If you like mushrooms and buy a large container, you can quickly find you can’t use them all in one cooking session. While you may know you can’t directly freeze fresh mushrooms, fresh mushrooms go slimy and soft. So, what about jarred mushrooms, or can canned mushrooms be frozen?
Are canned mushrooms cooked already? Because you know cooked mushrooms can stay good for about a year when frozen. Either way, there is good news: you can freeze cooked mushrooms from fresh mushrooms, or if you are looking, can you freeze canned mushrooms?
In our guide, you can learn more about this versatile ingredient; you can fry in a little butter with your onions for many cooked dishes. Mushrooms offer a meaty texture and are a favorite for vegetarians and meat eaters. You’ll find the answers to are canned mushrooms good for you, and most of all, the answer to can you freeze canned mushrooms, and what are the ways you do this. (Read Do Goji Berries Go Bad)
Can You Freeze Mushrooms?
Mushrooms can be frozen, but they are very fragile, so they need to be nursed.
Make sure you only freeze the best mushrooms. This is one of the most important steps in freezing mushrooms.
If they have bruises or dark spots, these are signs they are going bad. Sort your mushrooms and plan to freeze the best ones.
Also, don’t freeze old mushrooms. If a mushroom looks dry, it won’t taste as good after being frozen.
How to Freeze Mushrooms
Only freeze the best quality mushrooms and ensure they are clean.
- Avoid washing mushrooms as they soak up water like a sponge. Instead, the aim is to eliminate as much water as possible, as you do with freezing any foods.
- Rather than washing, brush your mushrooms with your fingers or soft brush to remove visible dirt.
- Cut the stems off, and if you wish to freeze large mushrooms like portobellos, take out the gills with a spoon before freezing.
Can You Freeze Fresh Mushrooms?
Mushrooms are mostly water, so your frozen mushrooms would turn into mush when they thaw.
The water content turns to ice crystals, the more ice crystals, the mushier the food.
It’s not a good idea to freeze raw mushrooms, yet if you want to give it a go, your best bet is to slice them thinly, or even better is to dice your mushrooms, freeze them this way and hope they remain stable.
Spread your mushroom slices or pieces in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. If you flash freeze like this, mushrooms freeze faster and don’t stick together.
Once your pieces are frozen, place them in a Ziploc bag and remove all the air before placing them in the freezer.
If your mushrooms stay at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or under, your food item could stay safe indefinitely.
Can You Freeze Cooked Mushrooms?
Dealing with cooked mushrooms is similar yet different than dealing with raw.
But you can freeze cooked mushrooms efficiently. In the cooking process, the water escapes as steam, leaving your mushroom solid with less water content, which won’t break down into ice crystals when frozen. (Learn How To Reheat Pastrami)
1. Blanch Mushrooms
Before you blanch your mushrooms, decide on whole slices or pieces to freeze.
- Bring some water to a boil in a pot.
- Get a bowl of ice water ready.
- Put your mushrooms in the water that is already boiling.
- Boil whole mushrooms for about 4 to 5 minutes.
- If you want to slice or dice the mushrooms, only boil for 3 minutes.
- Using a large strainer spoon, remove them from the boiling water to the ice bath to cool them quickly.
- Give your mushrooms the same time to cool as it took to boil them.
- Move the mushrooms to a clean dish towel or a few pieces of paper towel and let them dry in the air.
2. How to Freeze Cooked Mushrooms
You can freeze mushrooms you have blanched or cooked. Before freezing, ensure they are at room temperature.
If you’ve blanched your mushrooms, freeze them by spreading them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to flash freeze them.
Place them in your freezer for 1-2 hours so they can freeze in separate pieces.
Transfer the dry mushrooms to a freezer bag or plastic container and remove as much air as possible.
If you fried or cooked your mushrooms in another style, transfer them in a Ziploc bag or Tupperware container that can go in the freezer once they are cool.
As much air as you can get out of the bag. They will expand slightly when they freeze, so if you’re using a container, make sure there is around 1 inch of headspace.
Can You Freeze Canned Mushrooms?
Once the canned mushrooms have been opened, you can freeze them. However, because the tins or glass containers are pressurized, you should never freeze canned goods until they have been opened.
- When the interior contents expand due to freezing, the container may make up because of the increased pressure.
- Opened cans of leftover mushrooms can be frozen by simply transferring the contents to a freezer-safe bag.
- Before sealing the Ziploc bag, remove as much air as possible.
- For roughly two months, frozen, canned mushrooms will keep their quality. They will, however, be totally safe to eat well after that.
If you think about leaving them in the refrigerator, avoid doing this. It may not give you food poisoning, but you’ll have a strange taste from your mushrooms, although it is perfectly safe to eat them, they still retain their nutritional value.
However, it is best to transfer the leftover canned mushrooms to a covered glass or Tupperware container before placing them in the fridge. If you wish to know, can you freeze canned mushrooms? You can freeze leftover canned mushrooms, although it is best to dry these before freezing.
Can You Freeze Mushroom Soup?
Mushroom soup can be frozen, but it must be cool before being put in the freezer.
Move your soup to a freezer-safe container that will hold it with an extra inch of space so that it can expand as it freezes.
If you have space, lay plastic wrap on top of your soup to keep the air out.
During freezing, the fat in the cream of mushroom soup may separate. When you let it thaw, it should mostly go back to its normal texture, but you may need to give it good whisking like you would if you were freezing sauces.
How to Preserve Mushrooms?
- Mushrooms are fussy, yet when stored correctly, they stay fresh for around 1 week.
- Keep them in the dark paper bag as these absorb the moisture instead of letting it collect.
- Keep mushrooms away from other food items as they absorb strong odors or flavors, such as garlic and onions.
How Long Do Canned Mushrooms Last In The Freezer?
When searching for can, you freeze canned mushrooms; you’ll want to know how long they are good for.
When freezing canned mushrooms, they will stay good for about three months. After this time, they are still safe to eat, but they might not taste as good.
Mushrooms can get a little softer after being frozen, so it’s better to use them in sauces and other food and enjoy the flavor rather than cooked in butter as a side dish on their own. (Learn How Long Is Goat Cheese Good For After Opening)
Defrost Frozen Canned Mushrooms
The safest way to do this is in the fridge for 4-6 hours or overnight.
Thawing opened canned mushrooms in the fridge ensures they don’t spend time at room temperature, where bacteria can grow and remain safe to eat once you cook mushrooms all the way through.
In some meals, you may not need to thaw after freezing canned mushrooms after opening. For example, adding frozen mushrooms to a stew or soup allows them to thaw as the food cooks.
How to Spot Mushrooms Have Gone Bad?
Mushrooms last a long time in the fridge or freezer and will go bad if you improperly store mushrooms or leave them in the fridge too long. You may add them to food and cook, as the flavor will be there, yet you’ll lose the texture.
Bad mushrooms show these signs:
Slimy: Bad mushrooms acquire a slimy, sticky coating. This means your mushrooms are no longer fresh.
This happens when you leave mushrooms in the fridge for a long time. Even though the mushrooms haven’t exceeded their edible shelf life, it is best to toss them.
Wrinkles: Old mushrooms can dry out without your help. You can know from the wrinkles on mushrooms. Dryness is fine, yet if your mushrooms are excessively shriveled, don’t use them.
Dehydrating mushrooms is one way to extend the shelf life. Dried mushrooms last from 6 months to 3 years when stored properly after drying.
Dark Skins: Bad mushrooms discolor and acquire dark patches. Bad mushrooms turn brown with black dots. These mutations mean the mushrooms aren’t fresh.
Bruises: Mushrooms bruise as they rot. These bruises are delicate and sink when touched. It is best to toss bruised mushrooms as they have exceeded their shelf life.
Odor: Mushrooms have a mild, inconspicuous odor unless you inhale mushrooms lightly by your nose.
If you can smell them quickly, the fungi have gone bad, and a strong odor shows you need to throw them out.
