Fatal Errors To Avoid When Storing Mushrooms
First reflex after buying or picking mushrooms: absolutely ban freezer bags and airtight plastic trays. These containers create fatal humidity that makes the mushrooms “sweat” and accelerates their rotting. The number one enemy? Lack of respiration.
Audrey Laury, a greengrocer, recommends instead opting for a simple paper bag – those provided by market gardeners are ideal – to be placed in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator or in its coldest part. Mushrooms need aeration to be stored correctly.
Another frequent error: storing mushrooms in the cellar. Contrary to popular belief, this space is not cold enough to guarantee optimal preservation. The refrigerator remains the best option.
Last trap to avoid: proximity to odorous foods. Melon, Roquefort, or other strong cheeses can impregnate your mushrooms with their scents, irremediably altering their delicate flavor. Strategic storage is therefore necessary.
These simple but essential precautions determine the lifespan of your mushrooms. It remains to be seen how long each variety can actually be kept fresh.
Cold Storage: Durations And Specifics By Variety
Once the right packaging is adopted, it is still necessary to know the real lifespan of each variety. Because not all mushrooms keep equally in the refrigerator.
Button mushrooms last four days in the vegetable drawer, while chanterelles are more resistant with a possible week of storage. The latter benefit from a firmer structure that allows them to better withstand the cold.
On the other hand, porcini mushrooms require special attention. Their delicate flesh and high water content drastically limit their lifespan: 48 hours maximum after purchase or picking. After this period, they lose their texture and quickly develop an unpleasant bitterness.
This disparity is explained by the very composition of each variety. The more water a mushroom contains, the faster it degrades. Porcini, with their spongy flesh gorged with moisture, are at the top of this fragility scale.
For porcini lovers who wish to enjoy them beyond these two days, other preservation techniques are necessary. Drying, in particular, allows for a considerable extension of their lifespan while concentrating their aromas.
