Why should you NOT wash mushrooms with water before using them...why, oh why?

Question

Can someone explain a valid reason for this custom or advice?

Answer 1

Do not prepare mushrooms until just before using. When cleaning mushrooms, avoid using water because it will reduce the flavor. Mushrooms are easily saturated with water and tend to become mushy if soaked. Use a soft brush to clean sand, grit and other debris from the pits and ridges. If you must use water, use as little as possible and dry quickly with a paper towel.

Answer 2

Because mushrooms are very porous. Like a sponge. If you wash them, they will absorb the water and taste "watery" or be squishy. Just use a soft dish towel (or mushroom brush if you live near a Williams Sonoma) and clean the peat moss off the mushrooms. If you do accidently get mushrooms wet, the best way to prepare them at that point is to saute them because it will draw the water back out of them, however, the water will go into whatever other items/sauces are also in the pan, so saute them separately until the water cooks off.

Answer 3

The MYTH is that mushrooms are like sponges and will soak up water when being washed... so when I you cook the mushroom they'll get soggy.

Alton Brown on the Good Eats TV show debunked the myth.
He showed that rising the a big batch of mushroom the mushrooms only gained about a teaspoon of water.

Answer 4

Washing mushrooms with water tends to make them soggy and dulls the flavour.

For best results wipe them down with a dry cloth.

If you are in a hurry and must use water, use a colander and spray them with water then set out on a Tea towel. Never let mushrooms soak in a bowl or the sink.

Answer 5

You should just use a dry paint brush to remove dirt. Mushrooms soak up water because they are pores. That means they have little holes that hold water. There is no problem with washing then if you want a stronger meat- like texture when cooked, use the BRUSH!!!

Answer 6

Mushrooms are like sponges. If you put them in water they'll just soak it all up and get squishy and gross.
To clean mushrooms I always rinse quickly under cool running water, then wipe with a clean paper towel.

Answer 7

You shouldn't wash mushrooms because they absorb water and make whatever you are making with them watery. They are grown in sterilized soil not manure like in the olden days.
So wiping then off with a damp rag should suffice.

Answer 8

I always wash mushrooms with water to get rid of the soil that might still be there.

I don't know why some people don't wash it.

Answer 9

You SHOULD wash them - they grow in cow dung. But after washing blot them well with a paper towel and put them in a strainer for about 15 minutes before you cook them

Answer 10

Makes them sort of mushy. BUT I always wash them first. Also, if you are going to cook with them, its okay to wash as well. Just do it lightly.