Need help quick with portabella mushrooms

[vegggeeemom]

I JUST bought some baby portabella mushrooms for a recipe, but when I opened up the package the smelled. It smells a little fishy to me.
Is this normal or should I just not use them?
A fast reply would be great as I'm making lunch right now!

Thanks!

Pam

[michigan roman]

vm , ive never aten alot of portabelas but ive aten tons of buttons and whenever ive looked at portabelas at stores they seem to sit around a long time and have a bad oder compared to buttons so i never buy them . its like their too expensive to move fast enough so get bad on shelf . just my 2 cents cuz your in hurry :)

[vegggeeemom]

MR, Thanks for such a quick reply. I'm the same as you and don't eat portabellas much because they are spendy. But, I had a great recipe for them.
Ugh, to think I spent all that money on yucky food. I bet I could take them back and get a refund if I take my receipt in with me.

Thanks!

Pam

[Lady Green Jeans]

Sorry to hear about your mushroom aroma. I have bought portabellas numerous times and no smell. I've read where Juliano waits until they are almost black before he uses his. I like mine firm and fresh. Are or/were yours firm or more on the soft and dark side. A look at the gills underneath is a good indicator of age. When I purchase packaged veggies, I usually feel for freshness if that makes sense.

Hope you got your refund okay.

[rawpriestess]

I buy portabellos alot, and they have never smelled bad, however I do know that bad mushrooms have a distinct amonia smell to them, as I've done lots of catering, and used lots of mushrooms, and tossed alot too, in my old cooking days.

Portabellos, should be firm and have lite beigh flesh when they are ripe, the fins can be brownish to black but should not be slimey at all, and quite firm they should flake when broken not smash. This is a test for good portabellos, also they should have an earthy mushroomy aroma, no scent of fish or amonia at all.

do not ever rinse or soak a portabello, as they are very absorbant, if you wish to clean one, rub gently with a paper towel or lint free cotton or linen cloth, to get off any dirt, etc.

do not soak, unless you are marinating them.

Good luck,

[vegggeeemom]

Thank you very much! It is dark and was slimy. I plan on taking them back. I think they will refund my money money or exchange for something else.
I never knew you shoudln't rinse them. Is that with all mushrooms or just porabello's?

Thanks

Pam