Making dried mushrooms is an easy, affordable way to save common and exotic mushrooms for later use. While some species make better dry mushrooms than others, there are quite a few different ways to go about drying these wonderful fungi.
What Types are Best for Drying Mushrooms?
When drying mushrooms, it can be challenging to know which types of shrooms will work well and which ones won't. When making your own, keep in mind that:
- Chanterelle, lobster and truffles do not dry or rehydrate well
- Button, cremini, portobello, Morel, Black Trumpet, porcini, shiitake and Wood Ear do
- If you pick your own mushrooms (which is not recommended and can be quite dangerous), you'll want to soak them in saltwater to release and kill any live bugs that may have come home with you.
- If you're using store-bought varieties, brush away dirt and soil. If necessary, use water sparingly.
After cleaning, mushrooms can be sliced or left whole. If using a food dehydrator to make them, slice mushrooms into uniform-width slices. (Hand-held food slicers work well for this.)
Methods for Drying Mushrooms
When it comes to dehydrating foods, drying mushrooms is probably the easiest. Whether you choose to use a food dehydrator, a solar dehydrator or a nice, warm radiator, making dried mushrooms is easy and relatively foolproof.
Food Dehydrator
To use a food dehydrator, slice and arrange mushrooms in single layers on each food dehydrator tray. Dehydrate for 4-6 hours at 140 degrees. Occasionally switching trays can speed drying time.
Sun Drying
Because mushrooms dry so easily, there are a number of ways to make them without using any energy at all. Sun drying mushrooms using solar dehydrators, nets and strings are environmentally-friendly and energy-free ways to save your shrooms.
- To use a solar dehydrator, just place full mushrooms or mushroom slices in single layers on trays. Depending on climate, temperature and whether drying whole or slices, drying time may take 1-3 days.
- To use a net bag, place clean, dry mushrooms in net bag and hang in a dry spot. (This can be a closet, window or any other suitable space.) When using a net bag, it's important to move mushrooms around daily. This increases air circulation and prevents spoiling. Drying time takes 2-3 days.
- To make dried mushroom strings, use sturdy string or fishing line and a needle to string mushrooms together, then hang completed strings in a dry area with good air circulation. Be sure to leave a bit of room between each mushroom. This method works well for some types of mushrooms that don't dry well in dehydrators (like morels). Drying time takes 2-3 days.
- To use a radiator to dry mushrooms, just place them in single layers on a cookie sheet or pizza pan, then place pan on a radiator. Occasionally move the mushrooms around to reduce drying time and increase air circulation. Depending on radiator heat and general humidity, drying time can take 10 hours to 2 days.
Ways to Use Dried Mushrooms
Dried mushrooms are an easy to use kitchen staple that can be kept for years. Ways to use them include:
- Mushroom soups and stews
- Pasta dishes
- Chips
- Gravies
- Pizzas
- Risotto
- Omelettes
- Curries
To reconstitute dry mushrooms, soak them in warm water for 30 minutes. If you're using them in soup or stew, they don't need to be reconstituted at all.
If you liked this, you may also like to learn how to dry apples, how to dry pears, and five fall and winter foods that are great for dehydrating.
Updated March 7, 2011.
Jennifer Silva - Jenn is a professional writer and editor with experience in: technical communications (medical, manufacturing and publishing ...
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