The Biggest Misconception About Cleaning Mushrooms

While mushrooms can bring depth to a variety of dishes, a factor that may turn people off from them is the misconception that you can’t wash mushrooms before you cook with them.

The advice to avoid exposing mushrooms to water stems from the concern that their absorbent nature may lead to excessive liquid absorption, adversely affecting their texture.

However, over the past few years, the common consensus has changed after it was found that giving mushrooms a bath or submerging them in water isn’t nearly as disastrous.

America’s Test Kitchen demonstrated this by weighing a handful of mushrooms, soaking them in water, and then weighing them again to measure the moisture build-up after removal.

They found that while the mushrooms did take on a little over a teaspoon of water, the majority of it was accumulated on the surface, which could easily be dried with a towel.

While America’s Test Kitchen recommends rinsing your mushrooms in cold water before cooking, stick to brushing them clean if you’re going to leave them uncooked to avoid spoilage.

Additionally, pre-sliced mushrooms typically don’t require washing due to their protective packaging. As for cleaning wild mushrooms, gently brush the dirt off to avoid damage.