Drying Mushrooms

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I will soon have many shiitake mushrooms and would like to dry them for gifts. Has anyone done this using their oven? I do not own a dehydrator and it is too cool and damp to hang them.

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), September 23, 2000

Answers

We are currently drying some bolete mushrooms in our oven. Cut open a brown paper bag and spread it on the oven racks. Cut and quarter the shrooms, place them on the bag, turn the oven on as low as you can, leave the door open slightly and lettem dry. Just keep track of their progress and bag em or bottle em when dry. Works fine.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), September 23, 2000.

Thanks so much for your answer. I will give it a try.

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), September 24, 2000.

John, Want to sell boletes? Email me.

-- Terri Perry (stuperry@stargate.net), September 24, 2000.

Well, I have always used a dehydrator for my shiitakes. I suggest you consider one as your next kitchen purchase. I also use it for herbs, tomatoes, peppers, apples etc etc. Back to the problem at hand. I would suggest the lowest setting on your oven, possibly even opening the door on occassion. A hint: before drying, separate the stems. When they are dry, run the stems (a little tough, anyway) through your blender until you have powder. It makes a great additive to spaghetti sauce, stews, etc, and both adds flavor and acts as a thickener. GL!

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), September 25, 2000.

This is the only time I've ever wanted to dry anything. Don't care for dried fruit. Since dehydrators run on electricity, its cheaper for me to use my gas stove, since its free. Thanks for the advice though.

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), September 26, 2000.


Portable solar drier works great for all sorts of things.This consists of a vehicle with a dark interior(mine happens to be a pickup truck) parked in the sun. Enter a closed up car in a parking lot and you get the picture. Putproduce on screen,-I use fiberglass for ease of cleaning.Then a grill-I got old shelves out of refrigerators at the transfer station,til the garbage guy told me they belonged to someone! Put this all on an aluninum tray for reflecting heat.Put in the closed-up car,closer to windshield is hotter.Check at end of day.Stir and let for next day if needed of finish off in oven if coming weather not conducive. Saves on the energy bill.I've done peppers,tomatoes squash,flowers etc.etc this way.Can also use a greenhouse with black plastic covering it, same way.I have gourds drying in mine now. Enjoy!

-- Sharon WT (wildflower@ekyol.com), September 28, 2000.

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