The best way to freeze mushrooms to preserve their flavor and texture for up to a year
- Steam blanch mushrooms before you freeze them to preserve their taste and texture.
- Raw mushrooms can also be frozen, but their texture will be affected once they're thawed.
- Frozen mushrooms last up to a year, but flavor and texture may start to diminish beyond four months.
There's nothing like the taste of fresh mushrooms. Whether they're sliced raw for salads, sautéed in garlic and olive oil, or stuffed with breadcrumbs, their rich, umami flavor makes them the star of many dishes. The fact that they're nutritious makes them even better.
If you're a mushroom lover, then you know how easy it is to go overboard at the supermarket or farmer's market. While piles of porcini mushrooms and cartons of cremini in the fridge might seem like heaven, fungi typically last less than a week in the fridge.
Fortunately, there is a solution that doesn't involve eating a bowl of mushrooms instead of cereal for breakfast or tossing them in the garbage: You can freeze your mushrooms.
Chef Rhonda Plummer, owner of the San Francisco-based private chef and catering service Cater2uSF, says to cook mushrooms before freezing for the best taste and texture.
"Although you can freeze raw mushrooms, they can become mushy when thawed, given their high water content," says Plummer. "They work well in soups, casseroles, and other blended dishes, but you may not want squishy mushrooms for other things."
The best way to freeze mushrooms: Steam blanching
Plummer says she uses various methods of freezing mushrooms depending on the types of mushrooms she's currently got in her kitchen. Her go-to for most mushrooms is steam blanching, a quick-cooking process that allows the mushrooms to keep their color and flavor, as well as their meaty texture.
"How long you blanch them will depend on the size, so it's good to sort them first or cut them up into smaller chunks before steaming," she says.
- Clean the mushrooms. Wipe away dirt with a soft brush or a lint-free cloth.
- Sort and cut your mushrooms. The size of the mushrooms determines how long you will blanch them, so make sure they are similar in size. If mushrooms are larger than an inch, you can slice them in half or quarters.
- Soak the mushrooms. Soak them in 4 cups of water and a teaspoon of lemon juice for 5 to 10 minutes. Normally, you wouldn't want to soak mushrooms because they are like sponges, but it's fine when you're steam blanching them. This step will prevent them from discoloring.
- Prepare the steamer. Bring the same water and lemon juice mixture to a boil in a pot with a steamer basket.
- Put the mushrooms in a steamer basket and steam for three to five minutes. If your mushrooms are cut, you can typically steam them for around three minutes, while whole mushrooms will typically need the full five minutes to steam. The mushrooms should be almost fully cooked — you'll know when they are tender.
- Remove the blanched mushrooms and transfer to an ice water bath. Leave them in the bath for the same amount of time they were steamed. The shock of the cold water will stop the cooking process.
- Strain the water. Make sure the water is drained well from the mushrooms before storing. Transfer them to a plate with a paper towel as they continue to cool to room temperature.
- Place the mushrooms in freezer-safe bags with an airtight seal. Store them in the freezer, where they'll last for months.
How to freeze raw mushrooms
Freezing mushrooms raw will cause them to take on a softer texture once thawed. It's still possible to preserve them this way, though they'll be better suited for adding to soups and sauces rather than eating them on their own. Here's how to do it:
Clean and prepare the mushrooms. You can freeze them whole or slice them, depending on how you want to use them later after they are thawed. Spread them apart on a parchment-lined baking tray and freeze. Separating the mushrooms will allow them to freeze individually rather than in a large clump.
Once they're frozen, remove them from the tray and transfer them to freezer-safe bags. Return them to the freezer until you need them.
Quick tip: Maitake mushrooms (also known as hen of the woods) have low water content and will freeze better raw than other types of mushrooms.
How to freeze sautéed mushrooms
If you plan on making mushrooms the star of your dish, it's better to cook them first before freezing. Sautéeing is another go-to method for bringing out the flavor.
Heat up some olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, then add mushrooms in an even layer. Cook them until they are golden brown on one side, about three to four minutes. Flip them over, then brown the other side for another three to four minutes.
Remove the mushrooms from the heat and let them cool to room temperature. Transfer them to freezer-safe bags or containers. If you prefer, you can freeze them first on a tray as with the raw mushrooms to keep them separated.
How to thaw and use frozen mushrooms
When you are ready to use your frozen mushrooms, Chef Rhonda says you can cook with them still frozen if they're going straight into soups or sauces. Again, mushrooms have a high water content, so the additional water from any ice that has formed won't be a problem.
If you want to enjoy the mushrooms on their own, it's better to defrost them first — just take them from the freezer and put them in the refrigerator overnight.
How long do frozen mushrooms last?
Frozen mushrooms can keep for 9 to 12 months. For the best taste and texture, Chef Rhonda doesn't let her frozen fungi get past the four-month mark. If you like mushrooms, you probably won't let them stay in your freezer for that long anyway.
Insider's takeaway
If you've got extra mushrooms on your hands that you don't want to waste, freezing them is an excellent option to keep them around longer. Whether you freeze them raw or cook them first depends on how you want to eat them later, but this method allows you to enjoy them later, if you choose.