John Miller
Drying and storing psychedelic mushrooms is an important process to ensure they do not rot or degrade. Properly dried mushrooms can be stored for several months or even years without losing their flavour or potency. The ideal time to harvest magic mushrooms is crucial to maximizing their potency and quality. Before drying mushrooms, it is important to disinfect the work environment, tools, and containers. There are several methods to dry psychedelic mushrooms, including air-drying, using a food dehydrator, or pre-drying on cardboard or a dry towel. Once dried, mushrooms should be stored in a closed container in a cool, dark, and dry place.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pre-drying | Place on cardboard or a dry towel in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight |
| Pre-drying complete | When wrinkly and rubbery to the touch |
| Cutting or tearing mushrooms | Increases surface area and makes them easier to dry but may reduce potency |
| Drying methods | Air drying, dehydrator, silica gel, sun, heater, fireplace |
| Air drying | Place on a wire rack or clean cloth, flipping every few hours |
| Air drying temperature | Moderately warm, 60-70°F |
| Air drying humidity | 55-65% |
| Air drying time | 1-3 days |
| Dehydrator | Set to a low temperature, check after an hour, then every 10-15 minutes |
| Dehydrator time | 8-24 hours |
| Silica gel | Absorbs moisture well and is non-toxic |
| Sun, heater, fireplace | Place on a tray with two layers of kitchen paper, cover with a black or dark towel |
| Storage | Airtight containers, mason jar, bottle, zip-lock bag, vacuum-packed |
| Storage conditions | Dark, cool, dry place, moderate temperature and humidity |
| Storage duration | Several months or years |
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What You'll Learn
Pre-drying: place on cardboard/towel in a well-ventilated area, out of direct sunlight
To dry psychedelic mushrooms, you must first harvest them at their optimum point, right before the veil tears away from the cap. This piece of the mushroom's anatomy serves to cover the spore-bearing gills. After harvesting, it is important to pre-dry your mushrooms to remove excess water. This is a crucial step to prevent spoilage and ensure the mushrooms are adequately preserved.
To pre-dry your mushrooms, place them on cardboard or a dry towel, ensuring they are evenly spread out and not touching. Move the cardboard or towel to a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight. Good locations include on top of your fridge or on a shelf in a walk-in closet, or you can place the cardboard in front of a fan to air them out. This process will take a few hours, and you should check on the mushrooms periodically. You will know pre-drying is complete when the mushrooms appear wrinkly and feel rubbery. If you are using a towel instead of cardboard, you may need to change it occasionally to avoid retaining too much moisture.
After pre-drying, you can further dry your mushrooms by placing them on a wire rack or a clean cloth in a moderately warm and humid environment, ideally between 60-70°F with 55-65% humidity. You can also use a food dehydrator or place the mushrooms in the sun, near a heater, or by a fireplace. If you opt for the latter methods, cover the mushrooms with a black or dark towel to attract more heat and accelerate drying.
Once your mushrooms are completely dry, they should snap easily when bent. Properly dried mushrooms can be stored in airtight containers in a cool, dark, and dry place for several months or even years, depending on the storage conditions.
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Air-drying: the cheapest method, but takes 1-3 days
Air-drying is the cheapest method of drying psychedelic mushrooms, but it takes 1-3 days. Before you begin, it is important to disinfect your work environment, tools, and containers. You can do this by wiping down surfaces with a mixture of distilled water and 5-10% bleach, and then removing any bleach residue with a cloth dampened with distilled water.
To pre-dry your mushrooms, place them on a piece of cardboard or a dry towel, ensuring they are spread out and not touching. Put them in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight, or place the cardboard in front of a fan. This will take a few hours, and you will know it is complete when the mushrooms look wrinkly and feel rubbery.
To air-dry your mushrooms, place them on a wire rack in a moderately warm space, ideally between 60-70°F, with humidity between 55-65%. If you don't have a wire rack, you can lay them on a clean cloth, but be sure to flip them over every few hours so they dry out evenly. Keep them out of direct sunlight.
Your mushrooms are done drying when the stems snap easily. Once dry, store your mushrooms in a closed container in a cool, dark, and dry place.
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Dehydrator: a faster method, but more expensive
Dehydrators are an excellent way to dry magic mushrooms faster, but they are also the most expensive option. They use a gentle heat source and constant airflow to gradually and evenly remove moisture from the mushrooms. This allows for long-term storage and minimises the risk of contamination. The heating element warms the mushrooms, causing water to be released. Internal fans blow the hot air through vents and out of the device, preventing heat from building up.
To dry your magic mushrooms using a dehydrator, first ensure your mushrooms are cleaned and pre-dried. Then, spread your mushrooms out evenly across the drying racks, making sure none of them are touching. Set the device to a low temperature setting (between 40°C and 60°C) to keep the psilocybin intact. The whole process will take between 4 and 8 hours, depending on how long you pre-dried your mushrooms. Check on your mushrooms every hour or so to see how they're getting on. Once they snap under pressure, they're ready for storage.
There are a few factors to consider when looking for a dehydrator for your mushrooms. The main consideration is budget, but there are plenty of available choices out there. Essentially, any store-bought food dehydrator is likely to do the trick. Many dehydrators also come with a timer option, so if you're looking to dial in a specific length of time, this can be easily achieved.
It is important to note that if you are drying magic mushrooms, you should always check your local laws and regulations.
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Silica gel: a professional method to absorb moisture
Drying psychedelic mushrooms is an important step in preserving their potency and preventing spoilage. While air-drying is a common method, silica gel offers a professional approach to moisture absorption, ensuring effective and safe drying.
Silica gel is a highly porous substance that excels at absorbing moisture. Its porous structure enables it to attract and trap water molecules, making it ideal for drying mushrooms. This process involves placing the mushrooms in a container with silica gel, allowing the gel to draw out moisture from the mushrooms, and leaving them dry and crisp.
The use of silica gel offers several advantages. Firstly, it is a non-toxic substance, making it safe for use with consumable products like mushrooms. Secondly, silica gel is readily available and can be easily purchased online or from craft stores, where it is commonly used for drying flowers. Additionally, silica gel packets can be found in everyday packaging, making it an accessible option.
To employ this method, it is recommended to follow a similar process as air-drying. After pre-drying the mushrooms on cardboard or a towel, spread them out in a container or tray lined with kitchen paper. Covering them with a dark towel can help attract heat and expedite the drying process. Then, place the silica gel packs around the mushrooms to absorb any remaining moisture. This technique ensures that the mushrooms are thoroughly dried while maintaining their potency.
While silica gel is an effective desiccant, it is important to note that it may not be the most powerful option available. Other desiccants, such as calcium chloride or Damprid, can also be considered for drying mushrooms. Nevertheless, silica gel remains a reliable and accessible choice for those seeking a professional method to absorb moisture during the drying process.
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Storage: store in a dark, dry place to maintain potency
Once your magic mushrooms are completely dry, it's time to store them. Proper storage is key to preserving their potency. The goal is to keep your mushrooms dry and protect them from light, heat, and oxygen, which can cause them to degrade and lose potency.
To maintain the potency of your magic mushrooms, store them in a cool, dry, and dark place, such as a pantry. Keep them in a sealed, airtight container, like a mason jar or an airtight bottle. These containers are more effective at keeping out oxygen than Ziploc bags. You can also use vacuum-sealed bags or desiccant-packed jars to ensure your mushrooms stay dry.
Avoid exposing your magic mushrooms to high temperatures, as this can degrade the psilocybin compound. Keep them away from direct sunlight and heat sources. The ideal temperature for storing magic mushrooms is below 70°F (21°C).
Additionally, you can use desiccants like silica gel packs to absorb any residual moisture within the storage container. This will help keep your mushrooms dry and prolong their shelf life.
By following these storage guidelines, you can expect your dried magic mushrooms to maintain their potency for up to several months or even years.
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Frequently asked questions
Drying psychedelic mushrooms helps to preserve them for longer. Freshly harvested mushrooms can spoil and go to waste, but when dried and stored properly, they can be stored for months or even years without losing their flavour or potency.
Pre-drying is a method of removing excess water from your harvest before thoroughly drying them out. To pre-dry your mushrooms, place them on cardboard or a dry towel, ensuring they are spread out and not touching. Place the cardboard or towel in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight, or place it in front of a fan. The mushrooms should be left to pre-dry for a few hours until they appear wrinkly and rubbery.
There are several ways to dry your mushrooms, including air-drying, using a food dehydrator, or drying them in the sun. Air-drying is the cheapest and best way to dry them, ensuring a slow and consistent dry. Place the mushrooms on a wire rack or clean cloth in a moderately warm, well-ventilated room, out of direct sunlight, and leave them for 1-3 days. You'll know they're done when they snap easily.
Store your dried mushrooms in a closed container in a cool, dark, and dry place. Use a zip-lock bag or, better yet, pack them in a vacuum using a vacuum machine. Keeping mushrooms dry and in airtight containers will prevent the growth of mold or bacteria.
Mould or bacteria growing on your mushrooms is a sure sign that they have gone bad. Psychedelic mushrooms may turn blue or "bruise", which is fine, but if they turn black or any other colour, throw them out. Good mushrooms should have a distinct earthy and musky smell, so if they smell funky or sour, get rid of them.
