Content
It can be extremely important to keep oyster mushrooms at home without losing taste and nutritional qualities. Mushrooms are a perishable product that requires timely processing and a certain storage regime. The conditions for placing the blanks must ensure that the taste, consistency and safety remain unchanged during further use.
How to save oyster mushrooms
The choice of method depends on the planned duration of consumption or processing, conditions and personal taste preferences. Fresh mushrooms are allowed to be stored indoors at temperatures from 17 to 22 degrees for no more than a day. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately start preparing the product or placing it in a suitable environment for the preservation of its properties.
You can store oyster mushrooms at home in the following ways
- cooling;
- freezing;
- drying;
- pickling;
- salting;
- boiling.
Of particular importance for any variant of the workpiece is the preparatory stage, which should begin with inspection and sorting. The main signs of quality are fresh appearance and smell.
After selection, the bunch should be divided into shares, cleaned, rinsed with water and placed on a clean towel to dry.
Fruit clusters (druses) are conveniently washed and dried in a colander
At the end of the preparatory stage, the mushrooms must be processed in the chosen way or placed in storage.
To extend the shelf life of the product, you can freeze it. Freezing allows you to preserve the beneficial qualities of the fruit for up to six months. Oyster mushrooms, pre-boiled in salted water, can be stored in the freezer for 60 - 90 days longer. The temperature should be maintained at a stable level of –18 degrees. Secondary freezing is not allowed
Fresh cooling, as a way to preserve oyster mushrooms, is used for a short period, not exceeding 5 days. They quickly deteriorate.
It is customary to store fresh food in the refrigerator until further preparation. The shelf life of heat-treated workpieces is also extended when cooled.
How to store oyster mushrooms in the refrigerator
Cool humid air is the optimal environment for the preservation of oyster mushrooms. The temperature regime in the refrigerator usually ranges from +2 to +10 degrees and is considered appropriate. Additional moisture, compliance with packaging requirements and rules for placing mushrooms can extend the period of possible use. To avoid the appearance of extraneous odors, the container must be tightly closed.
How to store fresh oyster mushrooms in the refrigerator
To keep oyster mushrooms in the refrigerator, it is necessary to skillfully prepare, pack and place them in the chamber.
The collected samples must be cleaned. No special techniques are required for this. Fruits are rarely contaminated due to the fact that they grow on trees. The cleaned lobes are washed under a shower or a jet of water, allowed to drain off excess moisture and dry naturally on a clean surface.
Prepared oyster mushrooms must be packed in a suitable container, which must be clean and dry.The mushrooms should be placed loosely and so that the height does not exceed 25 cm. This will prevent mold and mustiness. It is best to store the fruits in small portions.
As packaging for storage in the refrigerator, you can use:
- Plastic container;
- plastic bag;
- food pad and cling film;
- parchment paper.
Hermetically sealed plastic containers are the best option. Oyster mushrooms are carefully laid, the container is closed and placed on the shelf of the refrigerating chamber.
A thick plastic bag is also suitable for storage. It is preferable to purchase a securely closing zip bag. With this method of packaging, the fruits are not placed tightly, in one layer. The air should be released as much as possible, the package should be hermetically closed with a zip-fastener. To tightly seal a regular bag, you need to tie it around the edges.
It is allowed to store oyster mushrooms in the refrigerator on a disposable pallet. Peeled, washed, dried fruit bodies are freely placed on a substrate and tightly wrapped with cling film. The wrapping protects the product from foreign odors, prevents drying out.
It is convenient to store fresh oyster mushrooms in the refrigerator on a disposable substrate
In order to preserve the original appearance and freshness of oyster mushrooms as much as possible, it is recommended to wrap each fruit with paper. The pre-prepared lobes are wrapped in paper and placed in a container that is tightly closed. In case of insufficient or doubtful tightness of the container, you can additionally use cling film.
How to store thermally processed oyster mushrooms in the refrigerator
After heat treatment, oyster mushrooms are placed in sterilized glass jars, sealed hermetically, without air access. To provide a vacuum, they are rolled up or screwed on with metal lids.
For storage of workpieces, glass containers with tight-fitting glass lids with an integrated metal clip are suitable
Banks are placed in the refrigerator. The temperature should be kept in the range from 0 to +8 degrees.
How much oyster mushrooms are stored in the refrigerator
The shelf life of oyster mushrooms is determined by the type of processing and the temperature regime of the refrigerating chamber.
Fresh mushrooms at temperatures from +4 to +8 degrees can be stored for no more than 3 days, after which they must be eaten or put up for further processing. At a temperature of +2 degrees, they are allowed to be stored for up to 5 days, provided they are carefully prepared, sorted and properly packed.
When the temperature drops to - 2 degrees, fresh oyster mushrooms can be stored for 3 weeks. But in ordinary conditions, when other products are stored in the refrigerator, this mode is not set. The conditions apply more to the bulk overexposure of mushrooms using a separate chamber.
You can store oyster mushrooms, which have been previously thermally processed, in the refrigerator for longer. The shelf life of pickled mushrooms is 6 - 12 months, depending on the characteristics of the preparation. Boiling in the marinade increases the shelf life of the preforms compared to the method of pouring the marinade into the boiled parts.
Conclusion
If it is not possible to quickly process mushrooms after harvesting or purchasing, you can store oyster mushrooms in the refrigerator. So that mushrooms do not lose their taste, aroma and valuable qualities during this period, it is necessary to properly prepare them for storage and take a responsible approach to packaging. Compliance with simple rules will allow you to enjoy a healthy product even in a delayed time.
