How to Store Fresh Matsutake Mushrooms? Cold Room & Freezing Solutions

Matsutake mushroom, often called the “King of Mushrooms”, is a rare and highly valued wild edible fungus. It is rich in nutrients and widely recognized for its medicinal properties. According to Japanese studies, matsutake is believed to have anti-cancer, anti-radiation, and kidney-strengthening effects.

However, fresh matsutake is highly perishable and difficult to preserve. Without proper storage, it quickly deteriorates and loses market value. For traders, wholesalers, and e-commerce businesses, the key question is: how to extend the shelf life of fresh matsutake while keeping its flavor and nutrients?

Currently, there are two main storage methods: Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage and blast freezing cold rooms.

1. Blast Freezing Cold Room (Long-Term Storage up to 6 Months)

For long-term preservation, blast freezing is the most effective solution. The process is as follows:

1. Select unopened mushrooms, clean off soil and impurities.
2. Lightly rinse with clean water and drain.
3. Steam mushrooms for 5–8 minutes in a hot steam chamber.
4. Soak in 1% citric acid solution for 10 minutes to maintain color.
5. Remove surface moisture, then package using moisture-proof materials such as glassine paper or aluminum foil bags.
6. Quickly freeze at –35℃ for 40–60 minutes.
7. Transfer to –18℃ cold storage for long-term preservation.

👉 With this method, fresh matsutake can be stored for up to 6 months without significant quality loss.

2. Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Cold Storage (Shorter Term, Better Quality)

While CA storage cannot extend the shelf life as long as freezing, it offers significant advantages:

• Maintains cell structure and natural texture of matsutake.
• Minimizes loss of cellular fluids compared to freezing.
• Keeps the original taste and flavor profile intact.

This is similar to salmon: once frozen, salmon cannot be consumed raw, and its market price drops compared to fresh salmon. Likewise, fresh matsutake stored in CA cold rooms has higher commercial value than frozen matsutake.