Q. I sautéed some mushrooms for a few quiches that I was baking for a baby shower, but it turns out that I didn’t need as much as I thought. I now have about a cup of sautéed mushrooms left over that I don’t know what to do with. I really only like mushrooms in quiche, and there’s no one else in the house to feed them to, so they will just go to waste in the fridge. I make quiche every few months, so I would definitely be able to use the sautéed mushrooms the next time I bake a quiche. I’ve never tried freezing them before, so I’m not sure if I should try it or not. I’m afraid that freezing them would affect the texture. Can you freeze sautéed mushroom?
A. Yes, you can definitely freeze sautéed mushrooms! In fact, freezing them won’t affect them in any way. The only thing you have to take into account is the liquid they were sautéed in. If you sautéed the mushrooms in water, then try and pat them dry before freezing. Too much water will cause ice crystals to form and can contribute to freezer burn. If you sautéed them in butter or oil, be aware that the butter or oil may change colour or go cloudy in the freezer. The changes are temporary though, and will go back to normal upon thawing and reheating.
To begin, start with freshly sautéed mushrooms. Allow the mushrooms to come to room temperature before freezing them. Place the mushrooms in a freezer bag or in a hard-sided freezer safe container. Seal the package, then label and date them. Place the sautéed mushrooms in the freezer. If they are in a freezer bag, be careful not to place anything heavy on top of them so as to avoid squishing the sautéed mushrooms. They should last several months in the freezer.
To use the mushrooms, remove them from the freezer and allow to thaw in the fridge for several hours or overnight. When ready to use, heat them gently in a frying pan, or add them to your favourite quiche recipe! The texture and flavour should not be affected by the freezing process. Placed unused thawed sautéed mushrooms in the fridge. They should be used within 24-48 hours for best results. Do not refreeze previously frozen sautéed mushrooms.