Can you freeze mushrooms?

What freezing does to mushrooms

Freezing causes the water inside the mushroom cells to expand and rupture the cell walls, which leads to a mushy texture upon thawing. Because the structural integrity is compromised, they are best used in cooked dishes like soups, stews, or sauces rather than eaten raw or in salads.

How to freeze it

1. Wash the mushrooms thoroughly in cold water to remove all dirt, then drain them well.
2. Slice or chop the mushrooms to your desired size for cooking.
3. Sauté the mushrooms in a pan until they release their moisture and begin to brown, then let them cool completely.
4. Spread the cooled mushrooms on a baking sheet to flash freeze for about an hour so they don't clump together.
5. Transfer the frozen mushrooms into airtight freezer bags or containers, removing as much air as possible before sealing.

Thawing and using it

On thawing, mushrooms will be significantly softer and release a lot of liquid. The best way to use them is to thaw them in the refrigerator or add them directly to hot pans, soups, or casseroles where the texture change is less noticeable.

Depends on the form

• raw vs. cooked (raw mushrooms freeze poorly without pre-cooking), sliced vs. whole (sliced freezes better), and fresh vs. pre-sliced packaged mushrooms