This post is inspired by my friend Erica! I love when my friends ask me cooking questions. I could talk about food and prep all day long. Sorry friends who could careless. Thanks for sticking with me.
How to Freeze Mushrooms
You can dry most mushrooms successfully, but not all of them. Some types of mushrooms will have a much better texture if you freeze them instead. And while some mushrooms are better cooked before they are frozen, others are fine to freeze raw.
Grocery store button mushrooms, creminis and portobellas are cultivated mushrooms that can be frozen raw or cooked.
When freezing raw and cooked mushrooms you want to prevent the mushrooms from sticking together.
How to Freeze Raw Mushrooms
1) Clean the mushrooms.
2) Chop the mushrooms into slices or dice. You can always chop them up smaller when you use them. For now, just aim for pieces that are no more than 1/2-inch thick.
3) Spread the mushroom pieces in a single layer on a cookie sheet or large plate lined with parchment. It is okay if the pieces touch, but they should not overlap. Freeze for 2 hours.
3) Transfer the frozen mushrooms to freezer containers. Because they were frozen in a single layer first, the pieces will stay loose and individual in the containers.
How to Freeze Cooked Mushrooms
Grocery store button mushrooms, shiitakes, and wild mushrooms including oyster, chicken of the woods and tooth mushrooms can have a better texture when you finally use them if they are cooked before they are frozen.
1) Clean the mushrooms.
3) Chop the mushrooms into small pieces or slivers.
4) Heat a little oil or butter in a skillet over medium low heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms first release their liquid and then reabsorb it.
5) Let the cooked mushrooms cool to room temperature.
6) Spread the mushroom pieces in a single layer on a cookie sheet or large plate lined with parchment. It is okay if the pieces touch, but they should not overlap. Freeze for 2 hours.
3) Transfer the frozen mushrooms to freezer containers. Because they were frozen in a single layer first, the pieces will stay loose and individual in the containers. So you can grab just what you need later.
Northerly Nosh 