your mushrooms for non-gourmet methods, such as for tinctures, teas, powders, etc. then sautéing or blanching is not necessary.
No, you do not have to thaw mushrooms before using. In fact, you shouldn’t to keep the quality of the mushrooms intact. Thawing will cause the mushrooms to release more water and become soggy. Thawing is only necessary if you plan to dry your mushrooms after removal.
Yes! It will just take more time, as mushrooms will have retained a lot of moisture in the freezing process. Lay your mushrooms out on a towel or a layer of paper towels until they come to room temperature. Then, follow your preferred method to dry the mushrooms.
Properly stored frozen mushrooms can last 9 to 12 months, but flavor and quality diminishes beyond four months.
So there you have it! A complete step-by-step guide to store fresh mushrooms. We hope it helped! Ready to use your stored or dried mushrooms for medicinal use? Check out our complete guide on how to grind mushrooms for teas and tinctures.
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