How can you store champignons?
In the open air, that is, at a room temperature of about 18-20 degrees, champignons will not last more than 6-8 hours. They love coolness, a temperature that does not exceed four degrees. Where do we have this temperature on a constant basis? That's right, in the refrigerator. Be sure to read how to store champignons in the refrigerator.
Mushrooms are best stored in the refrigerator, where they can last from 3 to 14 days, depending on the storage method.
If you leave the champignons without a lid or packaging, they will last no more than 1-2 days even in the refrigerator. Therefore, it is very important to either cover them or store them in a closed container if you want to preserve them for a long time.
Store mushrooms in a closed container or cover with a napkin. You can put them in a closed vegetable compartment and cover them with a towel. In this position they will remain fresh for 3-4 days.
If you buy mushrooms at the supermarket, they are most likely vacuum packed. And this is good! You can store them in this form for 1 week and not worry about them going bad.
If the champignons are in a vacuum package, do not open it until you are ready to cook something. After opening the vacuum, mushrooms must be consumed within two days, otherwise they will spoil.
Do you have paper bags at home? If yes, great! This is a good alternative to vacuum packaging. Paper also retains its fresh appearance well and prevents mushrooms from deteriorating quickly.
Please note that you cannot put more than 500 grams of mushrooms in a bag, otherwise they will begin to spoil faster. Simply divide the mushrooms into several bags and put them in a closed vegetable compartment. This will keep them fresh for a week.
Another good way, probably one of the best, is to store mushrooms in bags made of natural fabric. In such bags, mushrooms “breathe” and can remain fresh for a long time.
Mushrooms will be stored on the vegetable shelf for 10-12 days, and on open shelves for 8-9.
You can also store champignons in a plastic bag. You will definitely find these in your home. It is important that due to the lack of air in the bag, the mushrooms will begin to quickly deteriorate due to the resulting moisture. Therefore, periodically open it and ventilate it.
In a plastic bag they will last in good condition for 5 days, and if you put them in the vegetable compartment, then 7 days.
Finally, you can put them in glass, plastic or metal containers. Containers, jars, pans - all this will do. Be sure to cover them with a napkin or towel after you put the mushrooms in the container.
In a closed container, mushrooms will last for 8-10 days, and if the temperature is from -2 to +2 degrees, they will last for about two weeks.
Basic rules for preparation for storage
Before preparing champignons for storage, you can wash or thoroughly dry the caps with paper napkins.
Mushrooms have the ability to absorb moisture like a sponge. If you plan to prepare mushroom marinades, it is better to wash the fruits. They will boil, and the extra liquid won't hurt. Boiled beets also store well.
Wet processing worsens the structure of the mushroom body. If you plan to freeze fresh, it is recommended to remove contamination with a paper towel or textile rag.
Collection and storage of champignons
Features of preparing fresh champignons for storage in the refrigerator depend on where they were taken:
In the store: Processing is not recommended. Peel and wash the fruits before cooking.
In the forest: Remove visible debris and remaining soil. Large amounts of dirt cause product spoilage.
Sometimes it is not possible to use up fresh mushrooms before the expiration date. To extend the life of champignons, use heat treatment. Blanch them and you can store them in the cold for another 2 days.
Whether it is worth washing champignons before freezing, choose for yourself. This has its advantages and disadvantages:
Pros:
- It is better to freeze clean champignons; products with dirt particles are difficult to use for food.
Minuses:
- fragility increases when frozen;
- shelf life is reduced.
Before harvesting, sort the harvested crop. It is better not to put spoiled, old, sick ones into storage. Young champignons with a light pink underside of the cap are suitable for eating. If the plates are black/brown, the mushroom cannot be harvested.
For fresh storage, choose containers with ventilation holes or paper bags. Can be stored for a short time in plastic bags and under film. However, the resulting condensation shortens the lifespan. Freeze can be stored in containers and ziplock bags.
Determine by appearance: fresh or spoiled?
First of all, pay attention to the smell. Fresh mushroom has a pleasant aroma: it smells of forest, freshness, and a little earthy. If it has already disappeared, then it smells of dampness and something sour. This mushroom can be thrown away immediately.
Carefully inspect the champignon. If you notice some dark spots or mucus on the cap, then this also indicates spoilage. But keep in mind that stains can also appear from mechanical damage. Therefore, if the cap is smooth, but has darkening, this mushroom can also be thrown away.
A good mushroom has a white cap color, without spots or any shades. If the color has changed to brown, green or pinkish, then you can throw away such a mushroom; it is no longer suitable for food.
We recommend reading about the features and differences between storing fresh and prepared mushrooms in the article: https://holodilnik1.ru/gotovka-i-hranenie/osobennosti-i-sroki-hranenija-gotovyh-gribov-v-holodilnike/
Storage methods in the cellar
In a closet or basement in winter or summer, you can keep purchased, meadow, greenhouse, field or forest, peeled, washed mushrooms of the new harvest, whole, fried or boiled. To preserve mushrooms, plastic, metal, tin, glass packaging (trays, boxes, plates) or ordinary plastic bags are used. If using the latter, ventilate them regularly so that condensation does not accumulate and the food does not have time to turn black. The shelf life of mushrooms can be increased by marinade - it perfectly preserves the product in the cellar in canned form.
How to properly store mushrooms in the refrigerator
If you follow a few rules, you can keep the champignons “life” for a few more days.
- If you put them in some kind of container, for example, a container or pan, then lay out the mushrooms in one layer.
- Cover them with fabrics made from natural materials, paper napkins or film with holes so that air can circulate in the container.
- Before putting them in the refrigerator, carefully inspect them and discard any that are missing immediately. If this is not done, then because of one spoiled mushroom, everything can begin to rot.
- Do not rinse them for too long, much less soak them in water. The fact is that mushrooms do not particularly like moisture and, due to its high content, will quickly begin to rot.
- If the champignons still need to be washed, do it lightly and immediately pat dry with a dry towel.
- Also, mushrooms do not require any special processing. Simply remove the film from the caps, trim the ends of the stems, and cut out where spots start to appear.
- When they are in the refrigerator, it is better not to touch them. Due to too frequent “worry,” they can become wrinkled and disappear faster.
- If you notice that one mushroom has begun to rot, throw it away immediately so that it does not “infect” the others.
Preparatory stage
Like any other product intended for consumption, mushrooms must be washed.
Although some cooks, when working with mushrooms, advise not to wash them, but only wipe the caps with a slightly damp cotton cloth. This recommendation is useful, because mushrooms, due to their structure, are able to absorb a lot of moisture. After washing, they become wet and watery, and when frozen in this form, they become brittle, store worse and lose their taste.
On the other hand, champignons that are poorly cleaned of contaminants also run the risk of spoiling before the desired date. How to proceed in this case is the choice of the hostess.
We can definitely say that mushrooms must be cleaned in one way or another before being sent for storage. It is also recommended to sort through them, discarding spoiled and overripe ones.
Young mushrooms are best stored when the back of the cap is soft pink.
If the plates on the back of the cap have turned brown or black, it is better to avoid consuming, much less freezing, such a product.
Pecheritsa are best preserved in vacuum packaging, but champignons can be stored in the refrigerator without using a vacuum. Often a plastic container or plastic bag is used.
Storage without the use of a vacuum is permissible, but only if all recommendations for proper cleaning of the product are followed and fruits with signs of spoilage and rotting are rejected.
Is it possible to freeze mushrooms and how to do it correctly
It’s so good that champignons can be stored in the freezer! They can stay there for up to six months, which is very good. You can take out a small portion at any time and quickly prepare dinner, without even thinking about the fact that the mushrooms may spoil.
It is important that the temperature in the freezer should not fall below 18 degrees.
Read the underrated rules for freezing and storing fresh mushrooms at the link: https://holodilnik1.ru/gotovka-i-hranenie/pravila-zamorozki-i-hranenija-svezhih-gribov/
Freezing stages
First, prepare the mushrooms: remove the film, ends of the legs, and damage. Rinse lightly, but do not overdo it, otherwise all the water will freeze later. By the way, if this happens, the mushroom pulp will loosen and the taste will be unpleasant. You will feel it after cooking.
Wait until they are completely dry. If necessary, cut into pieces.
After this, place the mushrooms on a baking sheet in one layer and place in the freezer for 3-4 hours.
Then arrange them in containers: bags, containers and others. And put it in the freezer.
Defrosting process
It is important that you should not take mushrooms out of the freezer and immediately start cooking. First, put them in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, and only then start preparing the dish.
Do not refreeze mushrooms, and especially do not do this several times.
Try not to cook too much, because cooked champignons can be stored for no more than a day. It is better to take out small portions at a time. This way you cook less and you don’t have to throw anything away.
The shelf life has expired: what to do?
Many housewives are faced with an unpleasant situation when the shelf life of mushrooms has expired. In this case, the product cannot be used for cooking, since even during heat treatment hazardous toxic substances are not removed.
Even if the mushrooms have retained their perfect appearance, it is best to throw them away. The greatest danger comes from a product that has begun to turn black. Such mushrooms are strictly prohibited from being used as food. They already contain dangerous toxins that can cause serious food poisoning.
There are various options for storing champignons. The choice of method depends on the timing of further use of the semi-finished product. If you do not plan to leave the mushrooms for a long time, you should not spend money on buying vacuum bags. It’s easier to put it in a jar or plastic bag and put it in the refrigerator. In any case, it is important not to miss the deadline when the product is still usable.
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Shelf life of champignons
Now fresh champignons are sold in almost any grocery store, but many people prefer to have a small strategic supply of champignons “just in case.” These people are then puzzled by the question: how long can champignons last? Of course, it is better to store them in suitable conditions. The shelf life of mushrooms depends on the form in which and where they will be stored. For example, mushrooms can be stored at room temperature for no more than 2-3 hours. In the refrigerator, the shelf life of champignons increases significantly and ranges from 3 days to a week. And of course, champignons last longer in the freezer.
