Want to know how to select the best mushrooms? It is easy to do. Just follow some simple tips.
Have you ever been to New Jersey? It is called the Garden State for good reason. I know, I know, you may not think of gardening when you think of New Jersey. I can relate. I grew up in New York City and got to experience the whole garbage barge debate. (There was a garbage barge that kept sailing across the river from NJ to NY and back again. Neither state wanted to claim it, and it led to some good natured jabs from new Yorkers about New Jersey being “The Garbage State.”
But, I’ve since learned how fruitful New Jersey actually is, thanks to my wonderful husband who comes from there. Whenever we visit, we pass lots of produce farms, such as the cranberry bogs. But the mushrooms, well, I think there must be more mushrooms per square inch in New Jersey than anywhere else on the east coast. It is there that I learned some key tips to selecting the best mushrooms.
The first thing you should do is avoid mushrooms that are in packages. Mushrooms really don’t like plastic, so this is one of those times where loose is better.
Avoid any mushroom that is bruised or slimy.
If you see a papery fuzz on your mushrooms, that is very good! It means that the mushrooms are very fresh and haven’t been handled very much.
Look for mushroom stems that are firm and have a uniform color. Old stems look like old wood.
If the mushroom is open, look at the gills. They should be dry, uniform and have a tissue paper-like texture.
And now for an extra tip about storage: The absolutely best way to store fresh mushrooms is to place them in a paper bag and store them in the refrigerator. Wash them quickly, just before you use them.
Mary Ann Romans writes for the Frugal Living Blog here at Families.com, where she shares money saving tips for today’s families. She also writes for the Computing Blog here at Families.com where she shares everything from the latest news on technology to cool downloads and fun websites.
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