Is it possible to dry oyster mushrooms and how to cook

There are a lot of ways to harvest mushrooms for the winter, which often makes it difficult to choose. An excellent solution to the problem will be dried oyster mushrooms. Harvesting by drying will allow you to preserve mushrooms for a long time, and then make first courses, snacks, sauces and pies with them. Store them in glass jars or paper bags.

Is it possible to dry oyster mushrooms for the winter

Oyster mushrooms, like other edible mushrooms, can be dried. Moreover, this process is simpler than harvesting for the winter in other ways. Dried fruit bodies retain their taste, so they can later be used to prepare a variety of dishes.

Another important advantage is a long shelf life. Under optimal conditions, dried fruiting bodies will remain usable for several years. Therefore, this harvesting option, no doubt, is appropriate for all mushroom lovers.

How to prepare oyster mushrooms for drying

Harvested or acquired fruiting bodies require careful preparation. Of course, oyster mushrooms can be dried immediately after harvest, but then the shelf life will be significantly reduced.

First of all, oyster mushrooms need to be cleaned of dirt. To do this, they are placed in a container with water, wiped with a kitchen sponge or a soft brush. Only after this, the fruiting bodies should be carefully examined for defects and damage. If found, the affected area is cut off.

If the specimens are large, the legs should be separated from the caps. If they are small, you can dry them whole.

How to dry oyster mushrooms at home

There are several ways to make dried mushrooms. When choosing, you should take into account the availability of appropriate kitchen utensils. Dried fruit bodies have the same taste regardless of the preparation method. However, the shelf life of the workpiece depends on how correctly the heat treatment method is chosen. With this in mind, the best dried oyster mushroom recipes should be considered.

In the oven

This is the most convenient and affordable way, since everyone has a stove with an oven. Oyster mushrooms cook very quickly, after which they can be immediately transferred to a place of permanent storage.

Required:

• oyster mushrooms;
• baking sheet;
• parchment paper;
• wooden knitting needles;
• 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil.

Drying preserves useful substances, vitamins and trace elements in oyster mushrooms.

Stages of preparation:

1. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet (or grease with vegetable oil).
2. String pre-cleaned fruit bodies on wooden knitting needles, leaving a distance of 3-5 mm between each.
3. Place the filled needles in the oven.
4. Dry at a temperature of 50 degrees for the first 1,5 hours, then increase to 70 ° C.
5. Cook for another 2 hours, reduce to 55 degrees, dry for 2 hours.

During the process, you should periodically open the oven and turn the knitting needles over, and also check which copies are already dry. They need to be removed from the oven, and the rest left to dry.

You can make dried mushrooms without knitting needles:

Fruit bodies are laid out on a baking sheet with parchment hats up and cooked in an open oven.

In an electric dryer

An excellent solution for making dried oyster mushrooms will be a household electric dryer. With its help, you can prepare vegetables, fruits, berries and mushrooms. The use of such a device can significantly reduce the time spent on cooking and facilitate the process.

Procurement stages:

1. Arrange prepared fruiting bodies on a dryer sieve.
2. Place in the device.
3. Dry at 50 degrees for 2 hours.
4. Increase the temperature to 75 degrees and hold until the fruiting bodies dry.

Over-dried mushrooms will begin to crumble, and under-dried ones will not be stored well.

Some electric dryers are equipped with a special mode for harvesting mushrooms. With it, you can make dried oyster mushrooms much faster than with a conventional device.

On air

It is possible to prepare fruiting bodies without any technical devices, using only fresh air and sunlight. This method is best suited for the summer season. First, oyster mushrooms must be cleaned and washed, and then allowed to drain.

For preparation you will need:

• baking sheet or tray;
• sewing needle;
• strong thread (can be replaced with wire or fishing line).

To dry oyster mushrooms in the air, you need to choose the right place. It should be well ventilated and exposed to direct sunlight. Some people prefer to do this on the balcony, but this option is not recommended, since the air there tends to stagnate. It is best to make dried oyster mushrooms in a place that is outdoors and well ventilated.

Stages of preparation:

1. Нанизать вешенки на нити.
2. Hang in a well-ventilated sunny place.
3. Let fruiting bodies dry for 3-4 hours.
4. Transfer and hang them in a warm, dry place (preferably over a switched on stove).

Air dry only in dry, hot, sunny weather

Using this recipe for dried mushrooms, oyster mushrooms are cooked for about a day. If during this period they did not have time to dry, they are kept longer.

How to cook dried oyster mushrooms

From such a preparation, you can make a wide variety of dishes. There are recipes with dried oyster mushrooms that involve the preparation of just such mushrooms. This is due to the fact that the taste of dried fruit bodies is more intense.

Dried fruit bodies must be soaked before cooking. To do this, they are poured with cold water. Milk can also be used for this purpose, as it helps to soften.

Prepared dry oyster mushrooms need to be boiled in order to be used for cooking in the future. They are poured with water, brought to a boil, salted and boiled until tender (at least 30 minutes). Such mushrooms are best suited for making soups, as well as an addition to pastry fillings.

How to store dried oyster mushrooms

To ensure the safety of the workpiece, you need to create optimal conditions. Store dried mushrooms in rooms with low humidity. Otherwise, the oyster mushrooms will become damp and disappear. The recommended storage temperature is from 18 degrees.

The room in which dry oyster mushrooms will be stored must be dry and ventilated.

You can store the workpiece in paper envelopes or plastic containers. Periodically, they need to be opened and mixed to ensure the flow of fresh air. Subject to the rules of preparation and storage, they will remain usable for 2-3 years.

Conclusion

Dried oyster mushrooms are a popular preparation with which you can save mushrooms for the winter. Preparing and drying fruiting bodies is very simple, especially using an oven or a special electrical appliance. Under the right conditions, they will last for several years. However, they can be used for almost any dish.