Michael Davis
Dried shiitake mushrooms are a staple in many Asian cuisines, prized for their intense umami flavour. They are also chewy, silky, and meatier than fresh mushrooms. Drying your own shiitake mushrooms is a great way to preserve them for later use. Plus, you get to control exactly what goes into them, avoiding any unwanted preservatives. There are several ways to dehydrate shiitake mushrooms, including using a dehydrator, air-drying, and oven-drying.
Dehydrating Shiitake Mushrooms
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cleaning | Use a brush or a lightly dampened towel to wipe the mushrooms clean. Do not wash them under running water. |
| Cutting | Cut off the stems of the mushrooms. |
| Slicing | Slice the mushrooms into pieces between 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Thicker slices will take longer to dry. |
| Drying | Place the mushrooms in an open container with good airflow, such as a mesh colander, or on a baking rack. Leave them in a well-ventilated area for 7-10 days until they are completely dry. Alternatively, use a dehydrator at 110 F for 4 to 8 hours. |
| Storing | Store dried mushrooms in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. They can last for up to 2 years. |
| Rehydrating | Place the dried mushrooms in a bowl of water for 5-30 minutes. Gently press out excess water before using. |
| Grinding | Instead of rehydrating, dried mushrooms can be ground into a powder using a blender or food processor. |
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What You'll Learn
Cleaning and preparing the mushrooms
To dehydrate shiitake mushrooms, you'll first need to clean and prepare them. Start with fresh mushrooms, as this method will not work with mushrooms past their prime. Signs of decomposition include slime, wrinkliness, shrinkage, discolouration, or a bad odour.
Next, wipe the mushrooms clean with a lightly dampened towel. Do not wash them under running water. Instead, scrub them with a brush to remove any dirt. You can also cut off the stems and brush off any remaining dust and dirt.
After cleaning, you can choose to slice the mushrooms before dehydration. Slicing them into thinner pieces (about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick) will reduce the drying time. Thicker slices will take longer to dry, so consider this when deciding how to cut them. If you plan to use the dried mushrooms in dishes that feature thick mushroom pieces, opt for thicker slices.
Once cleaned and sliced, arrange the mushrooms on a dehydrator tray, ensuring none of the pieces overlap. Spread them out so that they all have space. Stack the trays in the dehydrator, and follow the instructions below to dehydrate the mushrooms.
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Using a dehydrator
Dehydrating shiitake mushrooms is a great way to preserve them for future use. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it using a dehydrator:
Clean the Mushrooms
Firstly, clean your mushrooms. If you've foraged your mushrooms, you may need to wash them, but be aware that they will take longer to dry. If you are using store-bought mushrooms, they may not need washing.
Slice the Mushrooms
Slice the mushrooms to your desired thickness. Remember that the thicker the slices, the longer they will take to dry. If you plan to use the mushrooms in dishes that feature thick pieces of mushroom, you might want to opt for thicker slices.
Arrange on Dehydrator Trays
Arrange the cleaned, sliced mushrooms on the dehydrator trays, ensuring that none of the pieces touch or overlap.
Set the Dehydrator Temperature
Set your dehydrator to a medium heat setting—around 135 Fahrenheit or 50 Celsius.
Dehydrate the Mushrooms
Place the trays in the dehydrator and leave for 6 to 8 hours, or until the mushrooms are dry. The time taken will depend on the thickness of your slices and the specific model of your dehydrator, so keep an eye on them to ensure they don't over-dry.
Store the Mushrooms
Once the mushrooms are dry, store them in an airtight container. They will keep well for at least 10 months, especially if stored in the fridge, and can be rehydrated when needed.
Rehydrating the Mushrooms
To rehydrate the mushrooms, pour boiling water over them in a heat-proof bowl and soak them for 20 to 30 minutes. If using the mushrooms in soup, save the soaking liquid for stock. Rinse the mushrooms through clear water two or three times first to avoid clouding the soup with small particles.
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Air drying without a dehydrator
Drying shiitake mushrooms without a dehydrator is a straightforward process, but it does require some patience. Here is a detailed guide to help you through the process:
Cleaning and Preparing the Shiitake Mushrooms
Before you begin the drying process, it is important to clean and prepare the shiitake mushrooms properly. Start by gently wiping the mushrooms with a damp cloth or paper towel to remove any visible dirt. If the mushrooms are particularly dirty, you can rinse them quickly under running water, but make sure they are dried thoroughly before proceeding.
The traditional method of drying mushrooms involves placing them in a well-ventilated area with ample airflow. A sunny spot is ideal, as the combination of fresh air and sunlight will help speed up the drying process. However, if you don't have access to direct sunlight, you can still air-dry the mushrooms, but they may take a bit longer to fully dehydrate.
Place the cleaned shiitake mushrooms on a drying rack or a tray lined with parchment paper. Make sure the mushrooms are spread out and not overlapping, allowing air to circulate around each mushroom. Leave them in the sunny spot for 7 to 10 days, regularly checking to ensure they are drying properly. The mushrooms are ready when they become hard and brittle, and they should not give when squeezed.
It is important to note that humidity levels can affect the drying time. If you live in a particularly humid environment, it may take longer for the mushrooms to fully dehydrate. Additionally, larger mushrooms will take longer to dry than smaller ones.
Storing Dehydrated Shiitake Mushrooms
Once the mushrooms are fully dehydrated, store them in an airtight container. Glass jars or airtight plastic bags are ideal for this purpose. Proper storage will ensure that your dried shiitake mushrooms retain their flavour and texture for future use.
Advantages of Air Drying
Air drying shiitake mushrooms without a dehydrator is a simple and cost-effective method that does not require any special equipment. Additionally, air-dried mushrooms retain their nutritional value and develop a concentrated earthy, woody, and umami flavour that is prized in Asian cuisine.
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Storing dried mushrooms
It is important to avoid exposing dried mushrooms to heat, moisture, sunlight, and oxygen. Heat and moisture are the greatest enemies of dried mushrooms, as they can cause the mushrooms to spoil faster and degrade their quality. Moisture can also cause mould to develop, ruining the mushrooms entirely. Therefore, it is recommended to use desiccants, such as silica gel packs, to absorb any residual moisture within the storage container. Additionally, if you live in a tropical climate, it is best to store the mushrooms in the fridge to prolong their shelf life.
Another factor to consider is the type of mushroom you are storing. Different varieties of mushrooms have different shelf lives, even when dried. For example, dried psilocybin mushrooms can last up to two years or longer when stored properly, while fresh psilocybin mushrooms only last a couple of months, even with refrigeration. Marking the date of acquisition can help you keep track of their shelf life and consume them before they begin to degrade naturally.
Lastly, it is worth noting that dried mushrooms are typically rehydrated before use. Rehydration methods can vary, but generally, it involves soaking the mushrooms in water, wine, or stock for a period until they are soft and fluffy enough. The soaking liquid can also be strained and used as a broth or in cooking to add flavour to dishes.
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Rehydrating dried mushrooms
Rehydrating dried shiitake mushrooms is a simple process. First, ensure that the mushrooms are clean and free of dirt. If there is significant dirt, especially where the stem connects to the cap, you can wash the mushrooms by placing them in a strainer and running them under the faucet for several seconds, tossing them to ensure all the grit is gone.
Next, place the dried mushrooms in a bowl or container with water. Warm or hot water will reduce the rehydration time, but it will also extract more of the mushrooms' flavor into the water. If you prefer to retain more of the flavor in the mushrooms, use room temperature water. The mushrooms will take about 5 minutes to rehydrate, but you can also leave them to soak for a few hours to be safe.
Once the mushrooms have absorbed some water and become tender, gently press them to remove any excess water. Now, your rehydrated mushrooms are ready to be used in your recipe.
It is important to note that rehydrating mushrooms is not the same as cooking them. Mushrooms contain a substance called chitin, which human stomachs cannot digest. Therefore, it is crucial to thoroughly cook the mushrooms after rehydrating them before consuming them.
The flavorful soaking liquid that results from rehydrating dried mushrooms can also be used in cooking. This liquid can be added to soups, stews, sauces, pâtés, and gratins to enhance their flavor. However, it is recommended to strain the liquid through a coffee filter or paper towel to remove any dirt or granules.
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Frequently asked questions
You can dehydrate shiitake mushrooms in a dehydrator, or by air-drying. To use a dehydrator, first, brush off any dust and dirt, then slice the mushrooms. Next, place the mushrooms on a tray in the dehydrator and dry at 110 F for 4 to 8 hours, depending on the thickness of the slices. If you don't have a dehydrator, you can air dry your shiitake mushrooms by placing them in a container that allows air to circulate, such as a mesh colander, and leaving them in a well-ventilated area for 7-10 days.
Dehydrated shiitake mushrooms can last for up to two years when stored in a cool, dry place in an airtight container.
To rehydrate dehydrated shiitake mushrooms, place them in a bowl of water for 5 minutes. Rinse the mushrooms through clear water 2 times first if you want to avoid cloudiness in your dish. Then, gently press out the excess water before using them in your recipe.
Dehydrated shiitake mushrooms are commonly used in Asian cuisines and can add a unique umami flavor to dishes. They can be used in soups, fish sauce substitutes, and many other unique dishes.
