Is there an easy way to clean mushrooms? Yes, there is, and it’s very straight forward and does not involve a brush!
Mushrooms are like little sponges, which is why many cooks avoid soaking them in water. The rationale is that the mushrooms might absorb too much moisture and may get soggy or mushy (now you know where the word mushy comes from). But what is the alternative? Using a brush or a damp paper towel? That’s a lot of work and it may not get them as clean as you want.
Knowing how to clean mushrooms is important, especially when you want mushrooms to caramelize instead of steam. Reserving a few minutes to clean them the right way helps preserve both their texture and their earthy flavor, and it makes the finished dish look more polished too. Once cleaned properly, they are ready to roast, sauté, or fold into sauces and soups with their flavor fully intact. So let me to show you how to clean mushrooms.
Timing of Cleaning Mushrooms
When to clean the mushrooms may be as important as how to clean you mushrooms. The best time to wash mushrooms: JUST BEFORE YOU NEED TO COOK THEM. This way, they do not absorb any water, they don’t become mushy and luckily, this doesn’t take a lot of time.
How to Clean Mushrooms
Step 1 – Cut the bottom off the stems of the mushrooms. There is no reason to remove the entire stem, just the woody part.
Step 2 – Fill a bowl with water and transfer the mushrooms into the water. Use your hands and wash the dirt of the caps and shortened stems. Wash them as soon as they hit the water.
Alternatively; turn on the tap and rinse a handful of mushrooms and repeat until all are done. This works in the same way, but you may use a lot more water.
Step 3 – Take the clean mushrooms out of the water immediately and dry them on a kitchen towel. If you can, place them cap side up, so the water can drain out of the mushroom.
Step 4 – If your recipe calls for sliced mushrooms, do so now and dry the slices again.
Your mushrooms will be dry – guaranteed.
Recipes with Mushrooms
- Pasta with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
- Gruyere Grits with Mushrooms and Bacon
- Pumpkin Risotto with Mushrooms
How to Clean Mushrooms
Materials
- mushrooms (NOTE 1)
- water
Instructions
- Cut the stems off the mushrooms.
- Fill a bowl with water and transfer the mushrooms into the water. Use your hands and wash the dirt of the caps and shortened stems. Wash them as soon as they hit the water, don’t leave them in it.
- Alternatively, turn on the tap and rinse a handful of mushrooms and repeat until all are done.
- Take the mushrooms out of the water immediately and dry them on a kitchen towel.
- Slice the mushrooms and dry them again.
Notes
- When to clean the mushrooms may be as important as how to clean you mushrooms. So, what’s the best timing: JUST BEFORE YOU NEED TO COOK THEM. This way, they do not absorb any water, they don’t become mushy and it won’t take a lot of time.
I’ve always been surprised at the wild “use water to clean mushrooms or not” opinions…almost as crazy as something political..lol! I watched an episode of Good Eats with Alton Brown several years ago that addressed washing mushrooms. He claimed that mushrooms do NOT absorb liquids while washing, and confirmed this by weighing the mushrooms prior to cleaning, then again afterward. I was shocked to see the results – it literally showed the amount of “retained” water being maybe just a few drops! I tend to not believe wild things without some pretty concrete proof…and this one convinced me! I’ve tried weighing them myself, my scale doesn’t seem to be of the highest quality – but even with that little squick, it was such a small increase! The mushrooms crisped up beautifully after the wash, and tasted just as good as mushrooms should :). Cook on!
Kate
Hello Kate, thanks for your comments. It is so true that some people are easier to convince than others, and many of us never challenge anything and take it at face value. Having said that, I also had a few cooking tips that I ‘inherited’ from my mother and never questioned them, until I did and found there was no basis/proof.
At least we don’t feel like a mushroom about this subject. LOL
I didn’t see where the inside of the mushroom was removed. The fuzzy part inside. Should that be removed or not? I would appreciate the answer.
Hello B elliot;
Thank you for the question. If you mean the area beneath the cap, these are called the gills, pores, ridges, or teeth, depending on what they look like. Gills from non-poisonous mushrooms are edible and reasons to remove them are kinda personal. E.g. for visual or taste reasons. Gills from some mushrooms can be dark and may color your dish darker than you want. Furthermore, some people don’t like their earthy flavor and scrape them off the cap. Hope this helps.