How to dry chanterelle mushrooms at home

Before you start drying mushrooms, you need to properly prepare them. You need to choose good, strong chanterelles. They cannot be washed, otherwise the mushrooms will absorb water and take too long to dry. They should be carefully cleaned from external contamination with a dry cloth. If the mushrooms are very dirty, you can wipe them off with a damp, well-wrung cloth.

How to dry chanterelles properly? There are several methods.

• On a thread. The mushrooms should be strung on a thick thread and hung in a dry, warm, well-ventilated area. They need to be turned periodically so that the moisture evaporates evenly. Drying in this way trumpets for at least seven to ten days.
• On the closet or on the floor. The mushrooms are laid out on a wide horizontal surface. You can place them on a closet or on the floor, on a table, if space permits. The surface is pre-covered with paper. The layer of chanterelles is also covered with paper on top, this will serve as additional protection from flies and midges.
• In the oven. Drying in the oven is a common method. The mushrooms are cut into medium-sized pieces and placed on a baking sheet lined with baking paper. The oven is preheated to 50 degrees. It is very important not to close it tightly, but to leave a small gap – through it, liquid will evaporate from the chanterelles. After an hour, increase the temperature in the oven by 10 degrees. Stir the mushrooms carefully so that they do not burn.

All of these methods are equally good. It remains only to choose the most suitable one for yourself.

Also on sale there are special electric dryers for mushrooms, vegetables and fruits. How to dry chanterelles in them? All that is needed is to prepare the mushrooms and load them. The device will tell you when everything is ready.

How to tell if chanterelles are ready? The dried mushroom should not break in your hands, this will mean that it has been dried out. It must maintain its elasticity and bend easily. If you break it, moisture should not show from the place of the break. You can also navigate by weight: dried chanterelles lose weight by about ten times. If you have lost less, it means that the drying process has not finished yet.

Dried mushrooms will delight you with their benefits and taste all year round.