Whether you buy mushrooms in bulk or find yourself with a bunch of leftovers from a single package (the joys of cooking for one!), you probably don't want the veggies (or any of your groceries) to go to waste. So, can you stick them in the freezer? Katie Heil, CP-FS, a certified professional in food safety at StateFoodSafety says you sure can, but they can't be uncooked.
According to the National Center For Home Food Preservation, mushrooms should be partially cooked before freezing to guarantee they stay fresh, so you have to decide whether you would like to steam or fry them before setting storing them in the freezer for later use or consumption. These are Heil's suggested steps to follow:
Following these steps will keep mushrooms fresh, but it is important to note that freezing may alter the mushrooms' color and in some cases flavor. "Storing mushrooms at 0°F or lower will prevent microbial growth, but freezing might alter any food's texture," Heil said, adding that you should plan to use your frozen mushrooms within eight to 12 months — when you're ready for that, just put them in the fridge until they've thawed.