“Ask Matt Caputo” is an ongoing feature where Matt answers commonly asked questions from the market. This week, he discusses best practices for storing fresh truffles.
Question:
What’s the best way to store fresh truffles? I’ve heard that you can clean and wrap each truffle individually in a fresh sheet of paper towel. I’ve also been told you can store them in rice. What would you suggest?
Answer:
Do not store in rice. It will speed spoilage and suck a lot of flavor out of the truffle.
The fresh paper towel method is great. The goal is finding a balance between truffles that are too dry or too wet, so nest your truffles in dry paper towels and store them in a clean, airtight container. I am careful not to use too much paper towel as it will also suck up some aroma. Change paper towels only as often as necessary, basically when the paper towel becomes damp enough to risk getting the truffles wet.
Another thing to keep in mind is that mold showing up does not mean you need to toss them out. It means they are still alive, and it can easily be brushed off with a soft, dry kitchen brush (or even a toothbrush).
Truffles are only “bad” when they become wet, squishy or even slimy which will usually be associated with a smell akin to a food service dumpster in the summer. Truffles like that should be removed from the other truffles and be discarded before the rot spreads. On the other hand, truffles can get too dry and lose most or even all of their aroma. When dry, they can still be used but simply won’t be as potent.
– Matt Caputo
Disclaimer: While Matt Caputo is a Certified Cheese Professional and specialty food fanatic, he is not a medical professional, doctor, or certified nutritionist. Please consult with your doctor or other qualified health care professional before making any healthcare decisions, diagnostics or treatment decisions based on Matt’s answers.