Here’s a few things to consider when choosing your diamond of the kitchen.
Choosing truffles
Firstly, truffles are part of the mushroom family and start losing freshness as soon as they come out of the ground. They should be enjoyed as close to purchase as possible, ideally within 5-7 days.
Here are a few tips for choosing fresh truffle:
The smell
The truffle you choose should ‘smell’. Thanks to the unique terroir of truffle, Australian black truffles present with different aromas, from smoky to cheesy and everything in between. The key is to choose the one you like the most.
The look
Fresh truffle has a vibrant black or dark brown colour on the outside and lively white veins on the inside. If a truffle looks dull or has limited veins then it could be under-ripe (harvested too early) or over-ripe (harvested too late). Again, use your nose to decide if the truffle is fresh and right for you.
The feel
Fresh truffles should be firm and not squidgy.
The amount
As a general rule, choose 5-10g per person per dish. If you’re going to eat truffle, you may as well enjoy it.