How to wash enoki mushrooms cleanly

The enoki mushrooms we buy are in bunches, so after buying them, we need to cut off the roots of the enoki mushrooms, then spread them out and wash them carefully. The washing method is relatively simple. They should be rinsed with running water to wash away some impurities and bacteria, then soaked in light salt water for a while, and finally blanched in boiling water, so that the enoki mushrooms are thoroughly clean.

Enoki mushrooms must be washed carefully

Enoki mushrooms must be washed carefully and not casually. Generally, there is a lot of dirt in the small umbrella-shaped part of mushrooms. You have to wash the dirt clean before putting it into the pot to avoid eating the dirt. It needs to be thoroughly peeled and washed, and then rinsed repeatedly to reduce microbial contamination.

How to wash enoki mushrooms cleanly

Step 1: Cut off the roots

Use a knife to cut off the small parts and roots with dirt on the fresh enoki mushrooms you bought. The roots are not needed.

Note: If you cut it directly, the mud will be spread everywhere. Therefore, it is recommended to put the muddy part in the packaging bag. Next, do not open the packaging bag yet and cut off the bottom of the enoki mushroom. In this way, the lower part of the bag will wrap around the mud.

Step 2: Rinse with clean water

Then rinse the remaining enoki mushrooms in the upper half of the packaging bag directly with water. Pinch it a little to loosen it up first, and spreading it evenly will facilitate the next step of cleaning. Then hold it with your hands. Take it under the faucet and rinse it vigorously with strong water. During the rinsing process, keep squeezing it to rinse out some dirt. After about 30-40 seconds, rinse out the dirty water in the bag, then put in the enoki mushrooms and rinse slowly with low water for about one minute.

Note: It is very troublesome to wash the enoki mushrooms every time because they are too small and then they are all over the floor. Put them in a plastic bag, rinse them while rubbing them gently through the plastic bag, rinse them several times, and then take out the enoki mushrooms. Not only will they be washed clean but they will not be messy.

Step 4: Soak

Take the cleaned enoki mushrooms out of the packaging bag and place them in a spare bowl or plate. It is better to soak it in clean water for a few minutes. It would be better to soak it in light salt water or rice water.

Step 5: Blanch

The last step is to blanch them in boiling water until cooked, then remove them from the water and let them cool. Blanching can remove odors, making the flavor purer and the taste better. In addition, mushrooms such as enoki mushrooms contain relatively high oxalic acid, and most of the oxalic acid can be removed by blanching in water. Moreover, the moisture content of the mushrooms will be reduced after blanching, which can reduce the cooking time and prevent the nutrients from being destroyed.

From the perspective of taste, safety and other aspects, it is more scientific and healthy to blanch mushrooms such as enoki mushrooms. Although some nutrients will be lost, it is not a problem in terms of safety, and it will not taste better. Definitely more good than bad.