Guide to Truffles

AlbaTartufi (Piedmont – Italy)

How to clean truffles

Truffles are mushrooms that grow underground: it goes without saying that when they are harvested, they will be covered in soil. It is good practice for those who sell truffles to sell them already cleaned, taking care to brush them, even if only superficially. First of all, for reasons of weight, which affects the price. But even more so to allow those who are making the purchase to check the quality of the truffle.

For all these reasons, our Fresh Truffles are sold already well brushed. We do not wash them as this process could compromise their shelf life. All you need to do is gently but thoroughly clean them a few hours before serving or using them as an ingredient, using a soft bristle brush (a clean toothbrush is ideal) dampened with room temperature water. White truffles should never be immersed in water, cooked or boiled.

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truffle preservation

Storage

How to preserve truffles

Truffles should be stored in a glass jar or, alternatively, in an airtight plastic container. Inside the container, they should be wrapped in a sheet of absorbent paper, which should be replaced daily. Contrary to popular belief, rice should never be placed in the container, as it absorbs too much of the truffle’s moisture, drying it out and depriving it of its aroma. Similarly, avoid storing it in oil, which promotes fermentation.

The container should then be stored in the lower part of the refrigerator, at a temperature between 2 and 4 °C (be careful with milk-based products, such as butter and cheese, which tend to absorb the smell). Even under the best storage conditions, it is recommended to consume it within seven days of purchase. The universal rule applicable to all fresh products applies: the sooner it is consumed, the better the sensations offered by the truffle will be.

CUTTING

How to cut a truffle

Truffles should not be peeled with a knife (except for black truffles) and should not be cut into pieces (although, in some recipes, this method of preparation can offer unique sensory experiences). They are not usually grated, although some tools can guarantee good results in this regard.

The best way to bring out its flavour is to slice it thinly. There are different schools of thought about how to cut it, depending on whether you want it to be crunchy or melt-in-the-mouth: in the first case, the slices should be thicker and more substantial, while in the second they should be very thin, almost transparent. The best tool for this job is a truffle slicer. There are several types available on the market: the important thing is that it has a smooth, sharp blade with a thickness regulator for precision cutting, variable between 0.2 and 4 mm.
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