How to Clean Mushrooms for Earthy Flavor Without a Speck of Dirt (2024)

Since mushrooms grow so low to the ground, they tend to be still a bit dirty when you buy your cartons at the grocery store. The key is to buy them fresh and know how to clean them without letting them get waterlogged. Follow these tips on purchasing the highest quality you can and how to clean mushrooms, store, and prep them, including directions on cleaning morel mushrooms when you're lucky enough to get some of these highly sought-after delicacies.

With the wide variety of mushrooms available, it's easy to add those nutrient-rich, heart-healthy fungi to our diets as vegetarian main dishes or stuffed for easy party food for guests.

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How to Clean Mushrooms for Earthy Flavor Without a Speck of Dirt (1)

How to Clean Whole Mushrooms

How to Clean Mushrooms for Earthy Flavor Without a Speck of Dirt (2)

The only "tool" you'll need is a paper towel.

How to Clean Mushrooms (Except Morels)

Use a damp paper towel or a soft mushroom brush to wipe each mushroom, one at a time, to remove any dirt. We can imagine the follow-up question now: How to clean mushrooms when you don't have time to wipe each one individually? We grant you permission to lightly rinse the mushrooms with cool water and pat dry with paper towels. Don't soak the mushrooms. Because they absorb water like little sponges, mushrooms won't brown nicely when cooked if they are full of water.

Though portobellos are larger than most other varieties, this is how to clean portobello mushrooms, too. Keep reading to learn more about their gills.

How to Clean Morel Mushrooms

Cut a thin slice off the bottom of each morel mushroom stem and, if desired, cut the mushrooms in half from stem to tip. Rinse in cool water to remove any dirt and insects. If the mushrooms look clean, this may be enough; if not, a short soak in lightly salted water brings out any remaining insects and dirt. If soaking, change the water as needed until dirt and debris are removed. Rinse the morels well, pat dry, and use in place of other mushrooms in recipes. Add cleaned morel mushrooms to our skillet-cooked mushroom medley.

How to Clean Mushrooms That Are Pre-Sliced

Most of the time, pre-sliced mushrooms at the store will say they've been washed already, but if you see some dirt, you may want to clean them again. To clean sliced mushrooms, give them a shake in a colander to loosen any dirt, then give them a quick rinse just before you're ready to cook. Dry them off with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel.

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How to Clean Mushrooms for Stuffing

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Portobello Mushrooms

For portobello mushrooms, clean as directed above. Gently twist off or cut off the stem of each mushroom. If desired, you can reserve the stems to use in the stuffed mushroom filling. Holding a mushroom in one hand, use a spoon to gently scrape the gills from the underside of the portobello mushroom cap; discard the gills. Repeat with remaining mushrooms. Now they are ready to stuff.

Test Kitchen Tip

Gills don't have to be removed from portobello mushrooms to eat them, but if you're planning to stuff them, the gills will be in your way. For grilled portobello burgers and other unstuffed mushroom recipes, you may leave the gills for a richer flavor.

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White Mushrooms

For white mushrooms and cremini mushrooms, choose fairly large mushrooms for stuffing. Clean as directed above. Gently twist off or cut off the stem of each mushroom. You can reserve the stems to use in the stuffed mushroom filling if desired. Use a teaspoon to fill each mushroom with the desired filling.

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How to Clean Mushrooms for Earthy Flavor Without a Speck of Dirt (4)

How to Cut Mushrooms

After cleaning mushrooms, trim thin slices from the ends of the stems.
Using a sharp, non-serrated knife (Wusthof Gourmet Chef's Knife, $80, Sur La Table), cut the mushrooms into halves or quarters, or slice or chop as needed.

Test Kitchen Tip

If a mushroom stem is tough, trim it. Always remove shiitake mushroom stems before cutting; they are very tough and not pleasant to eat.

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Selecting and Storing Mushrooms

Mushrooms are fresh if they are firm, plump, and free from bruises with no visible moisture on the outside. Avoid slimy or spotted mushrooms.
For white mushrooms, also called button mushrooms, the gills on the underside should be tightly closed.
Store mushrooms (except morels) unwashed in the refrigerator for up to two days in a paper bag or in the original packaging. Because they need to breathe, mushrooms shouldn't be stored in a plastic bag.
To store morel mushrooms, clean and wrap mushrooms loosely in damp paper towels or damp clean cotton cloth, and place the bundle in a bowl. Store in the refrigerator for up to three days, keeping towels damp so the mushrooms don't dry out.

Mushroom math: 8 ounces whole mushrooms equals 3 cups sliced or chopped.

Except for morels, wait to clean mushrooms until just before using. Enjoy your dirt-free mushrooms in your quiche for brunch, baked in lasagna instead of beef, or on top of pizza.

How to Freeze Mushrooms

While mushrooms aren’t exactly labeled as freezer-friendly, you can certainly freeze them if you take a couple of steps beforehand so you don’t lose flavor or texture. First off, as mushrooms are mostly water, it’s not a good idea to freeze them fresh. When doing so and then thawed, you’ll end up with soggy, mushy, bland mushrooms that’ll be impossible to cook with (unless you go to a last-resort route, like a blended cream of mushroom soup).

To freeze them properly, follow the instructions to clean them, pat them dry as much as you can to remove most of the moisture. Use your preferred cooking method (sautéed or even stuffing your mushrooms) and, once they have cooled off, line them up in a single layer over parchment paper. You may keep mushrooms in the freezer for up to 2 months (keep in mind frozen mushrooms may change colors anywhere from dark beige to brown. Unless there’s a faulty smell or obvious signs of spoilage, this is totally normal).

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FAQs

How to Clean Mushrooms for Earthy Flavor Without a Speck of Dirt? ›

Cut a thin slice off the bottom of each morel mushroom stem and, if desired, cut the mushrooms in half from stem to tip. Rinse in cool water to remove any dirt and insects. If the mushrooms look clean, this may be enough; if not, a short soak in lightly salted water brings out any remaining insects and dirt.

View Details ›

Do store-bought mushrooms have dirt on them? ›

Well, it's not dirt at all! “That 'dirt' you see on mushrooms purchased at the grocery store is actually growing medium—not soil,” explains Josh. “The growing medium is inoculated and 'cooked' to kill mold and bacteria so it is not unsafe.” You'll see this same growing medium or peat in mushroom growing kits.

Keep Reading ›

What is the brown dirt on mushrooms? ›

The mushroom dirt that you see clinging to your mushrooms is just small bits of peat compost. It won't make anyone sick, but this dirt can look unappealing and taste gritty. Washing or brushing off the dirt, especially if you are serving raw mushrooms in your salad bar, is a good practice.

How do you clean woodland mushrooms? ›

Turn cool to lukewarm water from your faucet to low flow. Hold the mushroom briefly under the the water and brush lightly with a clean brush. Also rinse the dirt from the brush itself under the flowing water. This way you can keep lifting the dirt from the mushroom while minimizing water the mushroom soaks up.

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What is the best way to clean mushrooms? ›

If the mushroom looks relatively clean, simply brush off the dirt or cut off any section of the mushroom that is holding dirt, generally this is the base or end of the stem of the mushroom. In almost all cases, this is all you need to do.

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How to prepare wild mushrooms to eat? ›

Tear or cut cleaned mushrooms into medium sized pieces. Heat a thin layer of oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the mushrooms when the oil is hot. Continue to cook the mushrooms as they release their liquid. The excess liquid will cook off and concentrate the flavor of the mushrooms.

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What is the white fuzz on store bought mushrooms? ›

Some mycelium (the mushroom organism) like chestnut or oyster tend to grow on the mushrooms they produce and not just on growing media. So the white fuzz you see on mushroom stems is almost certainly mushroom mycelium, rather than mold. This is completely harmless, and won't effect the taste of your mushroom dish.

Read On ›

Do you need to wash mushrooms from the grocery store? ›

How to Wash Store-Bought Mushrooms. Most mushrooms found at grocery stores, such as white, button, and cremini, are grown in indoor farms with pre-treated compost to reduce bacteria levels, and they often come packed pretty clean. A damp paper towel to clean these mushrooms should do the trick.