How long can homemade pickled mushrooms be stored? Storage conditions and shelf life.

Pickling is considered the most popular method for preserving various foods. Some believe this method is only used for storing vegetables, but this is not true. Pickling is also used to preserve mushrooms. However, before you begin preserving them, it's important to understand how long homemade pickled mushrooms can be stored.

Tips for extending the shelf life of canned mushrooms

Many people who buy mushrooms face problems storing them. It's no secret that they don't keep fresh for long, as spoilage begins within 5-6 hours of being picked. They spoil especially quickly at room temperature. Therefore, people who have been collecting and storing mushrooms for many years do not recommend leaving them in a warm room for a long time.

To extend their shelf life, it's recommended to heat-treat all mushrooms. For example, canned products have a shelf life several times longer than raw ones. Marinated canned mushrooms are often used in cooking.

They are added to many vegetable salads, soups, and other dishes. The main advantage of this storage method is its versatility. Almost any variety of mushroom can be pickled and preserved.

Freezing can also be used to extend shelf life. To do this, place all harvested mushrooms in the refrigerator freezer.

How long can pickled and salted mushrooms be stored?

The shelf life of food products directly depends on where exactly they are stored.

In room conditions

If you don't have a cellar or free refrigerator space, you'll have to store your mushrooms at room temperature. In this case, you can store them canned, as fresh mushrooms will spoil quickly.

To marinate mushroomsYou'll need acetic acid, which is considered the key ingredient in any marinade. The shelf life of preserves largely depends on the amount of vinegar used.

If vinegar isn't available, you can substitute it with citric acid. When preparing the marinade, the liquid must be brought to a boil. This is necessary to remove any hazardous elements that may be present. Once the liquid boils, add the vinegar mixture, sugar, and salt.

The final ingredients are added to the marinade to ensure its shelf life. Jars filled with mushrooms are filled with the prepared liquid and sealed with a lid. It's crucial that the container be sealed tightly, as this will determine the shelf life of the prepared mushrooms.

If mushrooms are preserved correctly, they will keep for about a year at room temperature.

In the refrigerator

The shelf life of mushrooms in the refrigerator directly depends on the products used:

• Store-bought. Some people don't pick their own mushrooms, but buy them from stores. These mushrooms are farmed, so after harvesting, they have a longer shelf life than regular mushrooms. Store-bought mushrooms can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-4 months. However, before storing, carefully sort through the produce, as some may be spoiled or rotten. To prevent mushrooms from spoiling, place them in a plastic bag beforehand.
• Harvested mushrooms. Sometimes it's not possible to process harvested mushrooms right away. In this case, they can also be refrigerated. However, keeping them there for too long is not recommended, as they will begin to spoil within 3-4 days.
• Fried or boiled. It's no secret that heat treatment positively affects the shelf life of mushrooms. Therefore, boiled or fried mushrooms can be stored in the refrigerator for 8-10 days. To extend the shelf life of mushrooms, they should be stored in an airtight food container.

In the freezer

The following mushrooms can be stored in the freezer:

• Fresh. Before freezing, fresh produce must be thoroughly cleaned of membrane and soil. Mushrooms should also be sorted to select the freshest and youngest ones. These have a firm texture and last longer. The selected produce is placed in plastic bags and placed in the freezer for 3-4 hours. Then, the frozen produce is transferred to vegetable containers and re-frozen.
• Boiled. The mushrooms are simmered in boiling water for no more than five minutes, then removed and placed in a colander. Once the liquid has drained, they are dried and transferred to bags. Then they are placed in the freezer, where they can be stored for about six months.
• Fried. Before freezing, the mushrooms are thoroughly fried in vegetable oil until all the liquid has evaporated. Then, the fried products are placed in food containers and placed in the freezer.

It's not recommended to store pickled mushrooms in the freezer. A cellar or refrigerator, where the temperature is maintained at 3-4 degrees Celsius, is better for storing them.

Expiration date after opening the can and defrosting

Many people planning to eat pickled mushrooms are interested in their shelf life after opening the jar. Canned products are most often stored in containers with metal lids. After removing the lid, the preserves should be consumed within a few days. If an opened jar of preserves is refrigerated, they will remain fresh for three days.

At room temperature, open pickled mushrooms will spoil twice as fast.

Sometimes the lids of canned mushrooms bulge. Some people think these preserves are safe to eat, but that's not true. If the lids bulge, it means there were errors made during the pickling process, causing them to spoil. Such mushrooms should be discarded immediately.

Frozen products should be defrosted before consumption. To do this, place them in a working microwave for 2-3 minutes. After defrosting, it's best to store the mushrooms in the refrigerator. There they will not spoil for 5-6 days.

What are the dangers of eating expired mushrooms?

Consuming spoiled and expired mushrooms is contraindicated, as it is harmful to health.

The terrible disease botulism

If pickled mushrooms are improperly prepared, they begin to produce botulinum toxin. This is a dangerous poison that can cause visual impairment, difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Therefore, to protect yourself from botulism, it's important to properly prepare and store canned mushrooms.

Poisoning

Most often, people become poisoned by eating spoiled canned food. The following symptoms indicate poisoning:

• nausea accompanied by vomiting;
• pain in the abdominal area;
• diarrhea;
• general weakness;
• headache;
• lowering blood pressure.

Conclusion

Those who pickle mushrooms should understand their shelf life. Therefore, it's recommended to familiarize yourself with the storage requirements for canned mushrooms.