In nature, the oyster mushroom, also known as oyster mushroom or veal mushroom, can be found on the trunks of living and dead deciduous trees, especially in late autumn and winter. It is an excellent edible mushroom whose thick, firm flesh tastes very mild and aromatic. Like all mushrooms, Pleurotus ostreatus, as it is called in technical jargon, does not have a very long shelf life.

Oyster mushrooms are best frozen raw

Freeze raw oyster mushrooms

However, oyster mushrooms can be frozen very well and made to last longer. It is best to clean the fresh mushrooms carefully and cut out any damaged areas (such as bruises). Don't wash or blanch the mushrooms - this is sometimes advised, but not recommended for flavor and texture. Like all mushrooms, oyster mushrooms quickly soak up water, which ultimately severely affects the flavor. Instead, roughly chop or slice well-cleaned, raw mushrooms and freeze them immediately after collecting or purchasing them.

Can you also freeze prepared oyster mushrooms?

Oyster mushrooms or mushroom dishes that have already been prepared can also be frozen well if you cool them down immediately after cooking or frying and put them in the freezer. If such a dish is left at room temperature for a long time, numerous bacteria multiply on it - which in turn can cause food poisoning if such a dish is thawed and eaten. Also, mushrooms that have been frozen and thawed again should never be thawed again.

How long can frozen oyster mushrooms last?

How long frozen oyster mushrooms can be kept depends on various factors. The fresher the mushrooms are in the freezer, the longer they will stay there. Freshly picked oyster mushrooms can be stored in the freezer at a minimum of -18°C for about ten months, but supermarket mushrooms - which you never know how old they actually are - shouldn't last longer than six months. Even in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator, in which only a few sub-zero temperatures can be generated, the mushrooms can only be kept for a few weeks. Prepared mushroom dishes, on the other hand, keep for a maximum of two to three months.

Thaw frozen oyster mushrooms properly

You should never thaw frozen oyster mushrooms and only then prepare them - this will quickly make them "flabby" and give them a rubbery consistency. It is best to thaw the still frozen mushrooms directly in a pan or saucepan with hot fat or hot broth/water.

tips

Oyster mushrooms are particularly fresh if you grow them yourself and cut them off the straw bale just before you prepare them.

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

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Vegetable garden