Cleaning mushrooms: The common wisdom is don't wash mushrooms, just use a dry paper towel. Also, don't wash them until you are ready to use them. That being said: Do not wash them if they are being used in a dry application, such as a salad. You can, however, give them a quick rinse underwater if you are immediately baking with them or using them immediately in some sort of soup or other wet application. The towel cleaning should be a suggestion rather than a rule, but when in doubt, just use a dry paper towel.
Brine your mushrooms
- Put 2 QT of water in a large bowl
- Add 2 TBL salt
- Cut mushrooms all the same size
- Put shrooms in the water
- Top with a plate to hold them down
- After 10 minutes drain and pat dry
- Let completely dry for another 10 minute
- Toss in 2 TBL EVOO
- Roast at 450º for about 30 minutes on the bottom rack
- Take out and toss them, then cook 10 more minutes
- Take out and toss with 2 TBL butter and 1 tsp lemon juice
- They are ready to use or serve
- A mushroom acts like a vegetable, in that vegetables get soft when cooked.
- Mushrooms also have Chitin in them, which acts more like meat – and toughens up
- The brine will allow it to hold onto the moisture during cooking