Drying is the most reliable way to preserve forest crops. But not everyone knows how to do it correctly. In this article, we will tell you about the types of mushrooms that are suitable for harvesting, and how to dehydrate them.
Useful properties and harm of mushrooms for the human body
Benefit
Mushrooms are a unique product that scientists have been studying for several years. In early 2021, Food Science & Nutrition magazine published a note stating thata small serving of mushrooms contains a ton of important and deficient nutrients...
Mushrooms contain twice as much protein as meat and chicken eggs . Some varieties contain amino acids that improve immunity. Doctors note the ability of this product to rejuvenate cells.
Potassium and vitamin C have a positive effect on the functioning of the heart and circulatory system. Choline promotes the transmission of impulses in nerve cells, which means that muscle function and human cognitive abilities are improved.
Doctors and nutritionists advise eating only mushroom caps to avoid the feeling of bloating and heaviness in the stomach. You should not give mushroom dishes to children under adolescence, their body practically does not digest this product.
Some mushrooms, for example - chanterelles, milk mushrooms and champignons, have an antitumor effect, they are used in the fight against cancer. And tinder fungus is used in China as a treatment for leukemia.
Harm
Mushrooms should not be eaten by people who suffer from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.... The chitin contained in the fruiting body slows down the digestion processes, because of this, food is poorly digested. Improper preservation of mushrooms can become a source of poisoning. If after eating a snackvomiting, bloating and nausea have begun, seek immediate medical attention...
A negative feature of mushrooms is the ability to absorb heavy metals and radiation from the environment.... Therefore, never collect them near the road or hazardous industries. It is also worth remembering that some varieties of mushrooms are inedible and poisonous.
Ecology
Environmentalists say that vgrowing mushrooms does not have a negative impact on the environment: huge territories are not required (so there is no need to cut down forests) and large reserves of water. Another property is that they are able to process products left over from agricultural production.
Types of mushrooms that can be dried for the winter
Tubular (porcini mushrooms, boletus, boletus, boletus)
This group includes all mushrooms in which under the cap there are spores in the form of tubules, similar to a sponge. After drying, they retain their characteristic mushroom aroma.
Marsupials (morels and white truffle)
They are distinguished by their peculiar appearance and "store" spores in their handbags. White truffle is a rare type of mushroom, found in Europe, it is not used for drying. Morel should be dried in the sun for at least two months to evaporate toxic substances. This “fruit” is not suitable for drying at home.
Lamellar (champignons, honey mushrooms, oyster mushrooms)
These forest fruits have plates under the cap that are tightly spaced to each other. From the lamellar group, waves, milk mushrooms and russules are not suitable for drying because of the milky juice, which gives a bitter taste.
Chanterelles
Of this group, only the red-haired beauty - the chanterelle - is edible. It is similar to the previous group, but in fact, chanterelles have not plates, but folds of pulp. Chanterelles are best eaten fresh, as they taste a little bitter after drying.
Preparation for drying mushrooms
Young and worm-free specimens are best suited for drying. Mushrooms need to be sorted out and cleaned of grass, moss and other contaminants.... In some fruiting bodies, for example - chanterelles and boletus, it is worth cutting off the legs. This is best done with a sharp knife.
It is believed that forest fruits should not be washed, it is enough to wipe it with a wet cloth (due to moisture, they lose their taste and aroma). All mushrooms must be sorted by size and the caps must be cut into pieces or plates of 1-1.5 centimeters, and the legs must be in circles 1.5-2 centimeters thick.Haveconsider that during drying the crop loses up to 90% of its weight...
Some thrifty mushroom pickers even harvest wormy mushrooms. To do this, they are soaked for two hours in very salty water and then dried. Under the influence of salt and temperature, the worms die.
6 easy ways to dry mushrooms for the winter
1. How to dry mushrooms in the oven
If there is no special equipment or you are drying for the first time, then an oven is quite suitable. We will tell you how to dry mushrooms in the oven:prepared fruits are placed on a wire rack, which is placed on top of a baking sheet...
The door should be opened so that the moisture evaporates faster. The drying process takes 5-6 hours at a temperature of 40-60 degrees. Readiness is checked in the following way: the thickest piece in the batch should bend and break a little.
2. How to dry mushrooms in the sun
The difficulty is that only clear sunny days are suitable for this, and there is a high risk that the rain will wet the mushrooms. In case of sudden changes in the weather, the workpieces are brought into the house.GRif you need to protect not only from moisture, but also from annoying flies... To do this, cover the trays with any breathable fabric (for example, gauze).
If it was not possible to dry the mushrooms in the yard, then you can finish the process in the oven. Drying of the crop takes from two to seven days (depending on weather conditions).
3. How to dry mushrooms in an electric dryer
Experienced mushroom pickers and summer residents have in stock such a useful device - a dehydrator. Cut the mushrooms into pieces no thicker than 1 centimeter, put them on a wire rack and set the time specified in the instructions. The whole dehydration process takes approximately 4-6 hours, it all depends on the device model.
4. How to dry mushrooms in the microwave
There is another not the most convenient way to prepare mushrooms - drying in a microwave oven. To do this, you need to set the power to 100 W,salet the appliance run for 20 minutes, then open the door to evaporate moisture... Repeat the procedure several times (usually 4-5) until the mushrooms are fully cooked.
5. How to dry mushrooms on a string
This is the oldest way of harvesting mushrooms for the winter. Whole and chopped fruits are suitable, theirstrung on a fishing line or canvas thread and dried in rooms with good air circulation... You can cover the raw material with a mesh cloth from dust and insects.
6. How to dry mushrooms in a Russian stove
If there is such a "device", then you can try to dry mushrooms there. To do this, the oven is well heated and allowed to cool to about 70 degrees.Move the coals to the sides and put a baking sheet with mushrooms inside... The main difficulty is that you need to maintain the right temperature throughout the entire process.
Mushroom Drying Recipes
Harvesting methods may differ depending on the grade. We gave general recommendations, and now we want to tell you more about mushrooms popular in our country.
White mushrooms
This mushroom can be harvested in any convenient way: in the fresh air, on a string, in a dehydrator. But we will look at how to dry boletus in the oven.
With a sharp knife, they remove the grass, moss and earth, wipe the hat with a wet sponge. Boletus is cut into thin slices and laid in one layer on a wire rack.Optimum temperature 70-75 degrees, time 3-4 hours...
Aspen boletus
Aspen mushrooms are not inferior in taste to porcini mushrooms. Before drying, the mushrooms are cleaned of dirt, foreign objects and cut into pieces, after separating the legs from the caps. They can be harvested using a microwave.
You need to put the boletus pieces on a flat plate and put in the oven. After 20 minutes, open the door, take out the dish and drain the water... Repeat until the pieces are dry.
Champignon
A popular and affordable mushroom that can be bought at any supermarket. But some housewives prefer to harvest dried mushrooms. They are usually thread dried indoors or outdoors.
Champignon cut into slices or pieces and put on a thread so that they do not touch each other.The resulting necklace is hung in a dry and ventilated area. The drying process can take several days.
Butterlets
When the season begins, the hostesses do not know what to do with them. The best way is to dry.In the process of preparation, be sure to remove the skin and harvested in any available way.
We will show you how to do this with a dehydrator. Butterlets are sorted out, peeled and cut into pieces of about 3-4 centimeters. Lay out on the rack of the dryer and wait for cooking for about 5 hours.
Oyster mushrooms
Oyster mushrooms contain a lot of nutrients and preserve them during the drying process. This variety is best harvested using an oven.In order for oyster mushrooms to retain their taste and aroma, they should be dried at a temperature of 50 degreeswith the door open, the process takes about 8 hours (do not leave the oven switched on unattended!). After that, the mushrooms are spread on the table, covered with gauze and left for another day.
How to store dried mushrooms
Many housewives store the product in canvas bags, but insects can start in this form in mushrooms. In addition, they easily absorb moisture and unpleasant odors from the environment.If the storage conditions are violated, the mushrooms will become covered with mold, they will have to be thrown out.
Tin cans and plastic containers will extend shelf life, keep out odors and moisture. Mushrooms periodically need to be sorted out and dried, if there is such a need.
You can create a vacuum in glass jars: for this, the edges of the neck are treated with alcohol, set on fire and immediately closed the lid. Now mushroom stocks are under reliable protection!
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