Rising food costs can be a real pain, especially when your produce spoils before you can even use it. Mushrooms, with their delicate nature and tendency to turn brown and slimy, are notorious for being short-lived in the fridge. But fear not, there’s a simple trick to make them last longer.
According to Sophie Trueman, UK Country Director of Too Good To Go, the key is to ditch the plastic containers and embrace paper bags. “If you always find mushrooms rusting and spinach leaves mushy, this anti-waste tip is a must!” she says. “With a kitchen towel or a paper bag, you will be able to absorb the moisture of these ingredients and promote the airflow of your spinach and mushrooms.”
The secret to keeping mushrooms fresh lies in their high water content. This makes them susceptible to spoiling quickly, but paper bags help absorb excess moisture and prevent them from browning. Simply remove whole mushrooms from their packaging, pat them dry with a clean tea towel, and place them in a paper bag lined with a few sheets of kitchen roll. Store the bag in the fridge away from anything that might crush them.
Sophie notes that “Most whole mushrooms will last in the fridge for four to seven days, and by storing this way, you may help them to last that full seven days. Sliced mushrooms, on the other hand, usually last about one to two days in the fridge, so storing your mushrooms whole is a great way to ensure they last that bit longer.”
So, next time you buy mushrooms, skip the plastic containers and try this simple paper bag trick. Your mushrooms will thank you, and you’ll be saving money and reducing food waste in the process. And if you happen to have some mushrooms that are on the verge of spoiling, chop them up finely and use them in a delicious risotto, stir-fry, or mushroom tart.
