Mushrooms are one of the food world's most versatile ingredients — fry them, grill them, steam them, throw them in a stew — really there’s no place they can’t go. Yet, for all their recipe versatility, there’s one mushroom conundrum that can stump even the most masterful kitchen connoisseur: mushroom storage. 

Mushrooms have a high water content and an ability to act like a sponge — two things that make them great to cook with and eat (because they’re almost impossible to overcook and they absorb flavors so well).  But these two qualities also make mushrooms a pain to store, since water and high absorption can lead to spoilage. No matter the variety, if you’ve had mushrooms in your refrigerator, chances are that at some point you’ve ended up with a soggy, slimy mess. Read on to learn how to keep mushrooms fresh for as long as possible. 

How long do mushrooms last in the fridge? 

Shitake, white button, cremini, portabella, oyster — there are plenty of mushroom varieties to choose from in your local grocery store or farmers market. The good news is that all of them can be stored the same way, and all of them will last for the same amount of time, too. The only thing you’ll have to adjust for is whether your mushrooms are cooked or raw. 

• How long do raw mushrooms last? When properly stored, raw mushrooms can last for anywhere between three and seven days in the fridge. Because mushrooms have a high water content and are extremely porous, they have a shorter shelf life than other vegetables like cabbage, carrots, or sweet potatoes. 

• How long do cooked mushrooms last? Cooked mushrooms — like most leftovers — can grow bacteria in the fridge that makes them smell and taste bad, so after cooking, mushrooms’ shelf life is about three to four days. 

Can you freeze mushrooms?

The short answer is yes, and you should! But before you freeze them, cook them to ensure optimal quality. Freezing mushrooms (or anything, really) causes water molecules inside to expand and, in some cases, burst. That bursting damages the mushroom’s cell walls, meaning that, when thawed, the mushrooms will be limp and mushy. The two best methods for cooking mushrooms to prepare for freezing are sauteing or steaming them. 

• Sauteing mushrooms. Cut the mushrooms into equal-sized pieces and cook them in a pan with a bit of neutral oil over medium heat for five to seven minutes. Transfer the cooked mushrooms to a tray and freeze them for an hour. This will prevent them from sticking together and forming a giant mushroom mass. Transfer the frozen mushrooms to an airtight freezer-safe container and return them to the freezer. 

• Steaming mushrooms. To steam mushrooms, leave them whole or cut them into equal-sized pieces. Place a steamer basket in a lidded pot of water and bring the pot to a boil. Add the mushrooms, cover, and let steam for three to five minutes. Once cooked, transfer the mushrooms to an ice bath to stop the cooking process, and then dry them before transferring to a tray. Freeze the mushrooms in a single layer, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container and return them to the freezer.

Whether steamed or sauteed, cooked mushrooms will last indefinitely in the freezer. However, for optimal quality, eat them within one month.

How to store raw mushrooms

To maximize the lifespan of your mushrooms, buy them with the stems still intact whenever possible. This helps ensure as little of the mushroom’s interior is exposed to the air as possible, which helps the fungi stay fresh longer. 

When you get home, wipe the mushrooms clean with a dry paper towel or dish towel before storing. Because of their sponge-like quality and high water content, mushrooms shouldn’t be washed with water, as this will cause them to go mushy more quickly. Then wrap your whole mushrooms in dry paper towels and place them in a brown paper bag. If you don’t have a paper bag, store them wrapped in paper towels in an unsealed plastic bag or glass bowl. 

Paper bags and unsealed plastic bags and bowls allow for air circulation, which is necessary to extend mushroom’s freshness: Even after you bring them home, mushrooms continue to respire and release carbon dioxide. When you trap that carbon dioxide inside a sealed container, your mushrooms will become slimy and decay more quickly. 

You should store mushrooms on refrigerator shelves, not in the crisper drawer — the high humidity of the crisper drawer will also expedite the spoilage process. 

Storing cooked mushrooms

As with all cooked vegetables, the best storage method for whole or sliced mushrooms is an airtight container in the refrigerator. Remember, cooked mushrooms last just three to four days — less time than raw mushrooms — so be sure to eat your leftovers before they go bad. 

How to tell if your mushrooms have gone bad

Mushrooms come in many different sizes, shapes, and colors. However, all fresh mushrooms share the same qualities — they are firm and slightly spongy with a uniform color, and boast a mild, earthy smell. If your mushrooms develop dark spots on the surface, feel or look slimy or mushy, or have a pungent odor, you’re seeing signs that your mushrooms have gone bad.

What to do with mushrooms that have gone bad

Try as you might to prevent it, chances are that at some point you’ll end up with spoiled mushrooms on your hands. If you do, what you do next matters: Instead of tossing them in the garbage, where they’ll end up in a landfill releasing methane, recycle them with Mill. The Mill food recycler turns food waste into food grounds that can be used in chicken feed or as a soil amendment in your own lawn or garden. That way, you don’t have to cry about spilled milk (or spoiled mushrooms).

Sources:

1. WIC Works Resource System, U.S. Department of Agriculture: “What Do I Do With Mushrooms?” https://wicworks.fns.usda.gov/resources/what-do-i-do-mushrooms

2. U.S. Department of Agriculture: “How long will cooked food stay safe in the refrigerator?” February 29, 2024. https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/How-long-will-cooked-food-stay-safe-in-the-refrigerator