How to quickly freeze oyster mushrooms for zama at home and is it possible?

Oyster mushrooms are the most commonly used mushroom in cooking. They can be prepared in various ways. The most popular option for The method of preparing mushrooms for the winter is freezingBut before you begin freezing oyster mushrooms, it's worth carefully reading all the recommendations and instructions for the process.

Advantages of this method

There are many ways to preserve mushrooms for winter. But freezing remains the most popular. This method allows you to fully preserve the unique mushroom aroma, flavor, and texture of oyster mushrooms.

When comparing freezing oyster mushrooms with other methods of preparation, the first option has a number of advantages:

• preparation takes a short period of time and requires minimal labor;
• the color, texture, taste and aroma of oyster mushrooms are preserved;
• the presence of vitamins, minerals and sugars is preserved.

Compared to canning mushrooms, which removes about 40% of the product's nutritional value, freezing results in a loss of only 20%. Another advantage of this method is that any quantity can be frozen individually, meaning preserving a single serving is easy. This isn't the case with canning, where, for example, preserving 200 grams of mushrooms can be difficult.

Please note! Canned mushrooms are strictly prohibited for use in baby food, but fresh or frozen mushrooms are permitted.

How to choose and prepare oyster mushrooms for freezing

Before freezing mushrooms, you need to select them correctly and then prepare them.

So, here are the important rules for choosing a product:

1. Inspect the oyster mushrooms for yellowish spots on the cap. If any such defects are found, discard the mushrooms, as they are not suitable for cooking or freezing.
2. The color should be gray-blue and uniform.
3. Pay close attention to the smell. A specimen unsuitable for freezing will have a distinctly unpleasant odor.
4. Cracks along the edges of the caps also indicate that the product is not fresh.
5. Inspect the stems and their length. A quality mushroom should have the following shape: an undamaged cap and a short stem.
6. Avoid buying old, overripe mushrooms. This is very difficult to determine visually. Just crack the cap – if the flesh is white, soft, and juicy, you can safely choose this product.

Please note! Oyster mushrooms can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 14 days. Be sure to place them in a paper bag, or better yet, in an airtight container. Do not peel, wash, or cut them beforehand.

Once the oyster mushrooms have been selected and purchased, they need to be prepared. This involves the following steps:

1. Sorting in which damaged, wormy or rotten specimens are removed.
2. Removing dirt and dust.

Please note: Oyster mushrooms are tree mushrooms, so washing them before freezing is not necessary.

Methods of freezing at home

There are 3 ways to freeze oyster mushrooms:

• raw;
• boiled;
• fried.

Let's consider each of the options in detail.

Frozen fresh mushrooms for the winter

Freezing raw mushrooms is the easiest method and requires little preparation time.

The process is as follows:

1. Rinse the mushrooms thoroughly, spread them out flat on a plate, and allow them to dry completely. For convenience, you can immediately cut them into small pieces.
2. Place in tightly sealed bags or plastic containers and then place in the freezer.

Important! To prevent oyster mushrooms from absorbing refrigerator odors and to preserve their flavor, tightly seal the containers you choose for storage.

Recipe for freezing fried oyster mushrooms

To freeze fried mushrooms, you will need:

1. Wash the selected oyster mushrooms and cut them into small pieces with a knife.
2. Heat a frying pan on the stove, grease it with vegetable oil and place the prepared mushrooms in it, immediately seasoning them with table salt.
3. Fry, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has completely evaporated.
4. Remove from heat, cool, place in prepared containers and place in the freezer.

Good to know! To keep track of product expiration dates, it's a good idea to mark the freezing date on each package.

Rules for freezing cooked mushrooms

Cooked oyster mushrooms are very convenient to freeze, as after defrosting they can be immediately added to pizza, soup, and other dishes. The preparation process is as follows:

1. Fill a saucepan with water, place it on the stove and bring to a boil.
2. Wash and clean 2 kilograms of mushrooms, cut into smaller pieces if necessary, and place in boiling water. Cook for 15-20 minutes.
3. Add 60 grams of table salt, 2 + ½ grams of citric acid, 4 bay leaves, and 5 allspice berries to the mushrooms. Cook for another 20 minutes.
4. Drain the water through a colander and leave the mushrooms in it for a while to allow the accumulated liquid to drain.
5. Then spread the oyster mushrooms on a flat surface (dish or cutting board) and place in the freezer for 3 hours.
6. Remove from the refrigerator, distribute into prepared containers and return to the freezer for storage.

You can also freeze dried mushrooms. To do this, separate the mushrooms into thin slices and dry them thoroughly in the sun or oven. Then store them in the freezer.

Basic rules for defrosting

There are several ways to defrost oyster mushrooms. The choice depends on the specific situation and time available.

1. Slow defrosting is the most effective and beneficial method. It's certainly time-consuming, but it allows you to fully preserve the product's texture and flavor. You can leave the mushrooms at room temperature overnight. In the morning, place them in a colander and let them sit for a few more hours to allow excess moisture to drain.
2. A quick method involves using a microwave. Place the mushrooms in the microwave and set it to defrost.
3. If frozen mushrooms have been pre-cleaned, you can immediately throw them into boiling water.

Important! Once thawed, oyster mushrooms should not be left in the refrigerator for any additional time, as they will spoil very quickly. They must be cooked immediately.

Shelf life when frozen

Once the mushrooms are prepared and frozen, the only thing left to figure out is their shelf life. So:

1. If oyster mushrooms have been heat-treated (fried or boiled), their shelf life can be up to 12 months.
2. If the product is frozen raw, it can be stored in the freezer for no more than 6 months.

Important! Remember that once defrosted, do not refreeze the mushrooms. Therefore, you should immediately portion the prepared mushrooms into the required portions.

Conclusion

As it turns out, freezing oyster mushrooms is very simple. Even the most inexperienced cook can handle it. With just a little effort, you can enjoy the taste of fresh mushrooms throughout the cold winter.