Content
Ryzhiki are rightfully considered one of the most delicious mushrooms. They can be prepared in different ways, mixed with other ingredients, and added to dishes. But if the mushrooms are bitter, this may affect the taste of the finished treat. Therefore, you need to find out why bitterness arises, how to get rid of it.
Are the mushrooms bitter
A bitter taste is characteristic of many varieties of mushrooms. Ryzhiks are no exception, as they can have an unpleasant aftertaste that affects the taste. This is due to the composition, which includes substances that can give a bitter taste. In most cases, the unpleasant aftertaste is enhanced by heat treatment.
Why mushrooms mushrooms are bitter
It is believed that the taste is influenced by the conditions where the mushrooms grew. Their caps have a porous structure that absorbs substances contained in air, water and soil.
Mild bitterness is considered normal. Some culinary experts regard such a flavor as a kind of zest that can emphasize the unique taste of mushrooms. But more often when cooking, they strive so that they do not taste bitter. First of all, you need to understand why this happens, since the ways to eliminate bitterness depend on the cause.
Why mushrooms are bitter after freezing
Usually freshly picked mushrooms are frozen. They can taste bitter on their own - this is considered the norm if the unpleasant aftertaste is poorly expressed.
Causes of bitterness in frozen food:
- growing in contaminated soil;
- growing in close proximity to conifers;
- improper preparation for freezing.
It should be borne in mind that exposure to low temperatures also affects the structure of tissues and can affect the taste. Incorrect storage temperature, improper neighborhood with other frozen products can provoke bitterness.
Why salty mushrooms are bitter
Salting is considered one of the best ways to preserve mushrooms for a long period of time. Situations when salted mushrooms are bitter are not uncommon.
Causes of bitterness in pickled mushrooms:
- salting in aluminum, plastic, ceramic containers (it is strictly forbidden to freeze food in them);
- improper primary processing;
- ingress of foreign components into the saline;
- violation of cooking technology;
- storage in improper conditions;
- expiration date.
Another possible cause is too much salt in the marinade. Experienced chefs advise adding no more than 40-50 g of salt per 1 kg of mushrooms. Thanks to this, they will be saturated, will last for a long time and will not deteriorate.
Why mushrooms are bitter after frying
Fried mushrooms are always appropriate on the everyday and festive table. Only a bitter taste can spoil the impression of a dish. If fried mushrooms taste bitter, they may have been cooked incorrectly. In addition, the aftertaste indicates irregularities in the storage and processing of mushrooms.
Bitterness can be provoked by:
- frying in low-quality oil;
- adding incompatible spices, dressings;
- violation of the temperature regime.
Correct preparation eliminates the likelihood of bitterness. Therefore, the recipe should be strictly observed and only those components that go well with them should be added to the mushrooms.
Why boiled mushrooms are bitter
Boiled mushrooms are considered a simple and delicious snack. As a rule, they do not give a bitter taste after boiling, but there are exceptions.
The reasons are as follows:
- improper cleaning;
- poor quality of cooking water;
- adding spices;
- violation of the cooking process.
The condition of mushrooms is adversely affected by climatic conditions. Hot dry weather promotes the onset of rotting in the structure of the fruit bodies, which causes an unpleasant aftertaste. Therefore, you should figure out what to do so that the mushrooms do not taste bitter after cooking.
How to remove bitterness from mushrooms
If the finished mushrooms turn out to be bitter, actions are taken to eliminate the bitterness. However, it should be borne in mind that not in all cases ready-made mushrooms can be eliminated from the taste.
The easiest way is to remove the bitterness from salted mushrooms. Such mushrooms are not heat treated, so the likelihood of damage is reduced. They last longer than fresh ones, so the chances of rotting and mold formation are minimized.
If the mushrooms are bitter after salting, you need to transfer them to a colander, rinse thoroughly in plenty of water. It is a good idea to make sure that all the spiced salt is washed off. Then the mushrooms need to be boiled for 5 minutes, cooled and then salted again.
If the mushrooms are bitter after frying, it is recommended to stew them slightly. For this, sour cream or tomato paste is used in small quantities. The dish is stewed under a lid over low heat for 20-30 minutes. After that, the bitterness should pass.
What to do so that mushrooms do not taste bitter
The main way to prevent the appearance of bitterness is competent preparation for cooking. It is recommended to sort out all the mushrooms, remove those that start to deteriorate, have damage. Then they are washed in water, the remnants of soil, grass, fine debris are removed. Care is required with this procedure, as they are sensitive to mechanical stress and can be damaged. Further, so that the dish does not taste bitter, you should boil the mushrooms.
Cooking steps:
- Place in a pot of water.
- Bring to a boil and skim the resulting foam.
- Add a pinch of salt to the water.
- Cook for 7-10 minutes.
- Remove the pot from the stove, drain and drain.
Correctly salt the mushrooms so that they do not taste bitter, you need to follow the following recipe:
- The washed, peeled mushrooms are dried on a towel.
- At the bottom of the container, place 100 g of salt, 30 peppercorns, 4 cloves of garlic.
- Spread 2 kg of mushrooms on top of the spices, pour salt on top.
- The container is covered with gauze, left at temperatures up to 20 degrees.
- The salting lasts 2 weeks, after which the finished product is laid out in jars.
This is a very popular cold salting method. Pickles prepared by the presented method are stored for about two years. You can use a recipe for hot salting, which provides for a pre-heat treatment
Conclusion
If the mushrooms are bitter, it is recommended to use the described methods of eliminating bitterness. An unpleasant aftertaste can greatly affect the taste of the finished dish, and in some cases spoil it. To prevent the mushrooms from becoming bitter, they must be properly processed before the main cooking process.It is important to follow the recipe and add only compatible components to the mushrooms.
