Mushrooms - Advice Please

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Mushrooms - Advice Please

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Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 05 7:33 am Post subject: Mushrooms - Advice Please
We often buy mushrooms and then end up chucking them away as we are not using them in time. Can these be dried and if so what's the best way to go about this?

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28248
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 05 7:38 am Post subject: Re: Mushrooms - Advice Please

Gertie wrote:

We often buy mushrooms and then end up chucking them away as we are not using them in time.

Can these be dried and if so what's the best way to go about this?

Not sure this makes too much sense, as i would have thought that you are best off drying from fresh. By the time you realise there is going to be waste, it may be too late for good drying results.

We keep mushrooms in the fridge, and get them in paper bags, which helps prevent sweating.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 05 8:16 am Post subject:
You could cook them to freeze; either make a soup or just cook with a bit of onion/shallot and freeze that as a base for soup/stew. Not sure if mushroom pate will freeze well...haven't made it personally so I can't suggest a recipe, and am not sure about the cream/cheese often used in making it.

jema
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28248
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 05 8:19 am Post subject:
I think soup would require a lot though. I make mushroom soup when I see a load of mushrooms going cheap.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 05 8:25 am Post subject:

jema wrote:

I think soup would require a lot though. I make mushroom soup when I see a load of mushrooms going cheap.

Well, if you have a lot, make soup. If you don't, chop em up with flavourings and cook and you have a nice flavouring ready for any time.

See, all contingenceis covered

Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 05 9:36 am Post subject:

To dry mushrooms, thread on to a piece of thin string with a darning needle, and hang in a cool dry place until dry and wrinkly. Store in an airtight container.
Mushroom pate does freeze successfully.
If you saute them in a little butter, and add other things if you like - herbs, peppers,e tc, then this can be frozen in small quantities and added to casseroles, omelettes, etc from frozen.
Or you could pickle them, or make mushroom kethcup.

moggins

Joined: 24 Feb 2005
Posts: 942
Location: Gloucester

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 05 9:46 am Post subject:
oooh Mushroom ketchup, I haven't made that in years.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 05 10:09 am Post subject:
They can be dried easily and successfully, they can be pickled, they can be cooked down to a duxelle for freezing. I have instructrions here: https://cabd0.tripod.com/cabsmushroompage/id9.html (Note to Bugs: Would it be worth recycling my page on mushroom drying as an article here? If you think so, please nick it and put it up here).

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 05 11:39 am Post subject:
I should think they would dry OK (I just slice them thinly and leave them on paper), or the mushroom ketchup is a good idea. I do both with the wild mushrooms that are a bit too manky to cook normally. Both are a great way of getting rid of maggots - when you dry them, the maggots crawl out as the mushroom slices shrink, and you can just sieve them out of the ketchup!

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 05 11:42 am Post subject:

nettie wrote:

Both are a great way of getting rid of maggots - when you dry them, the maggots crawl out as the mushroom slices shrink, and you can just sieve them out of the ketchup!

You go girl!

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 05 12:42 pm Post subject:
Some people just fry 'em maggots an' all you know.........

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Sat Mar 05, 05 6:42 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the suggestions, folks!!

Jema, I will learn to read my posts before submitting them. I did mean to ask how to dry them as soon as they are bought, we buy loads and they end up chucked out (well - put into Mozart (my compos(t)er).

We'll be buying mushrooms tomorrow so will get some drying then.

I've never had mushroom ketchup before - sounds interesting!

I do love mushrooms but haven't tried the more exotic types, wouldn't dare go foraging for them - not confident enough - I'd end up poisoning me and Lundy!!!

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