Keep Mushrooms Fresh and Flavorful: Simple Storage Tips to Say Goodbye to Slimy Spoils

With their rich, umami taste and hearty texture, mushrooms are definitely worth saving for as long as possible. However, anyone who's bought them knows that proper storage can be a bit of a challenge.

Mushrooms are a bit of a mystery – once you bring them home, it’s unclear just how long they'll last. Without a 'best by' or 'expiration' date, just a 'packed on' date, you might have anywhere from two to six days to enjoy them.

While you can't control how long your mushrooms stay fresh, you can certainly control how you store them. With a few key insights about these fascinating fungi, keeping them fresh longer becomes a whole lot easier.

How Long Do Fresh Mushrooms Stay Fresh?

The Importance of Proper Mushroom Storage

Proper storage practices keep everyone in your home healthy. After cooking, make sure to refrigerate any leftover mushrooms as soon as they cool. Be sure to finish those leftovers within 3 days.

Before cooking, your main concern is preventing sliminess – a sign that bacteria are feasting on your mushrooms instead of you. While this stage of decomposition might not harm you, it’s a clear indication that mold and other harmful bacteria aren't far behind.

Recipe: Chicken Marsala

How to Properly Store Mushrooms

If you plan to use your mushrooms within a few days, simply poke a few holes in the plastic wrap of the original packaging (if there aren't any) before storing them in the fridge.

If you're not using them right away, follow these steps to ensure your mushrooms stay as fresh as possible:

1. Remove the mushrooms from their original packaging.

2. Store them in a paper bag or a zip-top bag lined with paper towels.

3. Fold the top of the bag to keep it open, and place it on a shelf in the fridge, not in the crisper drawer.

Understanding Various Mushroom Types and Their Storage Requirements

Mushrooms come in various varieties, but here are the most common ones you'll find in grocery stores, along with tips for checking their freshness for proper storage.

White Button Mushrooms

The most commonly used variety in households for all types of cooking. These mushrooms should be plump, firm, and have the cap still intact.

Portobello

These large, brown mushrooms are typically sold without their stems, with wide, flat caps about the size of burger buns, making them an ideal substitute. They should have an earthy aroma, not musty, and their dark brown gills should look fresh, not slimy.

If a stem or stump remains, it will likely be tough and woody—best discarded or used to make stock.

Cremini

A small, brown mushroom similar in size and use to the button mushroom, but darker, with a richer, more complex flavor. They should be plump, firm, and have the cap still intact.

Shiitake

Shiitake mushrooms should have smooth, firm caps that are tender but not overly stiff. Their texture should fall somewhere between completely dry and slightly slimy. These mushrooms also have woody stems that should be trimmed and discarded or saved for making broth.

Oyster

Named for their shape, which resembles an oyster outside its shell, these mushrooms are typically off-white, with firm, smooth caps and delicate ridges that cascade down into the stems. They should be dry and free from spots.

Porcini

This highly sought-after mushroom, often used in risotto, boasts a smooth texture and a rich, woodsy flavor. Make sure it’s free of soft spots and doesn’t have a sour smell.

Chanterelle

This pale yellow or golden mushroom has a distinctive trumpet shape and should be free of spots. It should feel soft and spongy, but not limp or slimy.

Fortunately, whether you're storing common mushrooms like white button or more exotic varieties like chanterelles, the storage method is essentially the same.

Tips and Tricks for Extending Mushroom Freshness

• Removing the mushrooms from their store container will allow them to breathe a bit and shuffle them around so they won't continue to settle in the positions they've been in and bruise.
• Mushrooms simultaneously have a high water content (80-90 percent, if you can believe it) while being sponges to other moisture. Combating that moisture needs to be top of mind.
• Keeping them in the dry, cool fridge is the best way to prolong their life, along with avoiding water (aka washing them) until the last possible second.
• A paper bag or paper towel-lined zip-top plastic bag will absorb the moisture mushrooms naturally release, preventing them from getting slimy.
• The crisper drawer of the fridge is too moist of an environment. It might be tempting, but don't store your mushrooms in there. Leave them on a shelf.
• Do not wash your mushrooms until directly before preparing and cooking/eating them.
• Keep mushrooms away from any strong-smelling foods in the fridge. Their porous, sponge-like nature will absorb that odor.