More than often, fresh mushrooms are often sold in packages. A single package will yield mushrooms that are enough to make at least a couple of dishes. Therefore, you will end up with leftovers and wonder how they can last.
So, how long do mushrooms last? It depends on where you store them. At room temperature, 2-3 days. In the fridge, it could last up to 10 day. In the freezer, it could last up to 1 year.
Above is just an estimate because there are many factors that determine the shelf life of mushrooms. When it was bought, how it’s stored, where it’s stored, and the types of mushrooms it is.
In this article, we will discuss the shelf life, storage methods, and signs of mushrooms that are bad. If that’s what you want to learn more about, keep reading.
Mushroom Expiration Date
| Room Temperature | Refrigerator | Freezer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Raw last for | 2-3 Days | 7-10 Days | 1 Year |
| Sliced Raw last for | 1-2 Days | 7-10 Days | 1 Year |
| Cooked Mushrooms last for | 2-3 Hours | 7-10 Days | 1 Year |
How Long Do Mushrooms Last?
There are many varieties of mushrooms, like white, portobello, button, enoki, and at least a few others, but all are the same when it comes to their shelf life. All varieties of mushrooms contain water content of between 70% to 90%. Therefore, they will last for as long as you store them properly.
It varies from mushrooms to mushrooms, where it’s stored, and if it’s cooked or uncooked. All of these factors contribute to how long mushrooms will last. Below are more in-depth of the mushrooms so you can get a better idea of how long each will last.
How Long Do Cooked Mushrooms Last?
For cooked mushrooms, they should last for about a week in the fridge. As with any other food that is cooked, it should be sealed in an airtight container.
After a week, if any mushroom is still left, it’s best to throw them all out.
If you want them to last a bit longer, you can put them in the freezer. The freezer should keep the mushroom in good quality for about 2 to 3 weeks. After that time, it’s best to throw them out.
How Long Do Uncooked Mushrooms Last?
Whole uncooked mushrooms will last about 7 to days in the fridge. Always make sure to poke a couple of holes in the package to prevent condensation. In the fridge, condensation happens when the fridge is open and closed often. If you have a fridge that’s constantly being opened and closed throughout the day, mushrooms can go bad quickly due to condensation.
If you store them outside the fridge, it will probably last a couple of days. It’s always a good idea to leave as much as you need and put the rest in the fridge right away.
Whether you’re storing them in the fridge or outside the fridge, the time period on how long they last is just a rough estimate. This is due to the quality of the mushrooms. Since we don’t know how long the mushrooms have sat on the store’s shelves, it’s only a guess of how long it will last.
In my own experience, I’ve bought some mushrooms that seem to be in good quality and put them fridge right away once I got home. In about 3 days, it started to grow molds all over the mushrooms. In another instance, I had mushrooms that last for 2 weeks before it started to have molds on it.
In other words, with mushrooms, you’ll never know what’s the quality of the mushrooms you’re getting.
How To Store Mushrooms?
To keep your mushroom fresh and lasting for a long time, you’ll need to properly store them. Depending on where you store them will determine how long they will last. Mushrooms can be stored at room temperature, in the fridge, and even in the freezer.
Storing Mushrooms Outside The Fridge
Mushrooms at room temperature won’t last longer than a couple of days. If the temperature is extremely hot, especially during the summer months, mushrooms won’t last longer than a day. Of course, if you have air conditioning running in your home, it will last longer, but it will never last more than a couple of days outside the fridge.
When storing mushrooms at room temperature, if it’s in its original packaging, leave the film cover on. If you’re going to use some mushrooms from the package, make sure to cover it back with the film.
Storing Mushrooms In The Fridge
When it comes to mushrooms, the fridge is the best place to store them. By refrigerating the mushrooms, it cools down the enzymes. This will stop or slow down the mushrooms from growing.
Mushrooms are mostly water and can contain anywhere between 70% – 90% water. Also, mushrooms will continue to grow even after it’s been picked.
Packaged Mushrooms
If you have bought mushrooms and it’s already packaged, it’s ready to store. Simply put them in the fridge once you get home.
However, if you’re planning to use mushrooms from the same package a few times, it’s recommended to make a small opening at one end of the package. Once you’ve removed the mushroom, pull them plastic film back over it.
Alternatively, you can remove the mushrooms and replace it with a new plastic film before putting it back in the fridge.
Unpackaged Mushrooms
For loose mushrooms, there are multiple popular methods you can use. You can use a damp kitchen paper towel, paper bag, or zip lock bags to store them.
To use a damp kitchen paper towel, make sure the mushrooms have been cleaned thoroughly first. Get rid of all dirt and other particles off the mushroom. Then damp the kitchen paper towel and wrap the mushrooms inside the towel. Place it in the fridge and they should be fresh for about 7 days.
To store mushrooms in a paper bag, you will need a paper bag of course (brown paper bag preferable). Make a couple of small holes in the side of the bag. After cleaning the mushrooms and patting them dry, place the mushrooms inside the bag with the top of the bag open. Put the bag in the fridge and they should be fresh for up to 7 days.
This last method is no ideal for storing mushrooms, but if you’re going to consume it within a couple of days, it will work. Start by cleaning all of the mushrooms and patting them dry with a towel. Then place all the mushrooms in the zip lock bag and place it in the fridge. Make sure to use the mushrooms within 4 days or they’ll start going bad.
Can You Freeze Mushrooms?
Mushrooms freeze well in the freezer and there are a couple of methods to freezing them, depending on what you’ll be using them for later. By preparing them first, you can use mushrooms in more ways in the kitchen.
Below are a couple of popular methods to prepare the mushrooms for the freezer:
How To Blanch Mushrooms For The Freezer
Blanching is another way to keep mushrooms last for a long time and retain their freshness. Blanching will require some preparation first to make sure they freeze well in the freezer.
To keep the mushrooms from darkening during the blanching process, soak them for five minutes in a solution of 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 1 pint of water.
After you’ve done soaking them, follow the steps below to blanch the mushrooms:
- Place a steamer basket in a pot of water.
- After the water has boiled, add mushrooms to the steamer basket. For whole mushrooms, steam them for 5 minutes. For buttons or quarters mushrooms, steam it for 4 minutes. For sliced mushrooms, steam for 3 minutes.
- After it has been steamed, immediately transfer the mushrooms from the steamer basket to a bowl of ice water. Keep them for about 5 minutes or until they are completely cooled down.
- Strain the mushrooms and pat them down with a towel until they are completely dry.
- Place the mushrooms into an airtight container or freezer bag.
How To Sauté Mushrooms For The Freezer
Another option is to sauté mushrooms before freezing them. Sautéeing mushrooms before freezing will produce a firmer mushroom after freezing. Great for adding to stir-fries, pizza, or pasta dishes. Start by choosing the ingredients you want to add flavor to the mushrooms. Some of the basic ingredients you can add are salt, pepper, and onions.
- Heat the frying pan with hot oil or butter at medium heat.
- Once the pan is heated, sauté the mushrooms for about 4 minutes or until they are almost fully cooked.
- Once cooked, transfer them to a plate or another pan and allow it to completely cool down. Also, you could quick-freeze them as well. Place the sautéed mushrooms on a parchment-lined tray and quick-freeze the mushrooms.
- After it has cooled down or frozen, pack the mushrooms into a freezer bag or an air tight container and put it into the freezer.
How To Freeze Raw Mushrooms
If you want to freeze the raw mushroom, it freezes well, but you’ll need to prepare them first. Frozen raw mushrooms tend to get mushy when it’s thawed. Therefore, these mushrooms work well in soups, casseroles, and stews.
- Clean the mushroom with a paper towel. Avoid using water to clean as it can make them mushy. Trim the stem of the mushrooms and brush off any visible dirt on them.
- Place the mushrooms on a parchment-lined tray. Spread them out so they have some spaces between them.
- Quick freeze them by putting the mushrooms in the freezer for about 20 minutes or until they are completely frozen.
- Transfer the frozen mushrooms to a freezer bag. You can put as many as it can fit.
- Squeeze the freezer bag to remove any excess air in the bag.
- Put the freezer bag of mushrooms in the freezer.
How To Tell If A Mushroom Is Bad?
When it comes to mushrooms, whether it’s cooked or uncooked, it will tend to go bad real quick if not stored properly. When it goes bad, there are some signs you can look for. One of the signs is white mold growing on them.
On whole mushrooms, it will start having white mold around the stem area. The longer you keep it, the mold will start growing upward to the cap of the mushrooms.
For mushrooms that have been cut, mold will start just about anywhere on it. If you notice any mold on it, it’s best to throw the entire batch of mushroom away.
Mold can spread rather quickly, without even you noticing. The reason for that, mushrooms are mostly water, so the mold can fairly move around quickly and without leaving any signs on the surface.
After inspecting the mushrooms, if there is no mold visible, you can check the overall quality. That means inspecting the look, texture, and smell of the mushrooms.
For looks and texture, check to see if there are any dark spots, wrinkles, or slimes on the cap. These features are signs that are that the mushrooms is past its prime and should be thrown away immediately.
In addition, pick each mushroom up and gently squeeze each one. If it is mushy or breaks apart, the mushroom is bad.
As for the smell, if it smells off or has a weird smell to it, it’s best to throw them out.
Mushrooms that have been in the fridge for longer than 2 weeks, it’s best to throw the entire batch out. While there may not be signs of it going bad, it’s usually not safe to eat. Since mushrooms are made up of mostly water and due to condensation in the fridge, bacteria and mold will usually start to inhabit the mushrooms already.
Conclusion
As you can see, with preparation and proper storage, mushrooms can last for a very long time. Whenever you’re preparing a meal, never keep mushrooms at room temperature for longer than they are needed. Either place them in the fridge or the freezer. As long as you store mushrooms properly, they will last and stay fresh for a long time.