I'm assuming the answer to this is probably yes, but i thought i'd ask and check. I have some fresh mushrooms but theres far too many for me to eat by myself before they go off, so is it ok to freeze the rest of them and just defrost them before i need them?
2006-09-18 04:03:35 · 55 answers · asked by edenissimo 3 in Food & Drink ➔ Other - Food & Drink
No, not really. Freezing then defrosting mushrooms generally makes them change in texture and go really slimy. You are better off making something with them e.g mushroom soup, chilli con carne or bolognese sauce and freezing that.
2006-09-18 04:06:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
If you look in the grocery freezer aisle, you will find many items with frozen mushroom in it,....so the answer is obviously yes. The method used, is unclear, however, I would probably saute them into the size you are used to using them in...I would not expect to use them in a salad...but in a cooked dish. Mushrooms can also be dehydrated...so if you have a food dehydrator and then store them in an airtight sealed type of bag or container...that would probably be a good way too. Good luck.
2006-09-19 04:06:28 · answer #2 · answered by Lorraine H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before freezing fresh mushrooms, they should be dried. You can use a dehydrator, or a slow over (lowest setting, under 200 degrees)or dry on screens outdoors. If you freeze them directly they just may turn black or mushy. Once you have dried the mushrooms, they can be bagged and frozen. Rehydrate by soaking in chicken broth, beef, broth, wine, water, whatever liquid you might want for the recipe you are using. I rehydrate morels in chicken broth by heating the broth, putting the mushrooms in the broth and allowing them to sit for about a half hour to an hour. I have also frozen store bought mushrooms directly by slicing, putting on a cookie sheet and flash freezing in the freezer. They dont last as long. Wild mushrooms should be dried.
2006-09-18 04:16:18 · answer #3 · answered by juncogirl3 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You should only freeze them if they are cooked first...avoid making a mushroom soup with all of them as you have no options once you have made it other than to freeze it. The best idea is to slice them thinly then cook them and then freeze them, then you can just defrost and reheat to put in any number of dishes or just to eat on toast. Yummy!
2006-09-18 05:44:59 · answer #4 · answered by cmayna2004 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It really depends on the variety. Are they wild fresh? Such as chanterelles or Morels? (morels are usually a wild spring mushroom, but burn sight morels can come at odd times of the year). If so, your very best bet for preserving them is to dehydrate them in a food dehydrator or very low oven for several hours. You can them store them in airtight jars or containers in your pantry for up to several years. When ready to use, simply soak in water for about half an hour to reconstitute the moisture. Most mushrooms are about 90% water so they will shrink to be very small. Freezing is not a good option. You can process and can fresh mushrooms, but you need to a pressure cooker/canner for best results.
If they are your typical "button mushrooms" I'm sure you could dehydrate them as well, but it will probably take much more time.
2006-09-18 04:20:09 · answer #5 · answered by mslorikoch 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My mate used to grow his own mushrooms (magic type) and always had more than he could deal with. He tried freezing them and drying them, but found the best way to store them for any length of time is in a jar of honey. I'm sure this would work with your mushrooms too, even if they don't have any unusual "properties".
2006-09-18 04:14:49 · answer #6 · answered by BushRaider69 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like what mr_think said, don't freeze the mushrooms. It taste fantastically awful. You might even purge like crazy if you don't have a strong stomach.
To preserve mushrooms, sun-dry them and vacuum them up in a bag. That way, you can keep them up to months or even longer. To cook them again after that? Just soak them in water till they're all puffed up to their original shapes and sizes.
Happy preserving!
2006-09-18 08:48:43 · answer #7 · answered by Geo C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, you can. but it doesn't taste as good as new, though. If uWant th fresh mushroom. Why don't you buy the dry mushroom, if u need them you only need to add water to the mushroom and wait for 1-2 minutes
2006-09-18 06:19:58 · answer #8 · answered by luke s 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mushrooms freeze ok, but they don't taste as good when you defrost them - something to do with the moisture in them crystalising. You can buy frozen mushrooms, and they generally have water added to them.
2006-09-18 04:05:55 · answer #9 · answered by Charlie Brigante 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mushrooms really don't freeze very well, they turn out a bit mushy. Try making some mushroom soup and then freeze that instead if you have too many.
2006-09-18 04:07:05 · answer #10 · answered by Trix 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋