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To wash shiitake mushrooms you can follow one of the two following methods:
1 Wash one by one: To do so, wet a sheet of paper towel (a clean kitchen sponge) and gently wipe each mushroom cap. Make sure you turn it around and clean the back, too. While wiping, remove any visible dirt or debris hiding under or around the gills.
2 Using A Salad Spinner or A Colander (The easier & quicker method): For this method, place your shiitake mushrooms in the salad spinner* insert and rinse them under cold water for 30-45 seconds. While rinsing, gently move the mushrooms around with your hands to help remove any dirt or debris. Spin dry immediately to eliminate as much liquid as possible.
3 To trim the stems: Turn the shiitake mushroom over, exposing both the gills and the stem. Then, gently pull the stem right where it meets the cap. It should snip right off. Or, Use a paring knife and cut the stem* off from the bottom of the gill.
4 To slice them, you can place the cap on a cutting board with the mushroom gills facing down. Then, cut it into thin slices. Or, you can stack them up and slice them simultaneously.