How to Store and Keep Mushrooms Fresh? All the Practical Methods Are Here

Mushrooms are best eaten fresh, but since they do not keep long under natural conditions, especially when mushrooms are cultivated on a large scale, storage and preservation techniques can extend the selling period @#@136@#@ or allow them to be processed into canned products and other goods for export earnings. Here are several storage and preservation techniques for mushrooms:

1. Cold storage preservation. After the harvested fresh mushrooms are sorted, place them in containers such as baskets, trays or hampers and cover them with multiple layers of damp gauze or burlap. In a cool, shaded place, set out a vat filled with a small amount of clean water, place a wooden rack above the water, set the baskets or hampers holding the fresh mushrooms on the rack, and then seal the mouth of the vat with plastic film.

2. Dormancy preservation. After harvest, place the mushrooms indoors at a temperature above 25°C for 3~5 hours to make them respire vigorously, then let them stand in a cold store at about 0°C for about 12 hours. At about 20°C, the fresh-keeping period is about 4 days.

3. Controlled atmosphere preservation. This method achieves the purpose of preservation by artificially controlling the temperature, humidity and gas composition of the environment. Store the fresh mushrooms in controlled atmosphere bags containing 1~2% oxygen, 40% carbon dioxide and 58%~59% nitrogen; at 20°C they can be kept for about 8 days.

4. Silicone bag preservation. Inlay silicone rubber in proportion into the wall of a plastic packaging bag to form a silicone-window fresh-keeping bag with a preserving effect. This kind of plastic bag can rely on the "silicone window" to automatically regulate the ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide inside the bag, thereby achieving the purpose of preserving and storing fresh mushrooms.

5. Salt water preservation. Soak the fresh mushrooms in 0.6% salt water for about 10 minutes, drain them, put them in plastic bags for storage, and at 10°C to 25°C the fresh mushrooms turn bright white after 4~6 hours and can be kept fresh for 3~5 days.

6. Vitamin B9 preservation. Soak the fresh mushrooms in a 0.001%~0.1% vitamin B9 aqueous solution for 10 minutes; at 5°C to 25°C they can be kept fresh for 5~8 days.

7. Sodium metabisulfite preservation. Spray the mushrooms with a 0.15% sodium metabisulfite aqueous solution; at 15°C to 20°C they can be stored for 5~8 days.