# How do you store mushrooms?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-store-mushrooms/210826>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 1, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-store-mushrooms/210826 "2003-11-01T13:38:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-store-mushrooms/210826/1 "2003-11-01T13:38:13Z")

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I like mushrooms in my omelette and sometimes with cheese steak. When I buy them and then use a few, no matter how I store them the rest turn into a disgusting goop. How should I store them?

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**Author:** ![cw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71c47a/32.png) [@cw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cw)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-store-mushrooms/210826/2 "2003-11-01T16:27:48Z")

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Try putting them in a paper bag after you open them, it will help them last a little longer.

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-store-mushrooms/210826/3 "2003-11-01T16:36:21Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> To store mushrooms, keep them unwashed, dry, cool  
> and dark. Store them in a paper bag.

[http://www.produceoasis.com/TipOTDay\_folder/Tips\_folder/Feb12tip.html](http://www.produceoasis.com/TipOTDay_folder/Tips_folder/Feb12tip.html)

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**Author:** ![ginkgeng](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@ginkgeng](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ginkgeng)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-store-mushrooms/210826/4 "2003-11-03T01:22:17Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Method to keep mushroom fresh  
> Put fresh mushroom in 0.6% concentration of salt Water for 10 minutes, then drain out the water and put the mushroom in a plastic bag and keep it at a temperature of 10-24°C for 5 hours. The mushroom will become white in color. By this method mushroom can be kept fresh for at least 3 days

[/quote]

from: “[http://www.fao.org/docrep/X5670E/x5670e0d.htm](http://www.fao.org/docrep/X5670E/x5670e0d.htm)”

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**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-store-mushrooms/210826/5 "2003-11-03T03:00:05Z")

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I generally buy fresh mushrooms for whatever I’m doing that involves mushrooms, and then just pickle the rest for late night snacks.

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**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-store-mushrooms/210826/6 "2003-11-03T05:01:40Z")

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I put them in a paper bag; they last for a number of days. May not be as effective as the method **ginkgeng** found, but it sure is easier. 😉

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**Author:** ![bbeaty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@bbeaty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbeaty)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-store-mushrooms/210826/7 "2003-11-03T05:09:35Z")

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People who tramp the woods to harvest edible mushrooms, typically they build a “hot box” drying cabinet with trays and fan, so they can slice 'em up and totally dessicate them. That’s probably a bit too much work for store-bought mushrooms.

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**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2003, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-store-mushrooms/210826/8 "2003-11-03T07:50:13Z")

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For commercially cultivated mushrooms, I wrap them in paper towel (so they stay dry and don’t touch each other, or the bag which is prone to condensation) Place the wrapped mushrooms in a ziplock bag. They easily last a week or two