Is there an easy way to clean mushrooms? Yes, there is and it’s very straight forward and does not involve a brush!
There are a lot of people who believe that you should not wash mushrooms and for the life of me, I don’t know where that comes from. I wash all vegetables and fruits, so why would I not wash mushrooms?
And 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.
I know that one the rationales for not washing your mushrooms is that they might absorb too much moisture and may get soggy or mushy (now you know where the word mushy comes from). So let me to show you how to prevent that from happening, while washing 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 stems off the mushrooms.
Step 2A – 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.
Step 2B – Turn on the tap and rinse a handful of mushrooms and repeat until all are done.
Step 3 – Take the clean mushrooms out of the water immediately and dry them on a kitchen towel.
Step 4 – Slice the mushrooms and dry them 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
Ingredients
- 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.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
2 Comments
Kate
August 2, 2024 at 11:29 amI’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
Marinka
August 2, 2024 at 2:10 pmHello 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