drying shiitake

JoannaCW · 07-10-09, 14:09

I had a bumper crop of shiitake mushrooms and wanted to dry some to save. Following the isntructions I got offline, I dried whole caps in a hot-air dehydrator until they were slightly flexible but not yet brittle, froze them for 72 hours and took the,m back out. Now the mushrooms are quite flexible, through they don't feel moist or seem moldy. Do I need to dry them further?

slummunky · 07-10-09, 16:50

Im really not sure on this one, I have used dry shiitake before and I dont remember them being cracker dry they were a little spongy.. What you can do is go buy the zip lock vacuum bags and the hand pump for like 5 bucks and vacuum pack them and freeze them they should be ok..

Phx · 07-11-09, 01:40

Well i don't know either.....but I dried them cracker dry(as much as they could be dried) because I want to try to clone them. I have them sealed in a jar vacuum sealed and wil try to let you know how it goes when reanimating them. As far as using for cooking....I don't know if it will work. But I have subscribed to this thread to learn more. Good luck!

TastyBeverage · 07-11-09, 11:53

If they are not cracker dry, you run the risk of growing contaminants the longer they sit around. The dried shiitakes that i get from asian markets are all cracker dry and not flexible. I actually find that dried, reconstituted shiitakes have more umami flavor than fresh, but not everyone favors the texture.

mycowarrier · 07-11-09, 14:19

I dehydrate all shitakes and others in a frost-free fridge on a plate or newspaper. I think it preserses the flavor and potency the best. The Shitakes in pic are "cracker dry" and can now be ground to a powder if i so choosed.

BTW the green herb in the pic is Stevia [a natural sweetener]

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07-10-09, 14:09	#1 (permalink)
JoannaCW Mycophiliac Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1	drying shiitake I had a bumper crop of shiitake mushrooms and wanted to dry some to save. Following the isntructions I got offline, I dried whole caps in a hot-air dehydrator until they were slightly flexible but not yet brittle, froze them for 72 hours and took the,m back out. Now the mushrooms are quite flexible, through they don't feel moist or seem moldy. Do I need to dry them further?

07-10-09, 16:50	#2 (permalink)
slummunky Mycotopiate Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 330	Im really not sure on this one, I have used dry shiitake before and I dont remember them being cracker dry they were a little spongy.. What you can do is go buy the zip lock vacuum bags and the hand pump for like 5 bucks and vacuum pack them and freeze them they should be ok.. __________________ What looks like weakness to the ego is in fact the only true strength.. Djmix.net/slummunky/mixes

07-11-09, 01:40	#3 (permalink)
Phx Mycotopiate Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 405	Well i don't know either.....but I dried them cracker dry(as much as they could be dried) because I want to try to clone them. I have them sealed in a jar vacuum sealed and wil try to let you know how it goes when reanimating them. As far as using for cooking....I don't know if it will work. But I have subscribed to this thread to learn more. Good luck! __________________ Phx

07-11-09, 11:53	#4 (permalink)
TastyBeverage thirsty for more Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,482	If they are not cracker dry, you run the risk of growing contaminants the longer they sit around. The dried shiitakes that i get from asian markets are all cracker dry and not flexible. I actually find that dried, reconstituted shiitakes have more umami flavor than fresh, but not everyone favors the texture. __________________ Why do little blue men hit me with fish?

07-11-09, 14:19	#5 (permalink)
mycowarrier VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 950	I dehydrate all shitakes and others in a frost-free fridge on a plate or newspaper. I think it preserses the flavor and potency the best. The Shitakes in pic are "cracker dry" and can now be ground to a powder if i so choosed. BTW the green herb in the pic is Stevia [a natural sweetener] Attached Thumbnails __________________ Everybody is entitled to my opinion

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