Can You Freeze Mushrooms?
Mushrooms are just fantastic. There are so many different types and you will find them used in cuisines from all over the world. They can be used in a wide range of recipes, cooked as a main part of a meal, or even just eaten as they are.
Like other foods, however, mushrooms are perishables, so you will need to use them before they expire. If you think that you have too many and you don’t want them to go to waste then you may be pleased to hear that you can freeze them. You will need to properly prepare them beforehand though, and here is a look at how to do just that.
1. Clean
Make sure that you choose only fresh mushrooms, discarding those that are showing signs of decay. While freezing will help to keep your mushrooms in a similar state to when they were first frozen, it is still best to use only those that are very fresh for the best results. You will also need to clean them before cooking. You can wash them in cold water, but a lot of people believe that this will help to make them soggy in texture. Many people prefer to use a brush instead to prevent any sogginess. If you do use cold water, make sure to let them dry thoroughly.
2. Saut?
It might be tempting to just put the mushrooms in the freezer from fresh but this is not a good idea. Mushrooms don’t do at all well when frozen just as they are, so you should always cook them first. One of the best ways to cook mushrooms in preparation for freezing is to saute them.
To achieve this, simply follow the following steps. First heat some oil or butter in a frying pan over a high heat. Cook the mushrooms for around 5 minutes, or until they are thoroughly cooked, whichever comes first. Your mushrooms are then ready for the next preparatory step before they are frozen.
3. Steam
Another option is to steam your mushrooms before freezing them. If you don’t have a steamer, then you may be able to make a makeshift steamer using a metal colander or similar over a saucepan. You will be able to find ways to achieve this online. First, you should soak the mushrooms in water for 5 minutes. You should be sure to add ? teaspoons of citric acid or lemon juice for every pint of water you use.
Once you have done this, you should then steam the mushrooms, and how long you steam them for will depend on the type and size of mushrooms you are using.
4. Lemon Juice
During their time in the freezer, the mushrooms can turn a brown color. This will make them rather unsightly and less appealing, and you might even be tempted to just throw them into the trash. This is not necessary, however, because it is possible to prevent them browning in the first place.
To prevent the browning of mushrooms in the freezer, first coat them in lime or lemon juice. You can do this by brushing the juice on, or by tossing them in a bowl with some juice. Either way, this will help to keep your mushrooms looking great, helping to maintain their appeal.
5. Flash Freeze
For the best results, you should flash freeze your mushrooms before putting them in for a long freeze, and you can do this in your own home. First, you will need to ensure that the mushrooms have completely cooled down after being cooked.
Get a tray and line it with a cookie sheet, and lay the mushrooms out on this tray individually before placing them in the freezer. This will result in the mushrooms freezing faster than otherwise. Once frozen, remove the tray from the freezer and remove the mushrooms. The mushrooms are then ready to be prepared for long-term freezing.
6. Freezer Bags
Placing your flash-frozen mushrooms into a freezer bag before placing them in the freezer will give them further protection from harm. You should also place the bags into a sturdy container if you have one because this will help to prevent them from being squashed.
Any moisture in the bag will turn into ice crystals, and this can cause damage to your mushrooms. For this reason, you should make sure to extract as much air from the bags as possible before putting them in the freezer. This is especially the case with mushrooms because they have a very high water content.
7. Storing
Even when they are in air-tight, sealed freezer bags, your mushrooms might still take on some of the aroma and flavor of other foods that are next to them. This means that you should try to keep them separate, with a few inches between your mushrooms and the more pungent foods if possible.
Also, take future access to your mushrooms into consideration. Make sure they are stored in a way that you can reach them without having to empty the freezer of everything else first. If you are storing them in bags but not in sturdy containers, avoid stacking anything else on top of your mushrooms.
8. Label
Our memories are often not as good as we like to think they are. When putting mushrooms or anything else in the freezer for storage, we might try to make a mental note of the date so we know at some point in the future how long they have been in there for. Unfortunately, it doesn’t usually work like that.
Most of us are likely to forget this date, so it is best to label the bags before you put them in. Ensure the label is clear in regard to what is in there and when it was frozen. Also be sure to use labels and markers that are suitable for use in freezers.
9. Use within 12 Months
Freezing is very effective at preserving food, making things more convenient and helping to eliminate waste. That does not mean to say food can be stored indefinitely, so you should be mindful of just how long you can keep frozen food in storage. In the case of mushrooms, you really should use them within 12 months of their storage date.
This is an upper limit, and the sooner you use them, the better they will be. If you are planning on keeping them for a long time, you should steam them rather than saut?ng because this will help them keep for longer.
10. Cook from Frozen
One of the best things about using frozen mushrooms as that you don’t have to thaw them before using them in cooking. If you are making a stew, for example, just put the mushrooms in while they are still frozen and they will defrost as they are being cooked.
Before you put the mushrooms in to be frozen, you should be sure to separate them into serving-sized portions. This is so you can take out just what you need without having to defrost the whole lot before freezing again. Thawing and freezing will affect the quality of the mushrooms considerably.
