How to dry boletus at home

Knowing how to dry boletus mushrooms, you can preserve their beneficial properties for a long time. Being dried, the product does not lose its aroma and unique taste. There are several ways to harvest it for the winter. Each of them deserves special attention.

Is it possible to dry boletus

The boletus is an edible mushroom with a bright red cap and stocky stem. In the people it is also called the redhead. In diameter, the cap of the boletus can reach 20 mm. A distinctive feature of its structure are the edges pressed to the leg. Unlike other types of fruiting bodies, the surface is absolutely not sticky. The redhead grows in mixed or deciduous forests. It is harvested from June to September. The product has a high nutritional value and a pleasant taste.

To harvest the mushroom for the winter, the drying method is often used. Most often, the product is brought to the desired state in a natural way. Sometimes an oven or dryer is used. In total, drying takes from three to seven hours. In order for the evaporation of air to occur evenly, the mushrooms are laid out in a certain way. The preparation of the product for drying is also essential.

This method of harvesting boletus has many advantages. The main one is the preservation of taste and characteristic aroma. In addition, the product is significantly reduced in size, which makes it easier to store for a long time.

Among mushroom pickers, drying several types of mushrooms at a time is practiced. But in this case, it is necessary to take into account which fruiting bodies are combined with each other. Boletus and boletus can be dried together without fear. They make an excellent assortment, suitable for making a delicious soup.

How to dry boletus at home

Dried boletus, the photo of which is posted below, is considered a universal product. Based on them, a lot of different dishes are prepared. Use for frying, add to side dishes, sauces or soups. Dried boletus goes well with meat and vegetables. In terms of taste, they are in no way inferior to porcini mushrooms. Before cooking, it is advisable to soak dried boletus in milk.

Boletus contains up to 90% water

The drying process of redheads is carried out in several stages. The product is pre-prepared by thoroughly washing and cleaning. You need to get rid of wormy fruits. It is advisable to dry only young redheads, since the old ones absorb all harmful substances. During the collection, you should avoid places located near roads and industrial facilities. The bottom of the leg in contact with the ground must be cut off. In the next step, the fruiting bodies are crushed into small slices. The smaller their size, the easier the drying process will be. Make sure all slices are the same size. This will dry them evenly.

How to dry boletus in the oven

To dry the boletus for the winter, you can use the oven. In this case, it is better not to use whole mushrooms. The most suitable option is to chop the mushrooms to the state of noodles. To do this, the fruiting body is divided into two parts. Then each of them is cut into longitudinal strips. The drying process is carried out according to the following algorithm:

1. The baking sheet should be covered with parchment. Mushrooms are placed on it in one thin layer, making sure that the slices do not touch each other too much.
2. The oven is heated to 55°C. The baking sheet is placed inside, while leaving the oven door open.
3. After the mushroom slices become smaller, the temperature is raised to 70°C.
4. The baking sheet is periodically taken out of the oven to mix the product.
5. The complete readiness of the redheads is indicated by the absence of moisture when pressed on the fruiting body. In this case, drying is stopped.

In total, the mushrooms are dried in the oven for 3-4 hours.

How to dry boletus in an electric dryer

A specialized dryer will help to properly dry boletus mushrooms. It is a device in which vegetables, berries, fruits or mushrooms are laid out in layers. Aspen mushrooms are laid in it, having previously been cut into thin plates. Procedure steps:

1. The plates of redheads are laid out on pallets of an electric dryer. It is advisable to use no more than 2-3 pieces. In this case, the mushrooms will dry faster.
2. The instrument is programmed for a temperature of 60°C.
3. If drying is carried out on a conventional dryer, the metal sieves on which the fruiting bodies lie must be periodically interchanged.
4. Drying time can vary from two to six hours.

The finer the boletus is cut, the better they will be absorbed by the body in finished form.

Cooking mushrooms in the microwave

Using a microwave to dry boletus is not popular. This is due to the small size of the device. The advantage is the short cooking time. This option is suitable for those cases when it is necessary to dry a small amount of fruiting bodies.

Drying process:

1. Pre-cut mushrooms are laid out on a wire rack installed in the microwave. A pallet must be placed below.
2. The device is set to a power of 100 watts for 20 minutes.
3. After the end of each cycle, it is necessary to open the door to get rid of excess moisture. Keep it open for at least 10 minutes.
4. The liquid must be removed from the sump.

Mushrooms must be thoroughly cleaned of dirt before drying.

How to air dry boletus

The simplest and most common option for drying mushrooms involves placing them outdoors. Additional equipment is not required for this. The advantages of the method include a low risk of mold formation due to access to oxygen and the absence of moisture. In addition, there is no need to constantly monitor the drying process.

Drying on a thread

To harvest redheads in limbo, you need a long, strong thread. It is first threaded into a sharp needle. The duration of drying depends on the way the mushrooms are placed and their size. On average, it ranges from two to seven days.

Drying steps:

1. The boletus is thoroughly washed and cut into small slices. You can leave them whole, but in this case it is better to use small fruits.
2. Mushrooms are strung on a thread with a needle. You need to make sure that they do not touch each other. The ends of the thread must be fixed with each other.
3. A mushroom necklace is hung in a ventilated room or on the street. To protect it from insects, mushrooms are covered with sterile gauze on top.
4. At night, the fruits must be brought into the room.

On average, in the fresh air, fruiting bodies are dried for two days.

Drying boletus on paper

The recipe for dried boletus on paper is practiced no less than the previous one. It is most relevant for the warm season. This is due to the need for sunlight and fresh air. Drying is performed according to the following algorithm:

1. Boletuses washed and cleaned of forest debris are laid out on a soft natural cloth or paper.
2. A substrate with redheads is placed directly under the sun’s rays. The optimal drying time is two days. At night, the boletus is removed into the room. Do the same in rainy weather.
3. Every two hours it is necessary to turn the redheads. After complete drying, they are removed in a container for storage.

A broth made on the basis of dried mushrooms is considered calorie richer than meat.

How to save dried boletus for the winter

You can learn how to properly dry boletus at home from the video posted at the end of the article. This process is not difficult. Attention must be paid not only to him, but also to the preservation of mushrooms for the winter. The main condition for long-term storage is the absence of dampness, since mold is considered a terrible enemy of the product. The best safety is provided by bags made of natural fabric and glass jars. Sometimes, after drying, the product is stored in vacuum bags or plastic containers. Dried mushrooms can only be kept in the refrigerator for a short time. This is due to the high degree of humidity in it.

Some mushroom pickers prefer, after drying, to roll the mushrooms into jars with a metal lid, using standard preservation methods. The main advantage is the reduced risk of mold formation. It is extremely important during harvesting to ensure that the product is completely dry. If mushrooms are harvested for the winter correctly, they retain their useful qualities for up to three years. Otherwise, the boletus will deteriorate immediately after drying.

The appearance of larvae and foreign smell in the product indicates the need for its disposal. If, due to severe drying, the boletus begins to crumble, they can be ground into powder. To do this, use a coffee grinder or blender. In this form, redheads are added to various dishes to obtain a characteristic aroma and pronounced taste properties. When storing redheads hanging on a thread, they should not be placed in close proximity to onions, garlic and other odorous products. The far shelves of cabinets and the attic are used as storage space.

Conclusion

Drying boletuses is not difficult at all. It is enough to follow the recommendations of experts and use only high-quality raw materials. The main role in this process is played by the drying temperature and the approach to storing the finished product.