The Best Way To Wash Mushrooms Before Cooking Them

Have you ever asked Google if you should wash mushrooms? If you have, you probably came away from that search more confused than when you first started. That's because people have very strong opinions on whether or not you should wash mushrooms before cooking them, and even stronger opinions on exactly how you should clean the fungi.

So, should you wash mushrooms before cooking them? In short — yes, especially if you are cooking with wild mushrooms that have not been processed after being exposed to outside elements. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, mushrooms are 80 – 90% water. They also have a sponge-like texture, so if you expose them to water, they will absorb some of it. This isn't so bad, though, because mushrooms will lose moisture as you cook them, so any excess water they pick up from being washed will cook off and should not affect your mushroom recipe.

So what is the best way to wash mushrooms before cooking them?

According to Martha Stewart, common varieties of mushrooms, such as buttons and shiitakes, can be de-stemmed. Now, you can save the stems for other recipes, like mushroom risotto or mushroom soup. Once you've taken the stems off, dunk the caps into a bowl of water, using your hands to swirl them around. After a few swirls, drain the caps with a colander, lay them out on a towel, and pat them dry.

For other varieties, like oyster mushrooms or maitake, take your time and focus on being gentle because the caps are delicate. The easiest way to wash them is to trim their ends and soak them in cool water for five minutes. Drain and dry well.

If you think soaking them is risking them taking in too much water, you can place the caps in a colander and run cool water over them. One of the best ways to dry mushrooms is by using a salad spinner to ensure that you get all the moisture off of them.

There are still ways to clean mushrooms that don't involve soaking them in water. If you want to clean your mushrooms without risking them becoming waterlogged, you can wipe them clean. According to The Denver Post, you can use a paper towel, a dry dish towel, or even a pastry brush to get off any dirt you may find. They recommend not using water at all so that you can preserve the texture and color of your mushrooms. This is especially good if you plan to serve them raw.

If you don't plan to eat your mushrooms right away, you should wait to wash them. Washed mushrooms don't last long in the refrigerator, according to Gro Cycle, because the excess moisture they retain from washing them can cause mold when combined with the humidity inside the refrigerator.

After you have figured out the best recipes for your mushrooms, you can then determine when (or if) you want to clean them and your preferred method for doing so.