Laura Smith
Cremini mushrooms are a versatile ingredient, adding their earthy, umami-like flavour and meaty texture to a variety of dishes. However, storing them can be a tricky business. Mushrooms are highly perishable and can quickly absorb too much moisture, leading to spoilage. The key to prolonging their shelf life is to control moisture levels and slow down their metabolism. This involves keeping them dry, cool, and refrigerated, preferably in their original packaging or a paper bag.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Storage temperature | 40-45° Fahrenheit |
| Packaging | Original packaging, paper bag, paper towels, plastic wrap, sealed container |
| Refrigerator location | Not in the crisper drawer |
| Washing | Wash before cooking/eating, not before storing |
| Freezing | Possible |
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What You'll Learn
Keep cremini mushrooms in their original packaging
Keeping cremini mushrooms in their original packaging is a great way to store them and can help them stay fresh for longer. The plastic wrap around the cardboard packaging has holes that allow excess moisture to escape, preventing the mushrooms from drying out or becoming slimy. This method is also recommended by the test cooks at Cook's Illustrated Magazine.
To store cremini mushrooms in their original packaging, simply leave them in the cardboard box with the plastic wrap intact. If you need to remove a few mushrooms, make the smallest hole possible in the plastic covering to minimise damage to the remaining mushrooms. Once you've taken what you need, rewrap the area you removed them from with plastic wrap or shrink wrap.
Keeping the mushrooms in their original packaging will help to prolong their life, but it's still best to store them in the fridge, preferably as soon as you get home. The refrigerator slows down the metabolism of the mushrooms, which continue to grow after picking. Place the packaged mushrooms on a shelf in the fridge, rather than in the crisper drawer, as this can be too moist, encouraging the mushrooms to spoil.
Storing cremini mushrooms in their original packaging is a convenient and effective way to keep them fresh. By following these steps and being mindful of moisture control and refrigeration, you can maximise the shelf life of your cremini mushrooms.
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Store loose mushrooms in a paper bag or paper towels
If you've bought loose cremini mushrooms, it's best to store them in a paper bag or paper towels. Paper bags are especially good because they allow mushrooms to breathe a bit and prevent them from settling into the same position, which can cause bruising.
Paper bags or paper towels also absorb the moisture that mushrooms naturally release, preventing them from getting slimy. Mushrooms have a high water content (80-90%) and are sponges to other moisture, so combating that moisture is key to keeping them fresh.
To store loose mushrooms in a paper bag, place the bag in the refrigerator, preferably in one of the crisper drawers. This keeps the scent and taste of other food from getting into your mushrooms, and the drawers are designed to keep fresh vegetables fresher for longer.
To store loose mushrooms in paper towels, spread the mushrooms on a paper or tea towel to catch any excess water. Then, place them in a container, cover the container tightly with plastic wrap, and put them in the fridge. When you need to take some mushrooms out, make the smallest hole possible in the plastic, remove what you need, then rewrap the container tightly.
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Freeze cremini mushrooms
Fresh cremini mushrooms can be stored in their original packaging in the refrigerator. However, if you want to store them for longer, you can freeze them.
To freeze cremini mushrooms, start by cleaning them. Wipe them with a damp paper towel or lightly rinse them in cold water and pat them dry. Trim off any dried-out parts of the stems or remove the stems entirely. You can keep small mushrooms whole, but larger ones should be sliced.
Next, you can choose to steam, sauté, or blanch the mushrooms before freezing. Steaming involves placing the mushrooms in a steamer basket over boiling water and cooking for 3-5 minutes. To sauté the mushrooms, cook them in a skillet with a little oil or butter over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, until soft. For blanching, soak the mushrooms in a mixture of water and lemon juice for 5-10 minutes, then steam them for 3-5 minutes and finally place them in ice water for the same amount of time.
Once the mushrooms are cooked, let them cool completely. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag, removing as much air as possible. Label the bag with the date, and store the mushrooms in the freezer for up to 6 months to a year. Frozen mushrooms are best used in cooked dishes, as their texture may change upon freezing.
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Place in the refrigerator
To store cremini mushrooms in the refrigerator, it is recommended to keep them in their original packaging. This is because the plastic wrap usually has holes that allow excess moisture to escape without drying the mushrooms out. If you bought your mushrooms loose, place them in a container, cover the container tightly with plastic wrap, then put them in the fridge.
When you need to take out a few mushrooms, make the smallest hole possible in the plastic, remove what you need, then rewrap the container tightly. Your mushrooms will stay fresh this way for 7-10 days.
If you are using a paper bag, make sure to keep the mushrooms in the dry, cool fridge to prolong their life. The paper bag will absorb the moisture mushrooms naturally release, preventing them from getting slimy. However, do not store them in the crisper drawer of the fridge as this is too moist of an environment. Instead, leave them on a shelf.
It is also important to note that mushrooms should not be washed until directly before preparing, cooking, or eating them.
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Avoid moisture
Cremini mushrooms are a versatile ingredient with a rich, earthy flavour. However, they are delicate and perishable, so proper storage is crucial to maintaining freshness and flavour and ensuring food safety.
Mushrooms are made of 80 to 90 percent water, so they are prone to moisture buildup. When stored in plastic or airtight containers, all that moisture has nowhere to go, creating the perfect environment for slime and spoilage. Therefore, it is important to avoid washing mushrooms before storing them; doing so will shorten their shelf life. Mushrooms absorb water quickly, which can accelerate spoilage. It is best to wash them right before you intend to use them.
To avoid moisture buildup, store cremini mushrooms in paper bags rather than plastic. Paper allows for airflow, reducing moisture accumulation that can lead to mushiness and mould growth. If your mushrooms come in a sealed plastic container, take them out and store them in a paper bag.
If you don't have a paper bag, you can wrap the mushrooms in a paper towel and place them in a bowl in the refrigerator. The paper towel will absorb any moisture, keeping your mushrooms safe.
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