Can I freeze Mushrooms?

[Cumberland]

I have three huge portobello mushroom caps, and 2 large containers of mushrooms left over from thanksgiving. I absolutely cannot use them all since we are in the middle of moving. Can I freeze them? If not, any suggestions for the world's fastest mushroom recipes? Thanks!

[DCJenn]

I don't know why you wouldn't be able to, as long as you don't expect them to have the same texture when you defrost them.

That said, my mom makes this amazingly simple and very tasty appetizer that she freezes and then thaws as needed (like when a bunch of unexpected guests show up- not that ever happens to ME, but it actually does to my parents)

It's a mushroom roll- she buys Pepperidge Farm thin sandwich bread and cuts off the crusts. She then rolls the slices so that they're compacted. She makes this mushroom mixture- and I really wish she wasn't in London right now! and smears the mixture on the bread- then rolls up the bread so that it looks like a mini jelly roll. Once rolled, she wraps them in waxed paper and then bags them in a freezer bag. To cook, she defrosts (doesn't take too long) and then slices them and them cooks them until the outside of the bread is all toasty.

Seriously, one of the best things in her repetoire! I'll do a google recipe search- if not, I'll email my dad in London and get her to email me the recipe!

Jenn

Good question. I don't know but my thought would be to slice or chop them, saute and then freeze. The texture might be affected if frozen raw???

[DCJenn]

Here's one that's close from google:



Mushroom Rolls

1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 lb. mushrooms, chopped fine
1/4 cup butter
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. garlic
1 loaf of white bread
butter for brushing

Put onion, mushrooms and butter in frying pan. Sauté until soft and onions are clear.

Add cream cheese in chunks. Add next 4 ingredients. Stir until cheese melts. Let stand until completely cooled.

Remove crust from bread. Roll each slice thin.

Spread mushroom mixture on each slice and roll up like a jellyroll.

Brush with melted butter and place on tray to freeze. Store in plastic bag.

To serve, cut each roll into 3 pieces. Arrange on ungreased baking sheet.

Bake in 400° oven for 10-15 minutes until toasted and hot.

[Vishenka69]

I think so (after all TJ's does sell frozen mushrooms and they taste pretty good), but not sure if you have to do anything to them first. May be cooking them somehow and then freezing the dish would be a safer solution.