Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Drying mushrooms in the oven
• Method 2 of 3: Drying mushrooms naturally
• Method 3 of 3: Freeze Drying Mushrooms
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Dried mushrooms are a good seasoning - they have a great aroma and are suitable for many dishes, they can be stored for a long time. They can be used in soups, for risottos, added to pasta sauces ... Here are some tips on how to dry mushrooms yourself.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Drying mushrooms in the oven

1. 1 Peel the mushrooms you are going to dry. Use a brush or dry paper towel to remove dirt from the mushrooms. It is generally not recommended to wet mushrooms that are to be dried, as this can cause mold growth and the mushrooms will be spoiled. Even invisible mold on mushrooms can cause poisoning.
   • If there are any dirt or stains on the mushrooms that are difficult to remove with a napkin, use a damp sponge to scrape it off, but after that be sure to wipe the area with a dry napkin so that it absorbs all the moisture.
2. 2 Chop up the mushrooms. The thicker you cut the mushrooms, the longer it will take to dry. To speed up the drying process, cut into 0.3 cm thick slices. They will retain all the flavor and at the same time dry quickly enough.
3. 3 Place the mushrooms on a baking sheet. Make sure the mushrooms are side by side, they should not overlap, as they can stick together during drying. The mushrooms should only be in one layer.
   • Do not grease the sheets with oil, as mushrooms absorb oil well, which changes the mushroom's taste and increases drying time.
4. 4 Preheat oven to 65 degrees. After that, place the baking sheet with mushrooms in the oven. Leave the mushrooms for one hour.
5. 5 Remove the mushrooms from the oven. Flip each piece to the other side to dry evenly. Blot off any moisture that may have remained on the surface from the fungi using a paper towel or dry cloth.
6. 6 Place the mushrooms in the oven. Keep them inside for about an hour or until they are completely dry.
   • Make sure there is no moisture on the surfaces of the mushroom. If moisture remains on the baking sheet or on the surface of the mushroom, blot with a paper towel and put back in the oven for a while.
7. 7 Continue checking the mushrooms until they are dry. Sufficiently dried mushrooms should break like crackers or chips.
8. 8 Let the mushrooms cool. Remove the mushrooms from the oven and let cool on a baking sheet. Do not place them in tightly closed containers while they are still hot, as high temperatures can cause condensation to form.
9. 9 Store dried mushrooms in airtight containers. Once the mushrooms are completely cool, place them in jars or containers. Store these containers in a cool place. Dried mushrooms can be added to soups, pasta dishes, or risottos.

Method 2 of 3: Drying mushrooms naturally

1. 1 Peel and chop the mushrooms. As mentioned above, mushrooms need to be cleaned only with a brush or dry cloth. Do not use water, as water can cause mold. Cut the mushrooms into 1/2-inch pieces.
2. 2 Check the weather forecast. Drying mushrooms is best on dry sunny days. Too high humidity can prevent good drying or even cause mold growth.
3. 3 Find a suitable place to dry. This could be a sunny room, a window sill, or a flat roof - any dry place with good air circulation. Choose a location where birds, animals, and insects cannot reach mushrooms.
4. 4 Add mushrooms to dry. There are two ways: they can be laid out on a dryer or strung on a thread.
   • If you are using a dryer, arrange the mushrooms in one layer. Make sure the mushrooms are not stuck together or deformed anywhere. Cover the mushrooms with a special insect screen, which can be found in any hardware store or supermarket. Any mesh fabric can also be used instead of mesh.
   • If you are using thread, string the mushrooms onto the thread using a sterilized needle. To sterilize the needle, simply hold it over a fire. Leave small gaps between the pieces.
5. 5 Place the mushrooms in a suitable drying area. Such a place must be absolutely dry and sunny. Wait one or two days, checking the result several times daily. Turn the mushrooms over if necessary.
   • Drying is only complete if the mushrooms are completely dry. This usually takes about two days. If the mushrooms are still not dry after two days, use the first oven drying method described in this article.

Method 3 of 3: Freeze Drying Mushrooms

1. 1 Place a paper towel on a flat surface. Place the peeled and chopped mushrooms on top. All pieces should lie strictly in one layer, without sticking to each other. Otherwise, it will affect the quality of drying and cause spoilage of the mushrooms.
2. 2 Place another paper napkin on top. Continue to lay out the mushrooms in layers, placing paper between them until the mushrooms run out.
3. 3 Then place all of the mushrooms in layers between the paper in a paper bag. Of course, the bag must be the right size. The paper bag allows moisture to pass through, allowing the mushrooms to dry.
4. 4 Place the paper bag of mushrooms in the freezer. This process is more time consuming but effective, especially if you are not planning to use the mushrooms any time soon.

Tips

• Soak mushrooms in boiled water before use.
• Dried mushrooms have a more intense smell than fresh ones, so you will need very little to add flavor and aroma to your dishes.

Warnings

• Some mushrooms can be poisonous. Only use mushrooms that you know well.

What do you need

• Oven
• Mushroom brush
• Paper napkins or towels
• Knife
• Baking tray
• Storage containers
• Drying tray or rack
• Culinary thread
• sunlight