How to properly freeze porcini mushrooms for the winter in the freezer at home: freezing methods

How to prepare porcini mushrooms for freezing

Before freezing, boletus mushrooms collected in the forest or purchased at the market should be cleaned with a brush or a clean sponge for washing dishes. It is not recommended to wash porcini mushrooms. If the dirt is significant, then you can rinse it under the tap, but under no circumstances soak it. This is due to the fact that the spongy structure of the cap easily absorbs liquid, and there is no need for excess moisture for freezing.

Methods for freezing porcini mushrooms

You can freeze raw porcini mushrooms

Clean mushrooms should be sorted by size. Small porcini mushrooms can be frozen whole, and large ones can be cut into slices or cubes.

From whole small mushrooms you can prepare a dish for the holiday table, and from chopped legs and caps you can cook soup or make goulash.

Prepared mushrooms are placed in containers or bags for freezing. If the mushrooms were previously rinsed with water, then in order to avoid freezing among themselves, the mushrooms can be laid out on a flat surface and frozen. After 12 hours, frozen boletus mushrooms can be transferred to bags.

See video from Lubov Kriuk - White mushroom. Boletus edulis. Great ways to prepare for freezing porcini mushrooms

Boiled porcini mushrooms for the winter

Boiled mushrooms take up much less space in the freezer, which allows people with small freezers to use this method. At the same time, mushrooms with cut wormholes, that is, those that have lost their presentation, can be frozen.

Before freezing, the mushrooms are cut into cubes and then immersed in boiling water for 5 minutes, no more. Then they are transferred to a colander to get rid of excess liquid. Completely cooled boletus mushrooms are packaged in bags or containers.

Boiled frozen mushrooms are used to make soups and gravy.

The water in which porcini mushrooms were boiled can also be used. It is boiled until reduced in volume and slightly thickened, and then frozen in ice cube trays.

See the video from the channel “Tasty and Nourishing” - Freezing mushrooms for the winter

How to fry porcini mushrooms for the winter

Clean mushrooms are cut into slices or cubes and placed on a hot frying pan. After some time, liquid will begin to release from the boletus mushrooms. After the moisture has almost evaporated, which will take about 20 minutes, add vegetable oil to the mushrooms. Fry sliced ​​mushrooms until light golden brown.

Place the finished mushrooms in a colander to allow excess fat to drain.The cooled porcini mushrooms are put into portioned bags, one at a time, and put in the freezer for storage.

These mushrooms are completely ready to eat. You can simply add them to fried potatoes and heat them through.

See video from Dmitry Yakov - Frying porcini mushrooms correctly

How to store and defrost mushrooms

Frozen porcini mushrooms can be stored in the freezer for up to 1 year. They will completely retain their taste and aroma, subject to the temperature regime of -18ºС.

To prepare most dishes, there is no need to defrost porcini mushrooms. But if preliminary defrosting is needed, then they are first kept for several hours in the refrigerator, and then at room temperature.