Chanterelle cleaning made easy: Tips to save time and keep flavor

Do you enjoy the sight of baskets full of chanterelles but dread the thought of cleaning them? It’s a tedious and patience-demanding task, but there are several ways to make the battle for clean, grit-free chanterelles easier.

A knife and a brush are for the persistent and experienced, and this method undoubtedly allows for maximum flavor and firmness of the chanterelles. If you lack patience, try the methods using flour and salt. It can't get any easier.

First, remember that chanterelles should not be thrown into cold water because they behave like sponges. They swell, absorbing water, and lose their firmness and crunchiness. If you want to clean chanterelles without affecting their structure, use a brush. It’s a good idea to soak the brush in boiling water with salt or oil beforehand. This allows for quicker and more thorough removal of dirt hidden in the gills.

If you want a more thorough cleaning of the chanterelles, you can soak them in hot water. Why hot? Water at a higher temperature is not absorbed by mushrooms as much as cold or warm water. Add salt to the water, which will help all dirt settle at the bottom of the bowl and also protect the mushrooms from losing firmness. Put the chanterelles into the bowl with hot salted water, stir, and let them sit for a few moments. The sand accumulated in the chanterelles should settle at the bottom. It is recommended that this procedure be repeated three times.

A quick and effective way to clean chanterelles is to use two readily available products: flour and salt. Cleaning chanterelles with flour is very popular and helps save time. How does it work? Prepare for three short steps.

First, dust the chanterelles with flour. The flour must get into every corner because, in this case, it acts as a brush. Then, transfer the mushrooms to a bowl and pour hot salted water over them. Mix everything and let it sit for a few minutes. During this time, the mixture of flour and water will start to detach from the mushrooms along with the dirt, settling at the bottom. After this treatment, give the chanterelles a quick rinse to remove any remaining flour and prevent the mushrooms from swelling with water.