Do Mushrooms Need to Be Refrigerated? (How to Keep Fresh Longer)
Mushrooms are a type of fungi and as such, they are highly perishable. The delicate nature of mushrooms requires that they be stored properly in order to maintain their flavor and texture.
If you are not going to use your mushrooms right away, it is best to store them in a paper bag in the fridge. This will help to absorb any moisture that may cause the mushrooms to spoil. Be sure to check on your mushrooms regularly and use them within a few days, otherwise, they may start to spoil.
In this article, we will explain many good reasons why mushrooms need to be refrigerated. We also will brief you on how to do the proper storage to keep the mushrooms in tip-top condition.
Do Mushrooms Need to Be Refrigerated?
Fresh mushrooms should be stored in the refrigerator. If you are going to store mushrooms for a week or less, you can store them in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator.
Remove them from their original packing before you keep mushrooms in the fridge. Put them in paper bags and not plastics. This allows the mushrooms to breathe and produces less moisture. It is crucial as you want to keep mushrooms fresh and longer. Moisture will shorten the mushroom’s shelf life.
One important thing: before putting them in paper bags — don’t wash them! Even if you wipe them with paper towels, you’re adding extra moisture. If they have some dirt on them, leave it alone. Just wash the ones you’ll be using right away.
How Long Do Mushrooms Last in the Fridge?
After you’ve picked your mushrooms, you might be wondering how long they will last in the fridge. The answer to that question depends on a few things, such as the variety of mushroom and the way it was stored before you put them in the fridge.
Generally speaking, most mushrooms will last between three and five days in the fridge. However, if they were stored in a paper bag, they may only last for two or three days. If you have a vacuum-sealed package of mushrooms, they may last up to 10 days.
How to Store Mushrooms in the Fridge
The fridge is the better option to store mushrooms because it will keep them fresh for a longer period of time. If you store them in the pantry, they will only last for a few days only.
Another reason to store mushrooms in the fridge is to extend their shelf life and kept them fresh and maintain the taste until you cook them.
Below are steps to store mushrooms in the fridge.
- Before putting your mushrooms in the refrigerator, don’t wash them. They will absorb more water, and the increased moisture will accelerate spoilage.
- Don’t keep your mushrooms in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator, though, because of the moisture. These drawers are ideal for wilting lettuce or fresh herbs, but they’re the worst place in the fridge to keep mushrooms.
- When keeping mushrooms in the fridge, keep them away from things that are particularly odorous or flavorful, like onions or fish. Mushrooms will absorb the smell like a sponge.
- Don’t pile anything else on top of your mushrooms. They can’t take a lot of weight, so treat them like a loaf of bread. Squished, damaged mushrooms don’t seem particularly appealing, and they won’t last long.
- There are some mushrooms that last longer in the refrigerator than others. To avoid wasting mushrooms, purchase them near the time you intend to use them.
- Consider freezing or drying mushrooms if you need to keep them for more than a week.
How to Freeze Mushrooms
When you freeze mushrooms, the fresher they are, the longer they will last. Mushrooms that are fresh have a solid consistency and a lovely earthy odor. They’re also clear of any mushy or black areas.
Fresh mushrooms are sometimes best purchased at a farmer’s market, but you may also locate locally cultivated mushrooms at your grocery store.
Brush off any apparent dirt before freezing mushrooms. Many people want to wash mushrooms before freezing them. Don’t do it! This makes them mushier when cooked.
Trim the stems from the mushrooms and place them in a freezer-safe plastic bag if you want to freeze them uncooked. Before sealing the bag and placing it in the freezer, squeeze out as much air as possible.
How Long Do Mushrooms Last at Room Temperature?
Mushrooms can be kept at room temperature not warmer than 20 C/70 F, like a dry pantry. Mushrooms will last for around four days at room temperature.
After this, they may start to soften, break down, and spoil. If you notice any signs of spoilage, it is best to discard the mushrooms immediately.
Do you know that mushrooms will continue to grow a bit after they’ve been packaged?
Can Mushrooms Go Bad in the Fridge?
Yes, mushrooms can and do go bad in the fridge. Mushrooms, like other products, can go bad if not stored properly.
The fridge is a great place to store mushrooms, but they can still go bad if not handled correctly.
You’ll know mushrooms have gone bad if they’re slimy or brown. You’ll notice they’re going off when they’re softer to the touch, even a bit slimy. When you rip off the stem and look at the top (inner side), it’s very porous and bruised. They even smell more than usual, and not just of earth-smell. Discard those mushrooms.
It’s best to mushroom quickly once you’ve bought them. Don’t keep mushrooms in your fridge if you don’t plan on using them soon. Keep mushrooms out of the fridge if you’re planning on cooking or eating them. If they go bad before you’ve used them, then they can be toxic to eat.
How to Tell if Mushrooms are Bad
What do you do if you’ve got a bunch of mushrooms in your fridge, and you’re not sure whether they’re still good to eat? Here are a few tips on how to tell if mushrooms are going bad.
First, take a look at the mushrooms themselves. If they’re slimy or fuzzy, they’ve probably gone bad. Mushrooms should have a dry, crisp, and fresh appearance. Your mushrooms are no longer edible if they appear damp, have grown a slime layer, or feel slimy or sticky.
Also, if the mushrooms have started to turn brown or black, or they start to have dark sports — they’re no longer safe to eat.
Another way to tell if mushrooms are bad is by their smell. If they smell musty or earthy, that’s a sign that they’ve gone bad. Bad mushrooms can release a variety of unusual aromas, ranging from ammonia-like to sour or fishy.
And finally, if the mushrooms have been stored in the fridge for more than a week or two, it’s best to discard them just in case. Mushrooms should be stored in the refrigerator, but if you’re not sure how long they’ve been there, you can always take a quick sniff.
Final Thought
Mushrooms should be stored in the refrigerator. They shouldn’t be left out at room temperature for more than a day.
The fridge is the better option because it will keep them fresh for a longer period of time. If you store them in the pantry, the warmer temperature will accelerate the spoilage.
Fresh mushrooms should last about a week in the refrigerator before going bad. Avoiding excess humidity by storing them in a paper bag or punching holes in a plastic container will help them live a little longer.
