Rising food shopping costs are made more sour by produce that simply doesn’t last.
Mushrooms are one of the prime suspects when it comes to fruit and vegetables that have poor longevity in the fridge, as many people may have experienced.
No matter the variety, of which there are more than 2,000 of the edible kind, the umami-flavoured vegetables are prone to turning brown and slimy within what seems like hours.
But a food waste expert has revealed the foolproof food storage hack that can make this a thing of the past, urging that it’s “a must” for anyone who buys mushrooms from the supermarket.
Because of their high water content, mushrooms need to be kept in the fridge. But it’s this very thing that makes them a nuisance to keep fresh.
Sharing her expertise exclusively with Express.co.uk, Too Good To Go’s UK Country Director, Sophie Trueman said: “If you always find mushrooms rusting and spinach leaves mushy, this anti-waste tip is a must!
“With a kitchen towel or a paper bag, you will be able to absorb the moisture of these ingredients and promote the airflow of your spinach and mushrooms.”
According to Sophie, heavy-duty containers which are often the first point of call for food freshness, should be ditched, along with the original packaging many mushrooms come in. Instead, find a clean paper bag.
Sophie remarked: “Mushrooms have a high water content, so storing them with a kitchen towel or in a paper bag helps to absorb any excess moisture and keep them from browning too quickly.”
However, this is best applied to whole mushrooms only. Instead of washing them, simply remove them from their supermarket packaging and pat them dry with a clean tea towel.
Line a paper bag with a few sheets of kitchen roll then carefully place the mushroom. Position the bag in the fridge away from anything that could squash the mushrooms.
The Too Good To Go director explained: “Most whole mushrooms will last in the fridge for four to seven days, and by storing this way, you may help them to last that full seven days.
“Sliced mushrooms, on the other hand, usually last about one to two days in the fridge, so storing your mushrooms whole is a great way to ensure they last that bit longer.”
For any mushrooms that are past the point of freshness, chop them up very finely and cook them into a delicious, creamy risotto. Alternatively, add them to a stir fry or whip up a mushroom tart.
