The etiquette rules on how to serve and eat chanterelle mushrooms. Tips to be the ideal host or the perfect guest.
What chanterelle mushroom etiquette is
Chanterelle mushroom etiquette is the set of rules to properly serve and eat chanterelle mushrooms. Such rules help avoid behaviors that disrespect your hosts or guests or make you look unpolite.
If you are hosting, follow the etiquette to serve chanterelle mushrooms to your guests appropriately.
As a guest, respect the etiquette rules to properly eat chanterelle mushrooms at the dining table and avoid offending your hosts.
What you should know about chanterelle mushrooms
Chanterelle mushrooms are a family of edible mushrooms. Many varieties exist. Their color ranges from white to yellow and orange. They are funnel-shaped or cup-shaped. They are meaty and slightly chewy in texture, and rich and mildly peppery in flavor.
Etiquette rules to serve and eat chanterelle mushrooms
1) How to store chanterelle mushrooms
It is best to eat fresh chanterelles on the same day you buy them or within a few days.
Store chanterelle mushrooms in the fridge. Humidity risks spoiling their flavor and texture. Thus, it is best to keep the mushrooms in a paper or plastic bag and wrapped in paper towels, which help absorb the humidity. In the fridge, chanterelle mushrooms can last up to a week.
It is possible to freeze fresh chanterelles. It is best to freeze them cooked. Boil or sauté them for about 5 minutes before freezing them. In the freezer, chanterelle mushrooms usually last up to 6 months. However, after a couple of months in the freezer, the taste of chanterelles significantly deteriorates and turns bitter. Thus, try to eat them within a few weeks.
Store dry chanterelles at room temperature. Place them in a cool and dry place, far from sources of heat and direct light. Ideally, keep them in a glass jar or container. Consume them by the expiration date on the packaging.
2) How to clean chanterelle mushrooms
To clean chanterelle mushrooms, wash them in cold running water for about one minute. Gently remove any dirt. You can use a small brush to remove dirt from the gills and the stem. Be aware that chanterelles can accumulate significant dirt inside their stem. Finally, place them on a towel or on kitchen paper to dry.
Do not soak chanterelles, as water risks spoiling the flavor and making the texture spongy. Do not peel the mushrooms before or after washing.
3) How to cook chanterelle mushrooms
It is possible to eat chanterelle mushrooms raw or cooked. However, raw chanterelles taste is rather unremarkable compared to cooked chanterelles.
Before cooking raw chanterelle mushrooms, slice the caps or cut them into chunks. Before cooking dry chanterelle mushrooms, reconstitute them by soaking them in hot water for about 20 minutes. You can subsequently use the water for cooking.
You can cook chanterelle mushrooms in various methods. Boil, grill, sautée, fry or deep-fry, or roast in the oven. They are ideal for soups, pasta, and risotto recipes. You can cook them in stews, bake them in flans or quiches, or add them to salads.
Mushrooms are among the most disliked foods. Thus, before cooking and serving chanterelles to your guests, it is considerate to ask whether some guests cannot eat them.
4) How to serve & present chanterelle mushrooms
Chanterelle mushrooms are a rather prized food. They are appropriate for formal and informal meals.
You can serve chanterelle mushrooms as a side dish or complement. Serve them warm or at room temperature. Present them in chunks or slices, in a serving shallow bowl. Provide a serving spoon.
5) Food and wine to pair chanterelle mushrooms with
Chanterelle mushrooms go well with olive oil, butter, cream, garlic, tarragon, and thyme. They are perfect for soup, pasta, risotto, and polenta.
You can match chanterelle mushrooms with eggs or meat, such as beef, pork, chicken, poultry, and venison. They go well with other mushrooms, such as porcini. It is not common to pair chanterelle mushrooms with fish or seafood. The best vegetables to combine them with are potatoes, asparagus, onions, leeks, beans, and spinach. In general, chanterelle mushrooms do not combine well with cheese and dairy.
The chanterelle mushroom pairs best with medium or full-bodied red wine. Suggestions include Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Zinfandel, or Cabernet Sauvignon. Alternatively, you can pair chanterelles with white wine such as Chardonnay or Riesling.
6) How to eat chanterelle mushrooms
Eat chanterelle mushrooms with a fork and knife. When they are served in chunks or slices, avoid using the knife if possible.
Every part of the mushroom is edible. Thus, it is not polite to discard chanterelles. Even if you dislike them, try to make an effort and eat some of them. Discarding all the mushrooms risks embarrassing your host.
Chanterelle mushroom etiquette: the worst mistakes
The Rude Index identifies and ranks negative behaviors.
A high score (8-10) means that the behavior has the potential to trigger a conflict with others. A medium score (4-7) means that the behavior risks making you look inelegant and unsophisticated. Read more about the Rude Index and its methodology here.
Avoid the worst chanterelle mushroom etiquette mistakes.
- 9/10. Serving spoiled chanterelle mushrooms.
- 5/10. Pairing chanterelle mushrooms with the wrong flavors.
Additional information for properly serving chanterelles
How many calories per serving?
Counting calories is important to stay healthy and plan a menu correctly.
Chanterelle mushrooms are mostly made of water. They contain about 38 calories per 100 grams (3.5 oz). One chanterelle mushroom weighs about 10 grams and contains 4 calories.
How to buy the best chanterelle mushrooms
A crucial factor in chanterelle mushroom etiquette is serving your guests the best product possible.
Season and availability
The season for fresh chanterelle mushrooms is between late spring and early fall.
Choose the best
Good fresh chanterelle mushrooms must have an elastic texture and vivid color. Discard mushrooms that have dark spots or are soft, musky, or sticky.
Alternatives to chanterelle mushrooms
As a substitute for chanterelle mushrooms, try other mushrooms such as porcini or oyster mushrooms.
Resources
- Health Benefits of Chanterelle Mushrooms: webmd.com