Can you freeze mushrooms?

Do you have mushrooms that you would like to preserve? Can you freeze mushrooms and use them for a later occasion?

Some people find themselves in situations where they buy more mushrooms than they anticipated to eat. Freezing mushrooms is actually a trusted method of preserving them. Mushrooms can be actually be frozen whether they are fresh, steamed, sautéed or boiled. Let’s take a closer look to the different ways you can freeze mushrooms.

How to freeze fresh mushrooms

Freezing fresh mushrooms is normally not recommended as it leaves them soggy. This is because most mushrooms tend to have a high moisture content so that when you defrost the mushrooms they end up being mushy. However, morel type mushrooms freeze well without being cooked due to their coarse texture. Make sure you clean the mushrooms well before you put them in a container. You can freeze fresh mushrooms for 3 months.

How to freeze steamed mushrooms

Boil water in a pan and let it simmer. Wash and slice mushrooms. Next place the mushrooms into the steamer and blanche for about 2 minutes. The steamed mushrooms should be left to cool off and can then be frozen. Blanched/steamed mushrooms can be kept in the freezer for about a year.

Freezing mushrooms is a perfect way to preserve them.

How to freeze sautéed mushrooms

This is the best way to freeze mushrooms as it preserves the taste and texture of the mushrooms almost perfectly. As usual, begin with washing and slicing mushrooms into small pieces. Heat one tablespoon of olive oil and sauté mushrooms for a couple of minutes. You can also add any seasonings you prefer like garlic or pepper. Allow to cool and freeze for 3 to 4 months.

How to freeze par-boiled mushrooms

Clean mushrooms and add them to boiling water. It is preferable to add half a teaspoon of salt too. Once the water begins to boil again wait till 3 minutes and then transfer them into a bowl of cold water. Once they have cooled down, they can be frozen. Frozen mushrooms will not go bad for at least a year once they have been boiled.

How to thaw the mushrooms

Now that you know how to freeze mushrooms, let’s talk about how to thaw them. The task is actually pretty simple. All you need to do is pop them out of the freezer and put the frozen mushrooms on to a pan. Turn on the heat and add some olive oil and they’re ready to go!

Tips and Tricks to remember

• When you have a large quantity of mushrooms, freeze them in meal sized quantities in separate plastic bags. This way you will not have to go through the trouble of thawing and refreezing a whole block.
• Alternatively, first freeze mushrooms on a tray for 2 to 3 hours, leaving space in between each mushroom. Now you can take out the mushrooms and pile them all up in one container to freeze. This will prevent the mushrooms from getting stuck together so you can take out exactly the amount you need.
• If you want to preserve the color of your mushrooms, add a half teaspoon of lemon juice when you soak them in water after cleaning, allowing them to act as a bleaching agent. This way your mushrooms will even look fresh whenever you choose to use them.
• Always remember to label your frozen mushrooms with the date at which you are keeping them in and the duration for which they can be preserved.

FAQs

Can you freeze fresh mushrooms to use for a wok?

When using fresh mushrooms, depending on how long you want to wok the mushrooms you will end up with a different texture. If you wok them too long they end up soft. In that case using frozen mushrooms would be fine, but you must thaw them before you throw them in the wok. However, for a great wok, you should always use fresh ingredients.

Can you freeze cooked mushrooms?

Yes, you can freeze cooked mushrooms. You have probably seen packages of frozen mushrooms in the stores. Some are raw mushrooms and some are actually already cooked ready to just reheat agarin.