Cleaning Mushrooms

Pick over mushrooms to remove earth and trim the stems; in some wild species the stem is woody and must be cut off. Wipe the mushrooms clean with a soft brush or damp cloth. However, if they are sandy, plunge them into a bowl of cold water and shake them to loosen the sand. Lift the mushrooms out, and drain in a colander. Mushrooms quickly absorb moisture so avoid bloating them—the common variety needs only 30-60 seconds washing. Species with deep gills or indentations, notably morels, must be soaked for up to five minutes to loosen grit. Some species, such as wild horse mushrooms, have a thick skin that should be peeled from the cap.