How to freeze porcini mushrooms for the winter at home

Freezing porcini mushroom for the winter is necessary according to a certain technology. This will help preserve the characteristic taste and useful properties of the product. This method of preparation is characterized by simplicity and speed of execution. Particular attention should be paid to the collection and preparation of raw materials before freezing.

Do white mushrooms freeze

White mushrooms are found in the forest area, from June to October. In large numbers they can be found in mixed forests. For harvesting for the winter, mushroom pickers prefer to collect them in early August. It was during this period that they come across in glades and in groves in large families.

The most important thing that housewives are interested in is what is better – to dry or freeze porcini mushrooms. There is no one-size-fits-all option. It all depends on the purpose of the product. For cooking, it is best to use dried mushrooms, as they retain a forest aroma for a long time. But frozen mycelium contains more useful substances.

To preserve the product for the winter, conservation is most often practiced. But not everyone likes pickled or salted forest fruits. Porcini mushrooms are also great for frying, baking and stewing. It is impossible to get them fresh in winter. Therefore, the best option for preserving useful properties is freezing. Under the influence of high temperatures, the composition of mushrooms does not change. Freezing can be carried out not only fresh, but also boiled. The main thing is to follow the basic principles of preparing for freezing. If you violate the technology, you may encounter the fact that the forest fruits will be bitter or lose their shape.

How to freeze porcini mushrooms at home

In the food departments, a huge amount of frozen berries and mushrooms is presented. But their cost is far from the most democratic. It is much more profitable to prepare the product for future use on your own. It will not take much time, but it will please you in the winter. Frozen porcini mushrooms can be used to cook absolutely any dish. Freezing does not spoil the taste.

Particular attention should be paid to the selection of mushrooms for freezing. It is advisable to collect them yourself. In grocery stores, fresh specimens are often mixed together with stale ones. If the boletus is old, its hat will be wrinkled and covered with dark spots. To check the quality of the product, you should press on its surface. The lack of elasticity indicates that it is not suitable for consumption.

There are several freezing options. Sometimes the product is carefully crushed before being placed in the freezer. But most often it is frozen whole. The state of the specimens that went to the refrigerator also differs. They are boiled, fried and stewed. In addition, deformed fruits can also be used for freezing.

Initially, porcini mushrooms should be prepared for freezing for the winter. They are examined, throwing out damaged and wormy specimens. Then carefully clean from dust and adhering leaves. If necessary, before the final freezing, they are cut into small pieces.

Is it possible to freeze porcini mushrooms fresh

Heat treatment of porcini mushrooms before freezing is optional. You can also prepare them fresh. But in this case, they will take up too much space in the freezer. This method of freezing for the winter is practiced when the product is presented in small quantities. Under the influence of temperature, mushrooms are significantly reduced in size. This makes it easier to store them. The disadvantages of freezing fresh mushrooms for the winter include the need for heat treatment after defrosting.

Do porcini mushrooms wash before freezing

Mushrooms freshly harvested for freezing are covered with dust, sand and forest debris. In some cases, insects can also be found on them. Therefore, before freezing for the winter, they must be thoroughly washed. The most convenient way is to pour water into the basin and dip the porcini mushrooms. Under running water, they are easily damaged, especially if they are small. After washing, it is necessary to rid them of excess moisture. To do this, porcini mushrooms are placed in a colander, and the liquid is allowed to drain into the sink. The second method of cleansing involves scraping off the dirt with a knife. In this case, you can do without washing.

How to cut porcini mushrooms for freezing

Experienced housewives prefer to cut mushrooms before freezing for the winter. Firstly, this way they take up much less space in the freezer. Secondly, it will be possible to make sure that there are no worms. Most often, the product is cut in half or into quarters. In the second case, there is no need to grind the product before cooking. Whole mushrooms are left to add to certain dishes. But it should be remembered that when frozen for the winter, they can be slightly deformed.

Recipes for freezing porcini mushrooms

When choosing a method for freezing porcini mushrooms for the winter, it is necessary to build on the purpose for which it will be used in the future. There is a huge variety of simple recipes. For soups, not only mushrooms are frozen, but also the broth prepared on their basis. Mushrooms frozen after frying in a pan are suitable for stewing and baking. Boiled specimens are suitable for second courses.

Freezing porcini mushrooms without cooking

Fresh mushrooms are considered a versatile ingredient. From them you can cook a lot of different dishes. In addition, the less heat treatment, the more useful substances are retained. To freeze fresh porcini mushrooms you will need:

• 400 g of product.
• 1 tsp lemon juice.

Cooking process:

1. Mushrooms are cleaned in any convenient way and chopped into small plates.
2. Mushrooms are laid out on a cutting board in one layer.
3. Sprinkle them with lemon juice on top. In its absence, acetic acid is used.
4. The product is covered with plastic wrap and sent to the freezer for two hours.
5. After complete freezing, everything is placed in a bag, and compactly cleaned in the freezer.

You can freeze porcini mushrooms without cooking for the winter in another way. It involves a long soaking of the product in salted water. After two hours, mushrooms get rid of excess fluid by placing in a colander. After that, they are cut into small plates. The resulting raw materials are placed in plastic bags and put in the freezer for the whole winter.

Freezing boiled porcini mushrooms

If you freeze boiled porcini mushrooms for the winter, the cooking process will become easier. It will be enough to add the defrosted semi-finished product to the main ingredients 10-15 minutes before readiness. An important advantage of this method of freezing is saving space in the freezer. The process of freezing mushrooms for the winter includes the following steps:

1. Boletus is cleaned and cut into slices.
2. You need to boil them for 5-10 minutes after boiling in lightly salted water.
3. The boiled product is thrown into a colander to get rid of excess liquid.
4. Mushrooms are laid out in portioned bags and put in the refrigerator.

Freezing fried porcini mushrooms

Before freezing for the winter, mushrooms can not only be boiled, but also fried. Portions of the finished dish will turn out to be quite small. In the future, they can be used for baking, cooking soup and roasts. The process of roasting mushrooms is carried out in vegetable oil until the liquid disappears completely. Adding salt and spices is optional. This can be done after defrosting the product. Before freezing for the winter, the mushrooms are left for 20-25 minutes until completely cooled.

Freezing mushrooms stewed in their own juice

Forest fruits, frozen for the winter in a stew, are juicy and retain their taste to the maximum. They are used to prepare sauces, second courses, salads and various casseroles.

Components;

• 400 g boletus;
• salt – to taste;
• vegetable oil.

Recipe:

1. Sorted and washed mushrooms are cut into small sticks, and placed in a frying pan with the addition of oil.
2. They are lightly fried, salted and removed from the fire.
3. Small portions of mushrooms are sealed in food foil and placed on a baking sheet in the oven.
4. Mushrooms are baked in their own juice for 10-15 minutes.
5. After cooling, the product is packaged in bags, and sent for freezing in the refrigerator.

Freezing porcini mushroom broth

To prepare a rich mushroom soup, you need to take care of preparing the broth for the winter in advance. It can be stored in the freezer for several months. The broth is used as a base for soup or stir-fry.

Components:

• 300 g boletus;
• salt and pepper – to taste.

Cooking process:

1. Porcini mushrooms are boiled in lightly salted water for 15 minutes. Five minutes before the readiness, you can add pepper.
2. Ready mushrooms are transferred to a separate container, and the broth is filtered and poured into the pan again.
3. The broth continues to cook until 1/3 of the total volume has evaporated.
4. The resulting liquid is poured into ice molds or glasses, and put in the refrigerator. As a container, you can use plastic containers and ordinary bags.

How long can porcini mushrooms be stored in the freezer

To ensure the long-term preservation of porcini mushrooms, you need to properly freeze them for the winter. At a temperature not lower than -18ºС, the shelf life will be one year. If the temperature in the freezer drops to -14-18 ° C, then the storage time is reduced to six months. An expired product is strictly forbidden to eat. It can cause food poisoning with severe complications.

How to defrost porcini mushrooms

Freezing fresh porcini mushrooms for the winter is far from the most difficult thing. It is necessary to pay close attention to the defrosting of the product. In order to preserve the taste to the full extent, sudden changes in temperature should be avoided. It is advisable to shift the mushrooms from the freezer to the refrigerator shelf in advance. After 1-2 hours, you can get the product. Further defrosting of porcini mushrooms is carried out in a small container or colander. It is not recommended to defrost mushrooms using a microwave or oven. This will spoil the structure of the porcini mushrooms and eliminate their characteristic aroma.

Conclusion

Freezing porcini mushroom for the winter is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Most of the time is spent preparing the mycelium for freezing. If all actions are performed correctly, the product will delight with its unique taste and rich forest aroma for a long time.