Black Truffles – All You Need to Know | The Instacart Guide to Fresh Produce

What are black truffles?

Black truffles are a rare and highly sought-after ingredient. This subterranean fungus grows beneath oak and hazelnut trees and is often referred to as a mushroom. Black truffles are, as the name implies, black in color and the fruiting body appears lumpy. They can come in a range of sizes, from as small as a quarter to larger than a softball.

Black truffles are known for their pungent scent and strong flavor. The flavor does go a long way, as many dishes that feature black truffles typically only use a few shavings to top off the dish. This flavor has been commonly described as earthy, chocolatey, nutty, woody, and even reminiscent of red wine.

Black truffles, while relatively rare and difficult to acquire, are still more widely available than white truffles. Further, the black truffle is also more easily kept fresh than the white truffle. For these reasons, black truffles are the more affordable of the two.

Where did black truffles originate from?

The Périgord region in France is the most known location for truffles, but other areas across the globe produce them as well. These areas include the Middle East, New Zealand, Italy, North Africa, China, and parts of the Pacific Northwest, most notably Oregon. Black truffles require very specific environmental conditions in order to grow, which plays a significant limiting role in where they can be found.

What is the nutritional value of black truffles?

Black truffles are high in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. They are high in carbohydrates, protein, and fiber and can also provide a good source of vitamin C, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, sodium, and calcium. Initial research indicates that black truffles may even provide all nine essential amino acids, making this fungus a complete source of protein.

While research is still ongoing, many initial studies may also indicate that black truffles are a good source of antioxidants that prevent damage to cells. Further, black truffles may also possess antimicrobial properties which can help prevent the spread of certain bacteria. Some studies suggest that truffles may also possess anti-cancer properties and help to relieve inflammation.

Are black truffles healthier raw or cooked?

Knowledge of the nutritional value of the black truffle is not fully complete, as many studies are still ongoing. However, it is typically recommended that you do not cook black truffles, as their flavor is best experienced raw. Or, if you do cook your black truffles, it is recommended that you do so lightly.

How are black truffles grown?

The process of growing black truffles is difficult, as this fungus is very particular about its growing environment. The growing of black truffles for commercial use can take three to four years to get started and requires injecting the fungal spores into the ground, underneath oak or hazelnut tree seedlings. This process is required because the black truffles will attach to the seedlings’ roots as they grow and will form a symbiotic relationship with the trees. This relationship is beneficial for the trees because the black truffles aid in retrieving phosphorous from the soil, while the black truffles benefit from the glucose received from the trees.

To harvest truffles, either commercially or out in the wild, it is not uncommon for farmers to use specially trained farm animals, like dogs or, historically, pigs, to sniff out the truffles, since black truffles cannot be seen from above ground. The outcome of this truffle hunting is always uncertain; since the truffles require very specific growing conditions, farmers may not find any at all.

When are black truffles in season?

Since black truffles are really susceptible to harsh growing environments, they do not take kindly to the extreme heat or extreme cold, especially frost that gets down into the soil, which can occur in the summer and winter months. The harvest season for black truffles is relatively short and can depend on a number of factors, like location and weather. As a general guide, farmers will harvest their orchards for black truffles every 7 to 10 days from December to late February or early March, digging about 6-8″ into the soil underneath oak and hazelnut trees to look for the truffles.

What should I look for when buying black truffles?

• Weight: A fresh truffle will still be rather dense, as this indicates that it still possesses its natural moisture. The longer the amount of time between harvest and consumption, the lighter a truffle will begin to feel, as this moisture will slowly start to evaporate.
• Scent: Fresh black truffles are known for their strong earthy aromas. A good way to tell if a black truffle is still fresh is to give it a good sniff. Truffles perish very quickly, and as they do so, they lose their aroma. If there is no aroma when you smell the truffle, this is a good indication that the flavor is likely very weak.
• Firmness: When picking out black truffles, be sure to feel around the entire truffle to make sure there are no soft spots. A fresh black truffle should be quite firm. Soft spots can often indicate that a truffle is on its way out, and is slowly decaying on the inside. Natural holes or indentations should be fine.
• Quantity: While black truffles can be stored for a relatively short amount of time, they do not have a particularly long shelf-life. As you shop for black truffles, be sure to keep this in mind, as it should play a part in your target quantity. Since black truffles generally do not come cheap, you don’t want to buy too many if you do not plan to use them before their shelf-life expires.

If you are looking to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for black truffles via Instacart. After adding a product to your cart, use the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best products. Shop for black truffles.

How to store black truffles

It is best to consume your black truffles as soon as possible, as the flavor is best experienced when the truffles are still fresh. At most, you should try to eat your truffles within two or three days after purchasing. Try not to purchase a truffle that has already been cut, as this will diminish its shelf-life even further.

If you need to store your truffles, your biggest obstacle will be keeping moisture and exposure to air away. Moisture can quickly ruin your truffles, while air exposure eats away at the truffles’ aroma. To combat these natural processes, wrap your truffles in clean tissue paper, keep them at room temperature, and avoid exposure to light. Check your stored truffles daily and change out the tissue paper to keep the truffles fresh. While possible to freeze your truffles, this will likely detract from their overall freshness, as would storing them with other products, like rice or salt.

How to tell if black truffles are bad

The telltale signs of a bad black truffle are softness, sponginess, or soft spots that may indicate internal decay. However, if you purchase a fresh truffle and it becomes slightly soft before you have used it, give it a smell. If it still smells good, you should still be able to use that truffle. A non-aromatic or downright smelly truffle has likely gone bad. An ammonia smell is a common sign that a truffle is no longer worth eating.

What can I substitute for black truffles?

Black truffles are truly unique in flavor, and that is what adds to their high demand. Replicating the flavor of black truffles is quite difficult, but you have some options with other mushroom varieties. The porcini mushroom provides an affordable alternative to the black truffle that also provides a savory flavor.

Truffle oil is also a more affordable alternative to black truffles. This is because instead of paying for an entire truffle, the oil uses small pieces of black truffles within a high-quality olive oil. Similarly, truffle salt is another alternative to the black truffle fungus. Truffle salt is typically made with sea salt mixed with finely-grained pieces of black truffles.

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