Can You Freeze Portobello Mushrooms? How?

Here is the ultimate guide on how to freeze and store portobello mushrooms. 

These methods and tips have worked out splendidly for me and others. 

So, let’s dive right in. 

How to Freeze Portobello Mushrooms?

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Sauteing and freezing the mushrooms is the most recommended method you can go for. 

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Materials

• Portobello Mushrooms
• Pan
• Butter/Olive Oil

Tools

• Baking Sheet and Parchment Paper (Optional)
• Ziploc Bag

Instructions

1. Clean and Cut: Wash and clean the portobello mushroom. Then cut them into slices or dice them. You could also leave them as a whole, it depends on how you plan to use them later on.
   
   
2. Sauté: Lightly cook them in a pan with some butter or olive oil.
   
   
3. Let it Cool: Once you take the portobello mushrooms out of the pan, let it cool down to room temperature. Optionally you can spread them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and flash freeze them.
   
   
4. Pack and Seal: Pack the portobello mushrooms into a Ziploc bag and seal them in. Make sure to squeeze out all the excess air before sealing the bag.
   
   Label and Freeze: Add a label on the bag with the best before date, and you are good to go.
   
   Check out this video by “Seeds2Freedom” on YouTube to see how it is done -

Freezing Portobello Mushrooms after Steaming Them

Another way to keep the mushrooms lasting long in the freezer is to steam or blanch them beforehand.

Clean and Cut

Wash and clean the portobello mushrooms, removing the dirt and gills. Then cut them or leave them as a whole, depending on how you plan to use them later on in your recipes.

Steam and Cool

Leave the portobello mushrooms in the double boiler or steam basket for 2 to 3 minutes and let it steam well. Then transfer the mushrooms into an ice bath to stop any further cooking.

Dry, Pack and Seal

Using a paper towel, thoroughly dry the mushrooms and then pack them into Ziploc bags and seal them in. Make sure to squeeze out all the excess air before sealing the bag.

Label and Freeze

On the bag, add a label with the best before date, and you are ready to freeze the portobello mushrooms.

Freezing Portobello Mushrooms after Flash Freezing Them

If you want to skip the cooking, these simple steps of flash freezing the portobello mushrooms can save you from a lot of work later on. 

Clean and Cut

Thoroughly clean the portobello mushrooms, removing all the dirt and the gills. Then cut them into slices or dice them, depending on how you plan to use them in your recipe.

Lay Out

Line the slices of portobello mushrooms on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure that the pieces don’t touch each other and are evenly spaced.

Flash Freeze

Leave the tray of mushrooms in the freezer for a couple of hours and let them freeze solid.

Pack and Seal

Transfer the frozen portobello mushrooms into a Ziploc bag and seal them in. Try and squeeze out all the excess air before sealing.

Label and Freeze

Add a label on the bag with the best before date, and you are good to go.

Here is a video tutorial by “Nicola Jane Cooks” on YouTube to help you out –

Freezing Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

If you made a few extra portions of stuffed portobello mushrooms and want to keep them for longer than a couple of days, here is how you can freeze them.

Cook and Cool

Once you have cooked the stuffed portobello mushrooms, let them cool down to room temperature.

Lay Out

Line up the stuffed portobello mushrooms on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure that they are evenly spaced and don’t stick to each other.

Flash Freeze

Leave the tray in the freezer for a couple of hours and let them freeze solid.

Pack and Seal

Pack the stuffed mushrooms into a freezer-safe air-tight container and seal them in.

Label and Freeze

Add a label on the container, and you are all set to freeze them till you need them next.

How Long Can You Freeze Portobello Mushrooms 

You can freeze portobello mushrooms for 10 to 12 months. It is best to freeze the mushrooms cooked, sautéed, steamed, or blanched.

The raw portobello mushrooms don’t fare as well in the freezer as cooked ones.

The key to freezing mushrooms for long is to make sure that they are dry and cool before freezing. Any moisture locked in can make the portobello mushrooms go soggy in the freezer.

Keeping it in an air-tight container and protecting it from freezer burns is also crucial to storing the portobello mushrooms for long. 

How to Store Frozen Portobello Mushrooms? 

You can store frozen portobello mushrooms in any freezer-safe air-tight container or Ziploc bag. The important thing is to keep them dry and covered, protected from freezer burns.

The choice between the two options comes down to how much space you can afford in the freezer. 

If you are pressed for freezer space, the best option would be to keep the portobello mushrooms stored in Ziploc bags, flattened to a sheet. So, you can freeze the bags on top of each other, storing them compactly. 

How to Defrost Portobello Mushrooms? 

The best way to thaw portobello mushrooms is to leave the portion you need in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight and let it thaw gradually. 

You can also add the frozen mushrooms directly into the dish if you are going to cook them. If they have been sautéed before it is best not to bake or cook them for too long as they can get overcooked. 

If you are in a hurry, you can also thaw them on the kitchen counter or in the microwave.

But if you opt for this method the mushrooms must be consumed immediately as there are high chances of them spoiling faster.

Can You Refreeze Portobello Mushrooms? 

It is best advised not to refreeze the portobello mushrooms. Once they thaw, the mushrooms can get soggy or change in texture. This will only worsen with repeated freezing. 

To avoid having to refreeze or waste the portobello mushrooms once they thaw, you can portion them beforehand or flash freeze the pieces of mushrooms so that you can grab a handful, without having to thaw the whole batch. 

Does Portobello Mushroom Freeze Well? 

Yes, portobello mushrooms freeze well, and if done right, they can last in the freezer for a whole year.

But the frozen mushrooms will go through slight changes in texture once they thaw, especially if the mushrooms weren’t fresh, to begin with. 

Frozen portobello mushrooms are best used in recipes where you cook them, like pasta, soup, stew, etc. It is best not to use them as toppings or as a raw ingredient.

Bottom Line

I hope this article helped you freeze and store portobello mushrooms. 

If you have any doubts or would like to share some tips and tricks of your own, it would be great to hear from you. 

Feel free to share this article with your family and friends.