Oyster mushrooms are a tasty and healthy product used for cooking various dishes. In order to eat oyster mushrooms in food at any time of the year, they can be preserved, frozen or dried. It is the drying of mushrooms, in contrast to other methods, that preserves all useful substances, vitamins and trace elements in oyster mushrooms.
Do oyster mushrooms dry?
A lot of information can be found on the Internet about how to dry champignons and other mushrooms, but they rarely write about how to dry oyster mushrooms. Therefore, sometimes the question arises for people, is it possible to dry them at all. And the answer to this question is yes. Oyster mushrooms contain little water, so it is easy to dry them, and they will be stored for a very long time. When dried, the mushrooms will take up little space, but the choice where to use them is huge.
In addition, when drying oyster mushroom, useful substances and vitamins are not lost. Unless, of course, know certain rules.
Training
In order for the mushrooms to dry well, but at the same time remain tasty and healthy, first you need to properly prepare them.
Before drying, the mushrooms are not washed, but only remove dirt and dark spots with a sharp knife. Then, with a clean, dry cloth, wipe each mushroom to remove any remaining dust and dirt.
The legs of the mushrooms should be separated from the hats also with a knife.
Drying Methods
Mushrooms can be dried either in the fresh air, or using a special device - an electric dryer.
In the open air
This method is good in that for it absolutely no additional devices are needed and it is easy to use at home.
However, there is a drawback in this method of drying: mushrooms can be dried only in dry, hot and sunny weather.
Drying is carried out according to this algorithm:
- Lay out prepared oyster mushrooms in one layer on paper, and take out in the sun for three hours. The place where the mushrooms lie should not only be hot, but also well ventilated.
- During this time, the mushrooms will not completely dry out, but will only become slightly dried. They should be strung on a thick thread or wire. If you use a thread, then thread it into the needle to facilitate work.
- Hang oyster mushrooms in a dry and very warm place for a day. A place near the stove in the kitchen may come up.
In the electric dryer
Drying mushrooms with a special appliance is much faster and easier. An electric dryer can also be used for preparing dried fruits and drying vegetables.
In order to dry the mushrooms in this way you need:
- Put prepared oyster mushrooms in a special sieve from the electric dryer, and then place it in the device as indicated in the instructions.
- The device should be set to a temperature of 50 degrees for 2 hours.
- After 2 hours, increase the temperature in the dryer to 75 degrees.
- Dry the mushrooms to dry completely. It usually takes up to 12 hours.
In the oven
In addition to the electric dryer, you can try drying the mushrooms in the oven. How to do this, see the video:
How to determine readiness?
When drying oyster mushrooms, especially in the dryer, it is easy to miss the moment when the mushrooms are already completely dry. However, this should not be allowed, as oyster mushrooms will become tasteless and begin to crumble. But you also can’t leave them unsaturated, since the mushrooms will be poorly stored, will begin to grow moldy and they can be poisoned.
To understand that the mushrooms are ready, try bending one oyster mushroom: it should be flexible enough, but it will break when bent.
Ready oyster mushrooms remain light in color, and taste and aroma the same as raw mushrooms. When dried, mushrooms are reduced by 90%, that is, their total volume is only 10% of the original.
How to store?
When storing, it is important to observe the following conditions:
- The air in the room where the dried oyster mushrooms are stored should not be moist, otherwise the mushrooms will become damp and may begin to mold. The place must be dry and ventilated.
- Place the mushrooms in glass jars with tight lids to avoid making moths. Or put them in heavy paper bags.
- If you store mushrooms in paper bags, do not allow foods with a strong odor to be nearby. Oyster mushrooms absorb various flavors.
Store dried mushrooms should be no more than one year.
Before using oyster mushrooms for cooking any dish, soak them in hot boiled water for 1-1.5 hours.
The benefits of dried oyster mushrooms
All useful substances remain in dried oyster mushrooms, among them: potassium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, vitamins A, PP, thiamine, calciferol, ergosterol and riboflavin.
Unlike canned mushrooms, none of these substances are lost with this storage method. That is why the drying of mushrooms is considered the most useful way to preserve them for a long period.
You can prepare many dishes from dried oyster mushrooms and, despite the time of year, these mushrooms will always be on your table. It is also important that they retain in themselves all the beneficial substances that are in fresh mushrooms. And to dry oyster mushrooms is absolutely not difficult and not for long.