Before you can enjoy Horn of Plenty mushrooms in your dishes, you need to know how to properly clean trumpet mushrooms and preserve them. Horn of Plenty mushrooms, also known as black trumpet mushrooms, are a delicacy in the world of wild mushrooms. In my vocabulary they are like the rock stars of the wild mushroom world. They’re elusive, mysterious, and oh-so-delicious.
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Many foragers refer to Black Trumpet Mushrooms as the “poor man’s truffle”, a statement I find rather controversial. Every mushroom has its own unique charm, and for me both the Horn of Plenty and the truffle are extraordinary additions to the culinary repertoire.
Horn of Plenty mushrooms have a rich, earthy flavor and a delicate, trumpet-shaped form. Finding black trumpet mushrooms is quite hard, because they blend into the environment and become invisible. This makes them even more precious. But once you’ve found them, mark the spot for the future and you’ll get your supply every year.
Horn of Plenty mushrooms are notorious for being dirty and full of debris. They require some extra care and attention.
Almost on the same level as cauliflower mushrooms when it comes to cleaning. Living things will be all over your place. Trust me, it is worth the effort.
Before you can enjoy these mushrooms in your dishes, you need to know how to clean and preserve them properly.
Cleaning Horn of Plenty Mushrooms: Tips for Beginners
The best thing would be to start cleaning mushrooms already in the forest, but there are usually a lot of them, I often feel lazy to do that in the forest, I rather concentrate on collecting as much as possible 😀
Trim the Drama: The first step is to cut off any damaged or rotten parts of the mushrooms. You can do this by hand or with a sharp knife or scissors. Discard the bad parts and keep only the healthy ones.
Brush It Off: The next step is to brush the outside dirt off and clean black trumpet mushrooms from outside and remove any debris. I use a toothbrush or a soft brush that comes with my mushroom knife (yes, that’s a thing). Gently sweep away the outside dirt of debris. Pretend you’re dusting off a tiny mushroom tuxedo.
Inside Job: Cut the mushrooms in half and brush off anything you find inside. And yes, that includes that snail too – unless you’re feeling adventurous and want extra protein in your meal. 🐌
More informations about Horn of Plenty
How to clean wild mushrooms & preserve them
Remember, it’s crucial to correctly identify wild mushrooms before consumption, as some species can be toxic. If in doubt, seek guidance from an experienced forager or mycologist. By following these cleaning tips and exercising caution, you can enjoy the unique and delightful flavors of wild mushrooms in your culinary creations.
Storing the wild mushrooms
Learn how to clean and preserve foraged mushrooms with these helpful guides. These resources provide step-by-step instructions on ensuring your mushrooms are fresh and safe to eat. Explore various techniques for cleaning and storing these natural treasures. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced forager, these guides will assist you in making the most of your wild mushroom finds.
Freezing: Prepare the full dishes with black trumpet mushrooms and store the dish in a freezing bag, up to 6 months. Just squeeze out the air, label the bag, and freeze.
Drying: Drying black trumpet mushrooms is the easiest and most popular way to preserve Horn of Plenty mushrooms. Drying them concentrates their flavour and makes them last for months or even years. And some, including myself, swear that they are even tastier dried than fresh.
You can use a dehydrator, an oven, or a sunny spot to dry the mushrooms. Simply spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet or a rack and let them dry until they are crisp and brittle. You can also slice them thinly before drying to speed up the process. Store the dried mushrooms in an airtight container in a cool, dark place up to a year.
More information on drying process you can read here: How to dry and preserve wild mushrooms or Drying Porcini Mushrooms
Remember, Horn of Plenty mushrooms are like the VIPs of the forest. Treat them well, and they’ll reward you with flavor fireworks. Happy foraging, my fellow mushroom enthusiasts! 🌿🍽️
Recipes with Clean Trumpet Mushroom 🙂
Popular mushroom recipes on Turbo Tasty
Among the many wild mushroom recipes on my blog, canned wild mushrooms (pickled chanterelle recipe), chanterelle & sparassis crispa soup, sparassis crispa recipes stand out from the crowd. If you are interested, please check them out.
