How important is it to clean mushrooms thoroughly?

Question

I never can get them clean enough before cooking; there's always some spot or other around. Is the soil the same as for other crops, and if not, is it less 'contaminated'? Thus said, how safe is it to eat them raw?

Answer 1

Eating raw mushrooms is for the courageous or the ignorant. The soil that mushrooms is grown in is not common dirt. It is a mixture of horse manure and straw. That may not sound particulary appetising, but what you need to know is that the mixture is fermented in order to kill wild fungus spores before they innoculate the "soil" with edible mushroom spores.

The fermentation causes very high temperatures that not only kill fungus spores but also germs and viruses.

I do eat raw mushrooms and consider them safer to eat than, say raw carrots.

Bon Appetite!

Answer 2

I think the best way to clean mushrooms is to put them in a collandar and use your kitchen sprayer to clean them, then remove excess debris with a damp cloth or a soft vegetable brush, for stubborn debris. You can also submerge them in water, contrary to popular belief. If the mushrooms get soggy, just put them on a towel and let them dry. Mushrooms spend quite a good deal of time in the rain, after all, so they'll dry out.

Gritty mushrooms suck and it ruins your dish, I think. Dirt is just dirt. No different than any other dirt, so it's not going to hurt you, only offend your senses.

Here are a couple of articles on cleaning them:

http://www.williamrubel.com/mushrooms/cleaning-mushrooms/

http://www.ehow.com/how_1352_clean-mushrooms.html

Any commercial mushroom is ok to eat raw, although many are best cooked. Traditional, white button mushrooms are fine to eat raw. I'd be more careful if you actually picked your own mushrooms, however.

Polly

Answer 3

Believe me as a former chef, all the storys about the medium they are grown in is highly over done, if you are going to cook them whole, just gently rinse them, if slicing them , just use a damp paper towel and rub the dirt or pariticals off.

When you think wild mushrooms havested from the wood have more issues tan culivated mushrooms grown for food consumption. The only thing you don't want to do id soak them in water, this will highten the browning, basically it all comes down to how you plan on using them.

Answer 4

It is very important to clean all vegetable and fruits for your meal preparations. By cleaning them you reduce or eliminate the bacteria or contaminates to the food. Also never cross cooking utensils in preparing all foods. keep separates bowls, dishes knives forks and spoons to that food only. Keeping surfaces clean is very important. Also if you cannot remove a spot cut away the spot from the vegetable, fruits or other foods that are being prepared. Many fruits and vegetables after thorough cleaning should be ok to eat raw.

Answer 5

Well, my personal opinion is that everything that goes in the mouth should be clean.
Some experts recommend just brushing or wiping off mushrooms with a damp towel, since they are so absorbent and may lose some flavor if soaked in water. However, others think it's not such a big deal.

Answer 6

Because they are already a fungas, does a little dirt matter? The best way to clean them is with a damp paper towel. Wipe it thoroughly but dont run them under water as they are spongy and take on water quickly. Dont worry about a little dirt though-but do watch out for dirty lettuce!!

A little of "Natures seasonings" cant be all that bad!

Answer 7

It is difficult to clean mushrooms thoroughly, but it can be done. First and foremost, don't ever wash them unless they are going directly into a liquid (i.e. for a stew). If you wash them, then you will not be able to saute them without them throwing off too much water. You will end up with boiled mushrooms.

Just brush them with a soft brush, and trim any areas that are dry or flawed with a knife.

Answer 8

I think we all have the same problem. Since you shouldn't soak them in water, I guess just using a damp paper towel and wiping them gently but thoroughly is as good as it gets.
It gets really much easier when you examine every single one before you but them. I only buy mushrooms that are smallish and completely closed.
Yes, I also eat them raw in my salads.

Answer 9

I was watching Rachel Ray the other day and she said you aren't supposed to even rinse them with water. She said to brush them off with a clean towel to get the dirt & stuff off. She said that the water will make the mushrooms tough. I never knew that...

Answer 10

Chinese mushrooms are bigger and blacker, while Western mushrooms tend to be those white and more slice-able ones. Oh another fact, the kind of mushroom teenagers like the most are magic mushrooms.