One of the most popular mushroom varieties in the world, Porcini mushrooms are beloved for their earthy rich taste. Highly aromatic, Porcini impart a woodsy flavor to any number of dishes from soup to pasta. The universally popular mushroom travels under a handful of monikers. In Italy, we see it called Porcini, meaning ‘piglet,’ while in France, it is most often called Cépe meaning ‘trunk’ in reference to its bulbous stem. Often referred to as the king of mushrooms, its aromatic qualities and distinctly earthy flavor make it easy to see how it earned its illustrious title.
From Alaska to Uganda and Siberia to Mexico, Porcini mushrooms can be found growing all over the world! However, they only have a three to four week fruiting season, which means it’s extremely hard to find them fresh. Instead, you’ll most commonly see them preserved in some way, most often dried, but also frozen or pickled.
While you can successfully dry most mushrooms, freezing is sometimes the better option. Cremini, Portobellos, Hen of the Woods, and of course, Porcini, keep their tender, fleshy texture and fresh taste best when frozen. Cleaned, sliced, and flash-frozen, our Porcinis are a delicious and convenient way to get their amazing taste year-round. Frozen separately, to prevent the mushrooms from freezing into large blocks, when you’re ready to use them, simply remove what you need. Maintain the superior texture and taste of these frozen Porcini mushrooms by only thawing them once!