Question

What is the best method to clean newly picked mushrooms?

Answer 1

If you put them in water, the mushrooms will soak it up. Dampen a kitchen towel and wipe them. Tedious, but it's best!

Answer 2

I've heard the same thing--you're only supposed to wipe them off with a paper towel. I find that they don't come clean that way. Personally, I'd rather eat watery mushrooms than dirt, so I just wash them in running water. They come out fine.

Answer 3

first, Alton Brown did an experiment on the food network about 'don't wash or rinse them' and found out that mushrooms absorb very little to no water.. . second peeling has nothing to do with flavor loss. under the cap and next to the stem are what are called gills. this is where the pollen in stored and where most of the mushrooms flavor comes from. . . so wash away and just let them rest on a paper towel for a minute or so before chopping and using.

Answer 4

Wipe them with a damp towel.

Answer 5

a damp towel

Answer 6

A friend of mine had a mushroom brush which she used to clean the mushrooms with, instead of water. If you have a basting brush, you could use that for now.

Answer 7

use luke warm water because it preserves the taste.. finish cooking and let me taste.

Answer 8

In order to retain the full flavour of mushrooms, it is best not to peel or wash them, but simply to wipe them with a damp cloth and then dry them. If the stalks are tough, stringy, or maggoty, they are removed. Otherwise, the base of the stalk is sliced off. Only the mushrooms that become sticky in damp weather (including certain boletus mushrooms) and those with a bitter outer skin (cortinae and pholiotae) are peeled. THe fleshy tubes of boletus mushrooms are removed if they are too spongy, and the gills of certain other mushrooms are trimmed if they are too ripe. If absolutely necessary, the mushrooms may be washed very quickly, but never allowed to soak. Varieties such as morels, which have a cap that is pitted like a honeycomb, are cleaned with a small brush.