-Q: What is the shelf life of my mushrooms?

-A:  The temperature at which mushrooms are stored greatly affects their shelf life. If stored between 34-38 F, the shelf life is usually 7-10 days, however, warmer temperatures can cut that down to 2-4 days. Generally speaking, whole mushrooms last a bit longer than sliced mushrooms, and brown mushrooms last a bit longer than white mushrooms. In short, use your best judgement - if the mushrooms look slimy or smell bad, you probably shouldn't eat them.

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-Q: Do mushrooms need to be washed?

-A: Mushrooms should be rinsed quickly with water before using. You can also use a damp cloth to clean off any excess peat moss.

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-Q: Are there "best-by" or "packed-on" dates on mushroom packages?

-A: On all mushroom packages there should be some kind of date, either indicating when the mushrooms were packed, or a "best-by" date, depending on what store you buy the mushrooms from. The store chain requests whichever date format they want. Some stores prefer us to use a "Julian date", which is a 4 digit code; the first digit representing the machine through which the mushrooms were packed, and the last 3 digits corresponding to the day of the year. For example: If the package says "2 193", the mushrooms were wrapped on machine #2 on July 11, 2016 (the 193rd day of 2016).

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-Q: Are mushrooms gluten free?

-A: Yes, mushrooms are gluten free! While most mushrooms are grown in composted wheat straw, not in wheat grain (where the gluten is stored), no gluten is absorbed into the mushrooms. For more detailed information, please check out this sheet from the Mushroom Council.

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-Q: How should I store my mushrooms?

-A: Mushrooms like to be cool and dry. They last longest when kept between 34-38 degrees F. If you're going to be storing your mushrooms for more than a day or two, it's best to remove the plastic film from the till and cover with a paper towel or put into a paper sack in the fridge.

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-Q: Are mushrooms good for you?

-A: Yes! Mushrooms are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Riboflavin, copper, vitamin-D, selenium, niacin, ergothioneine, beta-glucans, and potassium are just a few of them. Check out more information at the Mushroom Council's website.

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-Q: Does Kitchen Pride use pesticides?

-A: The design of the farm and the practices that have been employed allow us to use minimal chemical control measures-if at all. All air that enters the farm is filtered with high efficiency hepa filters. These filters are similar to those used in hospitals. The sanitation practices within the farm we have developed are another key to maintaining a low disease presence. Through our integrated pest management system chemicals are used sparingly and only when necessary.  Organically certified pesticides are always our first choice.

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-Q: Can I freeze my mushrooms?

-A: Mushrooms are always best fresh! But, if you must- saute the mushrooms, then lay them out on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer. They're usually good for about a month.

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-Q: How many mushrooms are in a pound?

-A: Depending on the density of the mushrooms there are usually between 14-18 medium sized mushrooms in one pound (8-12 large, 22-30 small). Density can vary by the break they were harvested from or the number of days since they were harvested.

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