Whether in a creamy mushroom soup, in an omelet or as a creamy mushroom sauce with Jägerschnitzel: mushrooms are simply indispensable in the kitchen. However, the mushrooms need to be treated in a very special way, after all they are very sensitive and quickly resent incorrect preparation. Even cleaning has a major impact on their flavor and bite.

Mushrooms should not be washed

Before cleaning: Check mushrooms for freshness

Basically, you should only use fresh mushrooms, not just for aesthetic or taste reasons. You can recognize fresh specimens by the closed or only slightly open slats on the bottom of the hat - the further they have already opened, the more time has passed since the harvest. Old mushrooms also tend to mold quickly. If this is the case and you see fine, white threads of mold on the mushrooms, you should no longer eat them. Instead, they belong in the household waste if fungal poisoning is to be avoided. A few slightly brownish bruises on the cap of the mushroom, on the other hand, are harmless: Mushrooms are very sensitive to pressure. Simply cut away these spots with a sharp paring knife.

When should you peel mushrooms?

Older people in particular have learned that mushrooms are peeled. Perhaps your mother or grandmother pulled the delicate skin off the mushroom cap. Of course, this method is perfect for quickly cleaning the mushrooms - but at the same time you remove valuable vitamins that are in the mushroom skin. You should therefore only peel or skin mushrooms if they are really very dirty and cannot be cleaned in any other way.

Do not wash mushrooms

If the mushrooms are covered with soil, one is quickly inclined to wash them thoroughly in clear water. However, this is not a good idea, because mushrooms absorb the washing water like a sponge. Although this water is lost during frying, the mushrooms retain a spongy, rubbery consistency. They also lose a lot of flavor. The same applies to mushrooms, which should be eaten raw in salads etc. You can only clean the mushrooms individually under clear running water if they are very dirty. But then rub them dry with a dry kitchen towel.

Clean mushrooms properly - this is how you do it

If you are not allowed to wash or skin mushrooms, how else are you supposed to remove any adhering soil or substrate without leaving any residue? There is a tried and tested method for this, which requires a thick, soft bristle brush and paper kitchen towels.

Roughly clean the mushrooms with a brush

First of all, gently remove coarse dirt with the soft brush that has been cleaned in clear water and dried beforehand. Use this like a hand broom - simply "sweep" away clinging dirt and other debris. You can use normal round brushes, but there are also real mushroom or mushroom brushes available in the shops.

Fine clean with a kitchen towel

Once the coarse dirt has been removed, take a clean paper kitchen towel and gently rub each individual mushroom thoroughly clean. Be careful not to grab the mushrooms too tightly - like all mushrooms, too much pressure can quickly cause brownish, unsightly spots.

Cut away dents with a knife

Finally, cut away the existing bruises and the dried stem end and then process the mushrooms as desired. A sharp paring knife works best for this.

tips

Incidentally, brown mushrooms (also known as "stone mushrooms") are cleaned and prepared in the same way as white ones - you don't need to follow any special tips or instructions here.

Category:

Vegetable garden