How to Care for Fresh Truffles - The Truffle Company (2024)

FAQs

How to Care for Fresh Truffles - The Truffle Company? ›

Fresh Truffles must be kept dry. Store them in an air-tight container lined at the bottom with some paper towel to soak up additional moisture, and to avoid them drying out too quickly in the fridge. Ideally keep them off the paper towel with a rack.

Place the prized ingredient in clean tissue paper or a breathable container at room temperature in a dark space. Change the tissue paper daily to avoid the build-up of moisture and to retain aroma. Do not freeze your truffle: it will accumulate moisture and lose its aroma.

For fresh truffles to be enjoyed at their best, they should be consumed within 4 to 5 days. The autumn variety of the black truffle, Tuber uncinatum, can retain its flavour for up to two weeks, but the highest-quality white and black truffles are best enjoyed within a few days of delivery.

A good way to tell if a black truffle is still fresh is to give it a good sniff. Truffles perish very quickly, and as they do so, they lose their aroma. If there is no aroma when you smell the truffle, this is a good indication that the flavor is likely very weak.

You can even add a little cheese to the container if you want to impart the truffle flavor into it. The real key is to keep the truffles dry; moisture will encourage rotting and make them go bad quickly. To clean, do not wash or submerge in water; just wipe the exterior down with a brush prior to using.

Keep truffles in a cool, dark place and keep them dry. Because truffles are generally a much softer consistency than tempered chocolate, it's more likely that you will need to put them in the fridge in warm weather. As with tempered chocolate, make sure the truffles are well wrapped and in an airtight container.

Homemade truffles can last up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator and for up to 6 months in the freezer. For the best texture and flavor, bring them to room temperature before serving. Even if you're planning on gifting your chocolate truffles, be sure to store them in the fridge or freezer.

Truffles can be frozen for up to six months, but their texture may change slightly after thawing.

Reduce Storage Temperature

A rule of thumb is that reducing the temperature by 18°F (10°C) will double the shelf life. Freezing truffles can substantially increase their shelf life, however, this must be done properly.

An unripe truffle, when cut open, has flesh that is pale, almost white. They darken as they get riper. If unripe, it will also only have a hint of truffle smell to it and the taste will be quite bland.

What does a bad truffle smell like? ›

The smell of ammonia, very strong and penetrating, is actually easily detectable even by the less experienced: at the first whiff of ammonia, then, put down the truffle you were sniffing and choose another one.

Peel black truffles, saving the peel to flavor other dishes or to infuse olive oil, but use white truffles unpeeled. Grate truffles on a grater, or cut them into paper-thin slices, or shavings, with a vegetable peeler, a mandoline or a tool called a truffle slicer.

They can also be infused into sauces, soups, cheese, butters, and oils.Do not put truffles in sealed plastic bags. If you do they will mold, get slimy, and smell bad!

Keep Them Dry

Fresh Truffles must be kept dry. Store them in an air-tight container lined at the bottom with some paper towel to soak up additional moisture, and to avoid them drying out too quickly in the fridge. Ideally keep them off the paper towel with a rack.

Italian white Alba are the most sought-after truffles in the world as they offer the most incredible scent and taste, they are only available during a certain time of year and have a distinct aroma that contrasts with the slightly more common black varieties.

Truffles are easier to find at night. There's less noise to distract the dogs, and the soil aerates at night, allowing truffle fumes to waft up more strongly. We went on our nighttime truffle hunting adventure with Marco Varaldo, a third-generation truffle hunter.

If you think you can eat all of your truffles within that two-week span, store them in the fridge. Because of the fresh cream, truffles do need to be chilled (and no, a chilly garage does not count!). To keep the truffles fresh, seal them in an airtight container.

Typically, truffles are thinly shaved on top of a cooked meal but if you grate them on a Microplane instead, the fine shavings incorporate better with the dish. Truffles are commonly used in pasta dishes, risotto, sauces, or grated over seafood or meat.

If you're looking for intensity of flavor, you'll be disappointed with truffle oil. Most brands use very little truffle in their products, which is why the flavor is so weak. If you want intense flavor, your best bet is to buy fresh truffles and use them sparingly. A little goes a long way with this ingredient!

Peel black truffles, saving the peel to flavor other dishes or to infuse olive oil, but use white truffles unpeeled. Grate truffles on a grater, or cut them into paper-thin slices, or shavings, with a vegetable peeler, a mandoline or a tool called a truffle slicer.