Mushrooms are a very popular food among consumers and are often available on the market as dried mushrooms in vacuum-sealed packaging. This technique increases the product’s shelf life, creating an optimal barrier effect to maintain the product’s nutritional and organoleptic properties.
But how do you store vacuum-sealed dried mushrooms? We’ll provide some useful tips on how to store mushrooms in vacuum-sealed packaging and look at how long they last and which preservation methods are appropriate.
Tips on how to store dried mushrooms
First of all, let’s see at how to store dried mushrooms. Mushrooms are a food that is dehydrated, without using food additives or sodium chloride (salt). Because of this, they do not lose their healthiness: when they are regenerated, their quality and taste is almost identical to fresh mushrooms.
However, in order to maintain the quality of dried mushrooms, they must be correctly stored. This product can be kept outside of the refrigerator but in a cool and dark atmosphere. Dried mushrooms should be left in their packaging or put in a container with a hermetically sealed lid though this is not the most suitable storage method.
The best option for storing dried porcini mushrooms or other varieties is in the refrigerator or freezer. Heat and humidity speed up the deterioration of mushrooms and reduce their shelf life. Whereas keeping them cool, dried mushrooms can last from 6 to 12 months, on condition that they are placed in clean and hermetically sealed plastic bag r container.
Keeping dried mushrooms at room temperature, reduce their shelf life, therefore it is important to pay attention when consuming it
It is important to carefully check on dried mushrooms before consuming it and be sure that there is no sign of deterioration so they can be safely rehydrated by soaking them in a bowl of water for 15 to 20 minutes.
How to store vacuum-sealed dried mushrooms
There are several advantages in storing dried mushrooms in vacuum packaging. It prevents the oxidation, extending the products’ shelf life and maintaining their nutritional and organoleptic properties for longer. That is why vacuum-sealed mushrooms are often preferred to traditionally packaged mushrooms because it is a practical, convenient and useful solution that also reduces food waste.
When storing mushrooms in vacuum-sealed packaging, they need to be put in the refrigerator to maintain stable the cold condition and preserve them correctly. In order to make sure of vacuum-sealed mushrooms last, however, you must always read carefully the food label carefully to check expiry date and the recommended storage methods. In general, the longest expiry date is 12 months after the production date.
Dealing with home-made dehydrated mushrooms, much more attention needs to be paid as it is more likely making mistakes and running risks. Anyone choosing to store vacuum-sealed dried mushrooms at home must make sure all the air is removed from inside the packaging. Otherwise, pathogens will start to contaminate the food, compromising its integrity and becoming a risk for health.
The best solution in these cases is to use a vacuum-sealing machine and special bags to create an optimal vacuum-sealed atmosphere and ensure that the product is perfectly preserved. Of course, in both cases, vacuum-sealed dried mushrooms can be frozen to extend their shelf life and prevent waste, as the low temperatures in the freezer slow down the activity of microorganisms that damage the organoleptic properties of the product.
Does your company sell dried mushrooms? Volmar offers specific vacuum-sealed food packaging solutions to provide customers with perfect packaging even in a protective and modified atmosphere. Take our vacuum bags, for example, which have a high barrier effect, optimal protection even for long periods of time and are customizable with high-definition printing in up to eight colors.