4 Ways to Dry Mushrooms at Home

Dried mushrooms have lots of health benefits. Most people think that mushrooms only contribute to tasty meals, but they serve other purposes also. There are over 150,000 species of mushrooms, and a variety of them have incredible properties that can keep you healthy. Here are a few effects that dried mushrooms can have on your body.

General Benefits of Drying Mushrooms

• Boosts your immune system

Many types of research prove that dried mushrooms have antiviral properties that strengthen your immune system in the long-run.

• Fights off tumors and cancer

Mushrooms have antineoplastic properties. This means they can kill cancer-producing cells. Many experiments showed that dried mushrooms could kill the slow and steady growth of tumors. They also regulate tumor genes. Doctors and scientists also recommend various mushrooms as a part of alternative cancer treatment because of their ability to boost chemotherapy effectiveness.

• Helps fight fatigue

People struggling with health issues or undergoing health treatments feel fatigued frequently. Dried reishi mushrooms have elements that can reduce fatigue to a great extent.

• Fights insomnia

Many species of dried mushrooms have high levels of potassium, selenium, and vitamin D that can fight sleeplessness. A couple of teaspoons of dried mushrooms after dinner can induce sleep quickly.

• Oxygenates your blood

A higher percentage of oxygen helps your organs function better. They will allow you to focus and provide more energy. Dried mushrooms can boost the oxygen level in your body. Doctors recommend having cordyceps fungus before working out as it gives a surge of oxygen supply to your blood.

How to Dry Mushrooms

As you can see, dried mushrooms have a lot of health benefits. But how do you dry mushrooms? There are four easy methods you can follow.

1. Food dehydrator

Using a food dehydrator is the easiest way to dry mushrooms. The more racks you have in your food dehydrator, the more number of mushrooms you can dry in one shot. Let’s take a look at the process.

• Cut the mushrooms in half. Make them into 0.5-inch pieces if they are too big. This helps to dry them quickly.

• Assemble your dehydrator. Spread the mushrooms on the drying rack equally. Make sure you don’t put too many pieces on the shelves. Give them some space to dry evenly.

• Drying continuously on a low setting makes the mushrooms crunchier. This will allow them to stay dry for a long period. Adjust the temperature of the food dehydrator to 150 degrees.

• Allow them to sit for an hour. Keep checking if they have become cracker dry. If they have, take them out and dry the next batch.

2. How to Dry Mushrooms in an Oven

Many people can’t afford food dehydrators or don’t want them taking up extra space in their house. An oven is the best alternative in that case. The idea of dryng the mushrooms is the same. You shouldn’t bake them. That will only destroy the healthy compounds or make them taste gross. Here’s what you need to do.

• Preheat the oven to 135 degrees. It will take slightly longer, but the mushrooms will dry evenly from all sides.

• Slice up the mushrooms from the middle. Or maybe make them cut them into 0.5-inch pieces.

• Place the mushrooms on a baking pan. Make sure there is no oil sheet on it. Again, don’t crowd the mushrooms on the pan. Leave some space to help them dry evenly.

• Place the pan inside the oven and cook for at least an hour. Keep the oven door slightly open. This helps the moisture escape quickly. Flip the mushrooms after an hour and repeat the same process until all the sides dry up.

3. Dry Mushrooms Outside in the Sunlight

Drying mushrooms under the sun is the best method if you don’t want to buy a food dehydrator or use your oven. Yes, it will take longer than the other two methods, but you won’t have to spend a penny on electric bills. Plus, drying mushrooms under the sun can preserve their potency and flavor. But make sure there is not too much moisture in the place you live.

• Find a suitable drying spot on the roof of your house. You can also use your windowsill if it gets enough sunlight. Keep insects and animals away from this place.

• Cut the mushrooms into small pieces.

• Spread the pieces on a plate or a piece of paper.

• Allow the sun to dry the mushrooms slowly. It usually takes a couple of days to dry the mushrooms evenly. You can check them every few hours. Make sure you keep them indoors after the sun sets.

4. Dry Mushrooms With a Fan

Many people combine this method with the sun-drying technique. The idea is to keep the moisture away to dry the mushrooms continually.

• Cut and spread the mushrooms on your roof or windowsill so that the pieces get adequate sunlight. Keep a box fan near the mushrooms.

• Set the fan to its highest setting. Keep it as close to the mushroom pieces as possible. However, make sure the wind doesn’t blow the pieces away.

• The constant air supply will dry the mushrooms quickly. You can follow this process without combining it with the sun-drying method. Keep checking the pieces frequently to feel their moisture content. It usually takes two days to dry the mushroom completely.

You can consume dried mushrooms in various ways. Some people like to boil them in water and add them to soups or other meals. Many people grind the dried mushrooms into mushroom powder for supplements. They combine the powder to stocks and gravies for a better taste.