How to Dry Out Fungus

Whether you stumbled upon a plethora of oyster mushrooms on your hunt, or had a bumper crop of shiitake in your mushroom garden, there are times when storing becomes a priority. Fresh mushrooms won't last for long and if you have bunch, drying is a good way to preserve them for future meals. It's easy and they can be rehydrated, so they'll retain some of their texture. If stored well and kept free of moisture, the dried mushrooms can last for more than a year.

Paper towels
Baking sheet
Air tight storage container

Instructions

- 1
  Use a brush or dry paper towel to clean harvested mushrooms. Keep them as dry as you can and use water only when necessary. Blot the mushrooms dry with paper towels.
- 2
  Cut your mushrooms into thin slices. While you could dice them or cut them into strings, slices will give you the most options for future use. Thinner slices will dry more quickly and more thoroughly.
- 3
  Spread the slices out in an even layer on a baking sheet. Make sure the mushrooms don't overlap so that they'll receive even heat.
- 4
  Set your oven to around 150 degrees. This is a low temperature and some ovens simply say "warm." You need a low heat so that you don't wind up cooking the mushrooms instead of drying them. Leave the oven door open to allow moisture to evaporate.
- 5
  Let the mushroom slices dry for about an hour and remove them. Blot away any sweated moisture, turn the slices over and blot them again.
- 6
  Return the slices to the oven for another hour. If they're still not dry, turn them and let them sit for a half an hour on each side. Allow them to cool.
- 7
  Store the slices in an air tight container, away from heat and direct sunlight.

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