Sometimes when I am at the grocery store, I have the best of intentions with my meal planning but then life gets in the way.
Have you ever opened the fridge and realized that you have something in there that you need to use but then wondered if it’s still good?
This happens to me all of the time.
That is why I had to find out for sure how long do mushrooms last?
Raw mushrooms can last up to 10 days in the refrigerator but proper storage is important. Sliced mushrooms can last up to 7 days in the fridge. Cooked mushrooms can last up to 10 days.
You can generally tell if a mushroom has gone bad by how it feels. If it feels slimy and sticky it is probably not a mushroom that you want to eat. Another sign of a mushroom going bad is if it is discolored, looks bruised or has brown spots. Also, if your mushrooms are looking shriveled that is a sign that it has definitely dehydrated and may not be tasty. Finally, smell your mushrooms because a spoiled mushroom will smell sour or a bit like ammonia.
Tip: When you buy your mushrooms fresh from the store make a note of their condition. This will help you keep a visual gauge on the discoloration as they age in your fridge. White mushrooms should be nearly blemish free with well-rounded white caps and no brown on the end of the stems. Portabellas: uniform brown color without blemishes, no slimy-looking stems, preferably with a tight cap.
Can you get sick from eating old mushrooms?
Yes, you can get sick from eating old mushrooms. If you eat mushrooms that have gone bad, you may end up with an upset stomach and stomach cramps. While you can also wind up with much more serious illness such as botulism, that is less likely if your mushrooms came from a reputable source or store.
How long do fresh mushrooms last in the fridge?
Whole, raw mushrooms will generally last from 7 to 10 days in the fridge. The tip to extend that shelf life is to put them in the fridge as quickly as possible. The FDA recommends that you get those mushrooms in the fridge within two hours of purchase.
What’s the best way to store fresh mushrooms?
Make sure that your mushrooms are not fully wrapped in plastic. They need some air to breath and something that will absorb excess moisture. A highly recommended tip is to place the mushrooms in a small paper bag with the bag open. The paper will absorb excess moisture and the open top will allow for air flow.
We bought some of these environmentally friendly beeswax wraps by Etee for covering dishes and wrapping foods. They are AWESOME, easy to clean, and fit snugly.
How long do sliced mushrooms last?
Sliced mushrooms tend to last between 4 and 7 days in the fridge. Sliced mushroom doesn’t last as long as whole mushrooms because they have more exposed areas and are more prone to moisture and slime buildup. It is best to use sliced mushrooms as quickly as possible.
When you are at the store it is tempting to buy the pre-sliced mushrooms (or at least I am always tempted) but I have learned that convenience comes at a cost. Sliced mushrooms just don’t last as long as whole mushrooms. Moving forward, I won’t purchase sliced mushrooms unless I am certain that we will use them within 24 hours.
Here’s a free PDF download from U.S. FDA about how to handle produce to help avoid illness.
How long do cooked mushrooms last?
Cooked mushrooms can last up to 24 hours in the fridge. The key is to get those cooked mushrooms in the fridge quickly. Be careful with eating leftover cooked mushrooms because they can give you a tummy ache. If you have cooked mushrooms but won’t be able to consume within 24 hours you should consider freezing them.
Grow Your Own Mushies! There are a TON of cool kit options at this link for growing your own different kinds of mushrooms at home! (You’ll always know where they came from, right??) Check ’em out here.
How to clean mushrooms?
The best way to clean a mushroom is to dump them in a bowl of cool water. Then swish them around and you will notice the dirt sinking to the bottom. After a few good swishes transfer the mushrooms to a cotton kitchen towel. Gently dry the mushrooms and then they are ready to be used.
If your mushrooms feel like they need that extra bit of cleaning, consider a mushroom brush. A brush like this has soft enough bristles and can clean a mushroom without bruising it.
There has been a lot of controversy about how to clean mushrooms. Mushrooms are 92% water so we don’t need to worry about them absorbing too much water. This means that we don’t need to fear giving them a good soaking, but mushrooms are fragile and disintegrate easily.
We love mushrooms in this house. We eat them raw in our salads. We grill them. We also just ate them in a garlic shrimp and mushroom stir fry. That is why learning more about how long mushrooms last and a better way for cleaning mushrooms was super helpful today. I have a very sensitive stomach and am always worrying about whether my mushrooms have gone bad. Knowledge is power! Read More: How To Tell When Garlic Has Gone Bad!
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