Oyster mushrooms are a delicacy in Far East Asian cuisine used in soup and stir fry. Their mild flavour makes them a versatile fungus, and they contain numerous health benefits. But their life in the fridge isn’t particularly long. So…
Can You Freeze Oyster Mushrooms?
Yes, you can freeze oyster mushrooms for up to 1 month. Your packing should be airtight to maintain the quality of your oyster mushrooms. Remember that the longer you leave them in the freezer, the worse they will probably be when you thawed.
Do Do Oyster Mushrooms freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Oyster Mushrooms? No
How to Freeze Oyster Mushrooms
Freezing your oyster mushrooms is a great way of saving leftovers for a future date. When you open them up to defrost them, you can expect the quality oyster mushrooms you desire as long as you follow these simple steps:
- Remove Stems: Raw oyster mushrooms will still have their stems attached, so you want to cut these off before freezing them. This saves you having to do it after defrosting, thus reducing the amount of time they are out at room temperature.
- Individually Wrap Them: By wrapping each oyster mushroom in film, you can reduce the likelihood of freezer burn by not having your oyster mushrooms open. Remember to wrap them in film tightly. It also decreases the chances of the mushrooms getting stuck to each other, which means you will not have to defrost many when you only want to use a few.
- Place Them in a Freezer Bag: Now that your oyster mushrooms are individually wrapped, you can place them in a freezer bag. It is important to compress the bag so that there is very little air remaining inside. This gives your mushrooms the best conditions to freeze well.
- Date and Label: Writing the date on a sticker which you then attach to the outside of your freezer bag reminds you of when your oyster mushrooms were first frozen. Once labelled, you can safely put your freezer bag in the freezer, making sure that no other frozen products are crushing the oyster mushrooms.
You can use this same method for freezing a range of exotic mushrooms including chanterelles and lion’s manes.
3 Tips for Freezing Oyster Mushrooms
Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing oyster mushrooms to have the best results:
Remove the Stalks
Without their stems, oyster mushrooms will sit flat in your freezer drawer, thus taking up far less space for you to freeze other products you may have. It also saves you a job post-freezing and keeps the oyster mushrooms out of room temperature for longer than necessary.
Boil Before Freezing
Some people decide to boil their oyster mushrooms before freezing them as it softens them up and removes some of the bacteria that the oyster mushrooms might be harbouring. A few minutes on the hob should suffice.
Buy the Freshest Oyster Mushrooms You Can
Oyster mushrooms do not have a long shelf life without freezing, so if your oyster mushrooms have been sitting in the shop for some time, they have probably lost some of their nutrients and flavour. Avoid oyster mushrooms with any brown spots that are the same colour all over.
How Long Can You Freeze Oyster Mushrooms?
Oyster mushrooms can last for around one month in the freezer. Whether they are raw or fried, preserving your oyster mushrooms for up to a month is a good option to extend their shelf life as they only last a few days in the fridge.
It is important that the oyster mushrooms are packed securely in the freezer in an airtight container.
How Do You Defrost Oyster Mushrooms?
It is not advisable to defrost oyster mushrooms. This is because they can become soggy and lose a lot of their texture and flavour, so cooking them directly from frozen should be fine.
Remember to inspect their quality first before cooking and consuming. If they have a subtle fish-like odour then they should be thrown out, unfortunately.
Can You Refreeze Oyster Mushrooms?
You should probably not refreeze oyster mushrooms because of the damage that the thawing process does to them.
Once frozen, you should cook them instead of trying to freeze them again. Refrigeration can extend the shelf life of oyster mushrooms for a few days but is not a long-term option.
Do Oyster Mushrooms Freeze Well?
Yes, oyster mushrooms freeze well for around one month, as long as they are packaged correctly and cannot be contaminated by anything else.
Always check on the quality of your oyster mushrooms before serving. You can usually tell by their physical experience or smell whether they are still good or if they should be disposed of. Classic signs of decay include brown spots, strange colouring, and a slimy texture.
It is not advised to freeze your oyster mushrooms if they have any of these flaws.
Related FAQs
If youāve still got questions about freezing oyster mushrooms or mushrooms in general, then these may help:
Yes, you can freeze king oyster mushrooms. Peel and prepare the mushroom as you normally work then wrap in a sheet of clingfilm before bagging it up and then placing it in the freezer.
Oyster mushrooms should be used from frozen as you would use them normally. Be warned, however, that they can become a little watery so work better in dishes versus being cooked on their own.
