Dried mushrooms are great - full of flavor, great for a variety of food dishes, and can be stored almost forever. You can refresh it and use it in a variety of soups, risottos, pasta dishes… and just about every delicious recipe you can think of. Follow the steps listed in this article to make your own dried mushrooms.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Drying Mushrooms in the Oven
Step 1. Clean the mushrooms that you are going to dry
If possible, use a dry brush or tissue to remove dirt from the fungus. Avoid getting the mushrooms wet when cleaning, as water can cause other parasitic fungi to grow on the mushrooms when they are dried or after being stored. The addition of this parasitic fungus or mold can later make you sick if you eat it.
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If there are stubborn dirt spots that can't be removed with a brush, you can use a damp cloth or tissue to scrub them off. Once clean, be sure to wipe it with a dry cloth or tissue to absorb any remaining water and moisture.
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Step 2. Cut the mushrooms
The thicker the mushroom, the longer it will take to dry. To speed up the drying process, cut the mushrooms into slices about 0.3 cm thick. These chunks will still retain enough of their flavor to make them great for adding to any dish, but will dry out much faster than whole mushrooms.
Step 3. Place the mushrooms on a baking sheet
Make sure that the mushrooms are laid flat and side by side. Don't let the mushrooms overlap, as this can cause them to clump together or stick together as they dry
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Place the mushrooms in a single layer, do not stack.
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Do not grease the pan with oil as the mold will absorb it, changing the taste and slowing the drying process.
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Step 4. Preheat the oven to 65 Celsius
Once the oven has reached that temperature, place the baking sheet with the mushrooms in the oven. Leave the mushrooms in the oven for an hour.
Step 5. Remove the mushrooms from the oven after an hour
When you take them out, turn them over so they dry evenly. Once turned over, absorb any water that appears on the surface of the mushrooms during the drying process. Use a tissue or dry cloth to absorb the water.
Step 6. Put the mushrooms back in the oven
Bake the mushrooms again for an hour or so or until completely dry.
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When you remove the mushrooms, check to make sure there is no water remaining on the surface of the mushrooms. If they are still there, turn the mushrooms over and dry them again with a dry cloth or paper towel, then put them back in the oven.
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Step 7. Continue checking the mushrooms as they are removed until they are completely dry
Repeat the roasting and dewatering process until the mushrooms are completely dry. Mushrooms that are completely dry should crack like crackers with a crunchy sound.
Step 8. Let the mushrooms cool
After you remove the mushrooms from the oven, allow them to cool on the baking sheet. Do not place these dried mushrooms in a sealed container while they are still hot as the hot steam will block and condense on the Tupperware, ruining any effort you made to completely dry the mushrooms.
Step 9. Store the dried mushrooms in an airtight container or jar
Once the mushrooms have cooled completely, place them in a container with a lid that still works well. Store the container in a dark, cool place until you are ready to use it for soups, baked pasta dishes, or delicious risottos.
Method 2 of 3: Drying Mushrooms Naturally or Traditionally
Step 1. Clean and chop the mushrooms
As noted above, you should only clean the mushrooms with a dry brush or tissue. Do not use water, as the water will seep into the mold and cause parasitic mold to grow. Cut the mushrooms into slices 1.25 cm thick.
Step 2. Check the weather
Try preserving mushrooms with this method only on sunny days with very low humidity (dry air). If the air is too humid, it will take longer for the mold to dry, and parasitic mold may begin to grow.
Step 3. Find a good location for drying
Possibilities include open spaces, windows, or open flat roofs. Choose a place that is safe from the disturbance of birds, pests, insects, and other animals, and moisture cannot touch the fungus.
Step 4. Arrange the mushrooms for the drying process
There are two options for doing this: placing the mushrooms on a drying tray (winnowing tray) or stringing them on special cooking ropes.
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On a drying tray: Place mushrooms flat in a single layer. Make sure none of them overlap as they can stick together or clump during drying. Cover the mushrooms and trays with clean nets that you can buy at most kitchen supply stores. A clean net will keep the fungus from pests and insects. If you don't have a clean net, you can use a filter cloth to cover the top and bottom of the mold and drying tray.
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With special cooking rope: Thread the thread through the mushrooms. You can use a sterile needle to do this. Simply heat the needle over a fire to sterilize it. Then thread the mushrooms along the string as if you were making a beaded necklace.
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Step 5. Place the mushrooms where you choose for drying
If you are using a special cooking rope for drying mushrooms, hang the string with the mushroom string somewhere dry and in direct sunlight. Let the mushrooms dry in the sun for a day or two. Check the drying progress of the mushrooms several times a day.
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Consider finishing drying the mushrooms in the oven if they aren't completely dry after about two days in the sun. Read Part One of this article to learn how.
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Method 3 of 3: Freeze-Drying Mushrooms
Step 1. Spread the tissue on a flat surface
Place the cleaned and sliced mushrooms on top. Arrange in a single layer, no overlapping mushrooms. If they overlap, some of the mushrooms can stick together. It is important to make sure the mushrooms are completely dry. If there is still a small amount of free water, the water can turn to ice and damage the mushrooms.
Step 2. Place another sheet of paper towels on top of the mushrooms
Continue to lay the mushrooms in a single layer, and then place another paper towel over the layers, and so on until you have arranged all the mushrooms you want to dry.
Step 3. Place the paper towels and mushrooms in a paper bag by sliding them so they don't damage the mushroom arrangement
Use a large paper bag that can hold all layers of tissue and mushrooms. The paper bag will allow moisture to penetrate while the mushrooms dry.
Step 4. Put the paper bag in the freezer
Over time, your mushrooms will begin to dry out in the freezer. This is a much slower process than the other two methods listed above, but it is effective. Especially if you don't plan on using your mushrooms right away.
Tips
- Dried mushrooms have a stronger taste and aroma than fresh mushrooms, so you only need less mushrooms to add to your dish.
- Use boiling water or stock to refresh the dried mushrooms before using them.
