One of the most compact and simple ways of harvesting mushrooms for the winter is drying them, however, as if we did not want to dry, far from all the fungal families are able to "survive". Ideally, for drying, mushrooms with large and fleshy fruit bodies are suitable, they are referred to the Tubular group (podberezoviki, ceps, honey agarics, chanterelles, etc.), they do not bitterly lose their properties after loss of moisture.
Before drying mushrooms, you should remember several important rules. Firstly, only healthy and whole fruit bodies are suitable for drying, and secondly, mushrooms can not be washed, let alone cooked, before placing on drying.
How to dry mushrooms in the oven?
The most affordable way for residents of apartment buildings is to dry mushrooms in the oven . Before cooking, wipe the mushroom legs and hats with a dry cloth or swab from the litter with a brush. Cut the mushrooms with a ceramic knife or a stainless steel knife (so as not to darken on slices), and then spread them on a parchment covered with a baking sheet in one layer, making sure that the pieces do not touch. Now the pan can be placed in a 45 degree oven heated, without closing the door to the end and thus ensuring free air circulation and evaporation of the released moisture. When the pieces significantly decrease in size and begin to lag behind the paper, raise the temperature to 65 degrees for an additional 6 hours. Check the pieces after 2-3 hours, if they are not thick enough, then the mushroom can dry already at this stage. Properly dried mushrooms retain their elasticity and do not crumble when bent.
How to dry mushrooms at home?
More common and simple method of drying is drying in the open air, available, unfortunately, only in the warm season, since the obligatory condition is the presence of a bright sun.
How to store dried mushrooms?
Storage of dried mushrooms does not harbor any special wisdom, it is enough to spread the pieces into cans or sealed containers, close tightly and leave them in a dark, cool and well ventilated place. During storage it is necessary to avoid the neighborhood with strongly smelling products, as mushrooms easily absorb foreign smells.