Tips for Storing Oyster Mushrooms to Keep Them Fresh

Oyster mushrooms are quite popular among many people because they can be processed into many dishes. Especially if you are a vegetarian, these oyster mushrooms can be a favorite substitute for chicken, fish, and beef.

There are many dishes that can be made with the addition of oyster mushrooms. For example, stir-fried vegetables, crispy mushrooms, sautéed oyster mushrooms, mushroom tongseng, mushroom pepes, lodeh vegetables with oyster mushrooms, mushroom nuggets, mushroom omelets, mushroom satay, mushroom siomay, and many more.

Unfortunately, oyster mushrooms wilt quickly if not stored properly. Generally, if you buy mushrooms today, you should process them today as well to maintain their chewy texture. However, if you want to use them for a few days ahead, you need to store them properly to keep them fresh. Here are tips for storing oyster mushrooms to keep them fresh.

Choose Fresh Mushrooms

Choosing fresh mushrooms is very important for you to do. If you do not choose fresh ones, there is a high possibility that the oyster mushrooms will wilt and smell unpleasant. Mushrooms that are not fresh are also harder to care for when you want to store them for a few days.

To choose fresh mushrooms, you can look at their color. If the oyster mushrooms are still white, have a firm texture, and do not have much moisture on the outside, you can be sure that the mushrooms are still new and fresh.

If they have turned slightly brown, look less firm, and have a lot of moisture, especially at the roots, you can be sure that those oyster mushrooms are old stock.

Cut the Root Part

Once you have obtained fresh oyster mushrooms, you can start by cutting the ends of the stems and the roots. The ends of the stems and the roots often cause the mushrooms to emit an unpleasant odor.

If there are brown spots on the mushrooms, you can remove them with the help of a knife. Just slice the spots thinly so as not to remove too much of the mushroom.

Do Not Wash with Water

Once the root part is cut, you should not wash it with water. Just clean off any dirt that sticks with a tissue or simply shake it off.

Washing with water has the potential to contaminate the mushrooms with oxygen, causing them to spoil faster. If water accidentally drips on them, you can wipe the droplets with a tissue.

Wrap in Airtight Plastic

After that, wrap them in airtight plastic to reduce the likelihood of the mushrooms wilting. Choose good and new plastic (not previously used for anything). Do not wrap them in paper, as it can get contaminated and spoil quickly.

Store in the Refrigerator

Ideally, you should store the wrapped mushrooms in the refrigerator as much as possible. Storing them in the refrigerator can keep the mushrooms fresh for up to 7 days. Meanwhile, if you place them at room temperature, they can only last 1-2 days.

If you want to keep them even longer, you can put them in the freezer section of the refrigerator. Mushrooms can last about 2 weeks. However, sometimes if stored in the freezer for too long, the texture of the oyster mushrooms will change. Therefore, it is best to process oyster mushrooms into food as soon as you buy them.

Those are tips for storing oyster mushrooms to keep them fresh and usable for your next dishes. I hope the tips above help.