Preserving. Slice or dice for freezing. Our Japanese friends wrap whole mushrooms in aluminum foil, then place them carefully in plastic bags prior to freezing. The flavor of matsutakes suffers when subjected to drying, although they may still add interest to culinary dishes.
How do you preserve a matsutake?
Preserving matsutake is simple. Simply freeze them and the mushrooms can last for up to a year. Do not let the mushrooms dry as the flavor may decrease. Instead, slice or dice these mushrooms prior to freezing.
How do you clean and store Matsutakes?
- Never wash them. Just wipe the mushrooms down with a damp paper towel or cloth.
- Slice them thickly, or else you lose the aroma.
- However you cook them, do so in a way to preserve that aroma, i.e., steaming, wrapped in foil, in rice (see below) or in a clear soup.
