How to clean mushrooms

In cooking, there are many controversial issues. For example, one of the questions: how to clean mushrooms? More specifically, do I need to peel mushrooms at all? Serious battles are being fought for us on cooking forums, and “advisers” from the Internet suggest measuring mushrooms hats and cleaning only those with a diameter of more than 3 cm. At the same time, well-known chefs often don’t process them at all before cooking: only cut as required by the dish. Let's try to figure out how to properly prepare the mushrooms before preparing them.

Possible pretreatment methods

Champignons - one of the most famous types of mushrooms. They are loved for their unique taste, for year-round availability and for the benefits that they bring to the body. For example, few people know that this type of mushroom contains vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium. It is also important that they are the safest and most environmentally friendly mushrooms. How to clean mushrooms in order to preserve their natural usefulness?

Since champignons are most often bought at a supermarket or in the market, the question of their preliminary processing is relevant. No one knows under what conditions they were stored and how many times they were dropped to the floor during transportation before the mushrooms hit the counter. In addition, traces of the earth are often visible on these mushrooms or dark spots may be present. On this basis, fresh store mushrooms can be subjected to the following types of pre-treatment. You can do this with them:

rinse from dirt under running water;
wipe with a damp cloth;
peel off the top layer of the skin on the mushroom cap;
update the cut on the leg;
crop skirts;
remove dark brown plates under the hat;
cut off dark spots, damaged places.

It is not necessary to do all the above manipulations to peel the mushrooms. We must act on the situation. For example, if the mushroom is dirty, it must be washed, if the cut on the leg has darkened or it has knitted, the tip of the leg should be cut off, etc.

Tip: it is believed that mushrooms, the diameter of the caps of which are more than 3 cm, the skin on it becomes rough. Before cooking, you need to remove it, since it will not boil properly and will be stiff in the finished dish. However, to understand whether it is necessary to cut off the skin from the hat, it is not necessary to measure each mushroom with a ruler. When washing, it is enough to try moving the skin with a fingertip. If it leaves, then it should be removed.

How to clean correctly

Unambiguously answer the question: is it necessary to clean the champignons, it is impossible. Fresh mushrooms are processed before cooking to one degree or another, depending on three factors:

degree of pollution;
the dish in which they will be used;
raw use.

If fresh mushrooms were bought for frying, then it is enough to wipe them with a cloth, cut off dark spots and update the cut. They should not be washed, as champignons quickly absorb water and simply fry during frying. Also, if the mushrooms are dry before slicing, they will turn crispy during frying.

In the case when fresh champignons are intended for stuffing with subsequent baking, preparing cream soup or filling for a pie, they can be washed. As a result, earthen deposits, grains of sand and other dirt that may be present on the mushrooms are removed. An interesting method of washing is offered by the chef. It consists of the following:

Put the champignons in a deep bowl.
Pour so much cool water into the bowl so that it covers the mushrooms.
Add a little flour (about 1 tbsp. L.).
Mix the mushrooms with your hands several times.Pieces of flour in this case will act as a kind of “scrub”, which will help easier to wash the dirt.
Drain the water. Pure mushrooms are now ready for slicing.

Despite the fact that it is possible to wash mushrooms in this way, it is impossible to soak them for a long time.As mentioned above, champignons, like a sponge, absorb water. Watery, they turn out not tasty, lose all their charm.

Separately, it is worth mentioning about mushrooms intended for stuffing. For this purpose, large specimens are used, from which it is necessary to remove a thin layer of skin covering the hat. Otherwise, it will turn out tough. Mushrooms also remove legs and dark brown plates under the hat.

If mushrooms are planned to be eaten raw, they must be thoroughly cleaned. In addition to removing particles of earth, sand and other contaminants by washing, many "raw foodists" put them on a baking sheet in a hot oven for 30-60 seconds. This is done for disinfection. Then the mushrooms can be safely used to prepare salads and other dishes. I would like to note separately that only the freshest champignons, the “age” of which did not exceed 5 days, are suitable for eating in raw form.

Champignons - unusually fragrant and extremely useful mushrooms. There is no person who would never try them. Cook them correctly and enjoy the unique taste of your favorite dishes!