Who wouldn’t like to enjoy the taste of delicious chanterelles in autumn or winter?
When we can’t go to the woods to pick them up, it’s still possible to enjoy them: just freeze them ahead of time!
How to freeze chanterelles so that they remain tasty and firm for a long time? Check out our step-by-step guide.
The first step is to use the season when mushrooms grow in abundance to the fullest and get as many chanterelles as possible.
Although dried chanterelles are undeniably delicious, it’s freezing that allows us to enjoy the mushrooms’ taste and form. When dried, they, unfortunately, lose their shape. If we want them to be not only tasty but also presentable, it’s important to freeze them properly.
It’s worth remembering that in the case of chanterelles, time is of the essence. The sooner they are frozen from the moment they were picked up, the better for their shape and taste! It’s because of their flimsy nature – they contain a lot of water (just as all other mushrooms do) and enzymes that break down proteins and sugars. That means their condition starts to deteriorate the very moment they are put in a basket.
From now on, every minute matters…
How to freeze chanterelles properly – preparation
Where to start to ensure the best result possible?
Start with the same step that applies to raspberries or any other kind of fruits or veggies: from selecting the best ones. This step will spare you disappointment when your chanterelles are thawed; if done carefully, you can expect great results. A good practice is to cut into the mushroom’s stem – this simple action allows you to evaluate the chanterelle’s overall condition and decide if it can be used for freezing.
You can only freeze healthy mushrooms – if you see one that’s soft, rotten, or wormy, use it right away or throw it out.
You also have to make sure the chanterelles are cleaned extremely well.I wouldn’t recommend washing them – it’s enough to clean them when dry, with a brush, a towel, or paper towels. If you can’t seem to get rid of the dirt, you can use running water.
Remember to dry them well before freezing, if that’s what you end up doing! Place them on paper towels to let them absorb all the water.
Blanching before freezing
It is absolutely necessary to blanch chanterelles before freezing.
If you fail to complete this step, the thawed mushrooms may have a bitter taste and be unpalatable.
So what is blanching?
It simply means exposing the mushrooms to a higher temperature and salt. It’s enough to put them in boiling, salty water for 10 minutes and then dry them on paper towels.
Chanterelles decrease in size during blanching, which may be helpful when it comes to storing them in your freezer. It’s best to freeze chanterelles in whole unless you know you’ll use them to make soups. In that case, it’s ok to cut them into smaller pieces to your liking.
Preparing chanterelles for freezing
If you have a good freezer that is capable of freezing food fast and to a low temperature, you can freeze your chanterelles directly after drying.
It’s safer, though, to fry them for 10 minutes on clarified butter.
Remember to fry each bit on all sides.
What to use for freezing? To freeze chanterelles, you can use containers or plastic bags.
Just like with other mushroom species, I’d recommend placing your chanterelles on a board first. When frozen, you can put them in the bag or container you will store them in. That way the mushrooms won’t stick to one another and their shape won’t be altered.
Smaller chanterelles can be frozen in whole. And remember to leave a note with the name of the mushroom on every bag or container; you’ll likely be freezing other types of mushrooms as well!
Once frozen, it’s really hard to distinguish them from one another.
How long can frozen chanterelles be stored for?
The optimal time frame for preparing and using your frozen chanterelles is 6 months. That’s when you can be sure your mushrooms are good to be eaten.
If you have fried them in a pan after blanching, they should be fine for about a year.
It’s best to store your chanterelles at -18 degrees Celsius.
Once you decide to prepare some frozen chanterelles, remember that you don’t really need to thaw them! You can put them directly in a pot or a pan.
If your chanterelles were thawed, do not freeze them again. Eating mushrooms that were re-frozen may be detrimental to your health!