Food Preservation

We have been dehydrating mushrooms for a couple of years now. This is a great way to save them for later rather than watch them go bad when leftover from cooking with half the package. With the food shortages this year we are doing more preserving. We scored a huge batch of about 12 pounds of mushrooms for $8 on clearance at the local produce market. Dehydrating mushrooms is a great way to give us a good stock of them for winter. Mushrooms are easy to dehydrate and they rehydrate perfectly making them a great option for this preservation method. My husband will use them when cooking and they plump up as if they hand never dehydrated. An old pasta sauce jar can hold about 3 to 4 pounds of mushrooms making it a great way to save space. How to clean and prepare your mushrooms for dehydrating Clean your mushrooms before drying. Some people will clean them with soap and water but I find this makes mushrooms mushy. Instead, I take a clean terry cloth towel to scrub and peel the mushrooms to remove all of the dirt. This step was vital with this batch of mushrooms as they were very dirty. This method gets the dirt off and gives you a chance to see if there are any mushy spots or imperfections that should be cut off before drying. How to dehydrate mushrooms Slice your mushrooms. Roughly 1/4 to 1/2 inch is perfect for cutting your mushrooms. Avoid built mushrooms that have already been cut as they take up more space getting you less for your value. Place in a single layer on your dehydrator trays. If during bits and pieces that will shrink small enough to fall through to trays you may want to use a clean a screen to keep them on the trays after they have shrunk. Mushrooms should be dried at about 110 degrees. If your dehydrator does not have a temperature setting expect your mushrooms to dry faster. Rotate your trays often while drying mushrooms to ensure they dry evenly. Mushrooms can take between 4 and 8 hours to dry depending on the thickness of your mushrooms and the humidity in your home. Move your dried mushrooms to a glass jar. For the next few days give your mushrooms a shake if condensation occurs place them back inside your dehydrator for a few hours to ensure they are fully dry. How to store your dehydrated mushrooms Secure your mushrooms in an airtight container for storage. We like to use a FoodSaver vacuum sealer and bags to give us more storage space. Store your dehydrated mushrooms in a cool dark space to help keep their color and flavor longer. How to dehydrate Morel Mushrooms Morel mushrooms are a bit tricky. Before dehydrating your morels you need to cut them in half to ensure that there are not slugs or other insects hanging out inside. This is a common problem and you do not want to risk it. While other mushrooms can often get away without washing you will want to take the time to give your morels a good wash under high water pressure to ensure any insects hiding in the grooves are gone before drying and starting the dehydrating process. How to dehydrate Portabella mushrooms Portabella mushrooms can be dehydrated the same way as listed above for these mushrooms I found on sale but you will fit considerably less to a tray. If you plan on using your portabella mushrooms for stuffed mushrooms place them on their back whole after cleaning. This will drastically increase your drying time but will allow for your mushrooms to rehydrate in hot water or chicken stock to prepare for stuffing. Is dehydrating mushrooms a good option for food storage? Mushrooms whether found at the grocery store, grown in your backyard or foraged for in the woods tend to have a short lifespan. While canning and freezing are both options for preserving mushrooms you can get great results from dehydrating them. Dehydrating will give your mushrooms a stronger flavor rather than watering the flavor down. How to use dehydrated mushrooms Dehydrated mushrooms can be rehydrated by soaking them in water for about 20-30 minutes, or until they have reached their desired texture. They can then be added to a variety of dishes such as soups, stews, pasta, or risotto. They can also be chopped and used as a seasoning or topping for salads, pizzas, or sandwiches. Dried mushrooms can also be ground into a powder, that can be used for flavoring soups, sauces and marinades. You can also make mushroom powder with them, which can be used in soups and sauces, or as a rub for meats. Dehydrated mushrooms make a great addition to these recipes. Mushroom Bison BurgersMushroom and onion burgersMushroom gravyAs a ground beef substitute.