How to Store and Keep Mushrooms Fresh? A Detailed Guide to Practical Preservation Methods

Mushrooms are best eaten fresh, but since they do not keep well under natural conditions, especially when mushrooms are cultivated on a large scale, storage and preservation can be used to delay @#@136@#@ or to make 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 with a small amount of clean water inside, place a wooden rack above the water, set the baskets or hampers containing the fresh mushrooms on the rack, and then seal the mouth of the vat with plastic film.

2. Dormancy preservation. After harvest, place them indoors at a temperature above 25°C for 3-5 hours to encourage vigorous respiration, then transfer them to a cold storage room at about 0°C and let them stand for about 12 hours. At about 20°C, the preservation period is about 4 days.

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

4. Silicon bag preservation. By embedding silicone rubber into the wall of a plastic packaging bag in proportion, a silicon-window preservation bag with a preservative effect is formed. This kind of plastic bag can rely on the "silicon window" to automatically regulate the ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide inside the bag, thereby achieving the goal of preserving and storing fresh mushrooms.

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

6. Vitamin B9 preservation. Soak 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 mushroom bodies with a 0.15% sodium metabisulfite aqueous solution; at 15°C to 20°C they can be stored for 5-8 days.