Yes, you can dehydrate mushrooms if you want to have an ability to store them for as long as one year.
There is some process that you can do at home to get it done. You can dry them in the oven so it’s faster. No need to wait for hours if you go for this process. Mushrooms can also be dried naturally.
But then you will need to check the weather first to make sure that you can get enough sunlight for this process. If you have a dehydrator, that will work as well. Some even do dry-freezing so that they can have fresh mushrooms to be dehydrated in their freezer.
How Do You Dehydrate Fresh Mushrooms?
1. Clean the Mushrooms
You can either brush or rinse it clean depending on what you prefer. Just make sure to have them clean even before the second step to make sure that there are no bacteria that will spoil them. Once you’re done cleaning them, pat dry with a kitchen towel to lessen the moisture.
2. Slice Them Thinly
Slicing them thinly can save you from dehydrating time. This way, you can get an even dryness so that you don’t have to wait too long. Just make sure to slice it as even ad you can. If you have a bunch of them, you can use an egg slicer to make it faster and more convenient.
3. Place Them in the Dehydrator or Oven
It depends on what you have at home. If you have a dehydrator, then that’s the best thing to use for this purpose. However, if you don’t usually dehydrate your food and don’t have this kitchen gadget, you can also use your oven. Spread the sliced mushrooms on the tray and place them in your dehydrator or oven. Use a higher temperature to dry them faster.
Mushrooms before Dehydration 
Mushrooms after Dehydration
4. Store Them in an Air-Tight Container
Once it’s done, allow them to cool first then place them in an air-tight container. Make sure to store them in a cool dark place like your kitchen cabinet.
That way, they can last longer. You can also separate a different jar for your regular use.
That way, you don’t have to disturb everything all at once when you need some mushroom for your dishes.
Remember to read our article on
How to store dehydrated food so it lasts longer here.
Can You Dehydrate Morel Mushrooms?
Morels are great tasting edible mushrooms. They have the earthy, nutty and smoky flavor which most chefs and cooks like to use ith their dishes.
However, they only have a short season so once it passed, it’s hard to find them. But the good news is, you can dehydrate them for you to have access to morel mushrooms all year round. You can always rehydrate them whenever you have to use them on your dishes like some morel risotto.
Here are the ways to dry morels:
Air Dry
All you need is some thread and needle so that you can string them together. Then hang them in a cool dry place. You can let them dry up in the air from 2 days up to a week. Once they are dry and brittle, you can already store them.
Oven Dry
You will need to use your oven under low heat for several hours. So make sure that you’re done with cooking using an oven for the day before putting your morels in.
You can either arrange them in the oven racks or hang them. Use 130 F to 140 F temperature and let morels sit there for about 8 hours.
Food Dehydrator
The food dehydrator is also a great way to dry morel mushrooms. Just set it to 110 F and wait for 10 hours. Your morels will be ready once it’s completely dry and brittle.
Make sure to have an airtight container ready such as mason jars or the jars that you usually used in storing other herbs and spices. Store your morels in that container so that you can have your all-year-round supply for your dishes.
Using the dehydrator is my preferred way because that is what I find the easiest.
How Long Do Dehydrated Mushrooms Last?
Dehydrated mushrooms should last between 6-12 months provided that you have placed it in proper storage. The ideal storage should be a cold and dark place so it will not be exposed to heat.
You can refrigerate them after placing them in an airtight container. Just make sure that it will not be exposed in moisture to ensure that they will last for a long time or up to one year.
Make sure that you have the fresh mushrooms to get dry completely to avoid reducing the shelf life. Once it has been dried up and looks brittle, that’s the sign that you have dried it properly.
Allow it to cool off before storing it to make sure that the heat will not get trapped with the mushroom as you store them. Have an airtight container so that it will be free from moisture.
Should Dried Mushrooms Be Refrigerated?
It’s a good place to store your dried mushrooms but not mandatory. If you have some space to spare from your fridge, it’s the ideal place to be stored. Just make sure that you put them in ziplocked or an airtight container to avoid moisture to get in.
You can also try to use Ziploc bags so that you can make sure that your mushrooms will not spoil so that you can use them when needed at any time.
Your kitchen cupboard is not the best place to store your dried mushrooms. Since it is exposed to heat especially whenever you cook.
If you have space in your fridge, it’s best to store them there so that you don’t forget that you have them. Some people store it to their wine cellars but if you don’t have one, your fridge is the best place for them.
Do Dried Mushrooms Spoil?
Dried mushroom can spoil if it’s exposed to heat or moisture. To ensure that this will not occur, place them in an airtight bag or container. That way, the moisture will not penetrate the container and get into your dried mushrooms.
It’s also recommended to store it in a cold place such as your fridge or freezer so that it will not spoil easily. You will know when your dried mushroom is already spoiled since it will turn slimy and there will be a bad odor already.
If you see those signs, just discard it to avoid the risk of other people in the house to accidentally cook and eat them.
You can read our article on how to check if dehydrated food is bad here.
Can Dried Mushrooms Get Moldy?
Dried mushrooms should not get moldy. That’s the idea why you dehydrated it in the first place. That way, you can store them for a much longer time.
However, it can get moldy if moisture gets in successfully. When you see the first sign of mold, you need to discard it and never try to eat it anymore. Molds can be poisonous especially in mushrooms.
Can You Air Dry Mushrooms?
You can air dry mushrooms by hanging them. Just string them in a clean thread or if you have an unflavored floss. Then let it air dry for up to one week to ensure that they are completely dried up.
They will shrink and looks brittle which is the sign that it’s completely dry. You can then store them in a cold and dry place so you can use it for cooking your mushroom dishes anytime.
Do You Have to Dry Mushrooms?
Dehydrating mushrooms are the best way to store them. Since they are not around most of the time, it is the best thing to do. You have to dry mushrooms if you cannot eat everything in one day.
That way, you can still use them for your future meals. They can last even up to one year if dried and stored properly so it is a good food source especially when there’s no fresh mushroom available from the supermarket.
You could also freeze the mushrooms which I have a Full Guide on here.
It’s also a good idea to take advantage of the sale from your local grocery store. You can buy fresh mushrooms in bulk if they are in season. Then dry them at home so that you can have your supply for months to comes.
It’s a great way to make tasty dishes like soup or pasta. So if you have an opportunity to stock them up, then go for it. This can save you money that way.
Another reason to dry mushrooms is that it can intensify the flavor. Some people don’t like the slimy texture of fresh mushrooms.
By drying it, you can enjoy the great mushroom taste without the slimy moisture. It can even be meatier so you will enjoy the texture as well.
Can You Dry Mushrooms in the Sun?
Mushrooms can be dried in the sun as well. It’s called natural drying. For this, you need to string the fresh mushrooms together and hang them under the sun. You need to do it up to 2 days to ensure that they will completely dry.
Afterward, make sure to store them in an airtight container and store them in a cool dry place.
Drying the mushrooms naturally can also be a good way of money-saving. Since you have to dry them from 8-10 hours in an oven or food dehydrator which can consume a lot of gas or electricity.
If you have a place to do so, then this is the best option. You can also have your mushrooms dry faster during the hot days.
What Kinds of Mushroom You Can Dehydrate?
You can dehydrate or dry almost all kinds of edible mushrooms. Just make sure to have the proper procedure in drying them. Storage is also a critical part of making sure that your dehydrated mushrooms will not go bad easily.
Since you can store them for as long as 6 months to one year, it’s a good idea to have them dried up so you can use them whenever you need them.
1.Morels
Also called Merkel, dry land fish, sponge mushroom or pine cone mushroom. This can add more flavor and aroma with any dishes. It can be sauteed, eaten whole or add with almost any dish because of its subtle flavor.
2. Porcini
It’s also known as Cepe or Boletus. Porcini is one of the finest mushrooms that are tasty. It has an earthy, nutty and meaty flavor. You can use it with pasta sauces and it will not be overpowered with tomato sauce.
3. Black Trumpet
Drying black trumpets can intensify its taste and aroma so many people prefer to have them dried. This black chanterelle can be added to pasta sauces to make them more creamy and flavorful.
4. Rare Red Reishi
It’s an antler-shaped mushroom and it’s a rare and valuable type of mushroom. This rare mushroom is used to promote good health and longevity.
5. Shiitake
These are premium cultivated mushrooms and also a very versatile type of mushroom. You can saute, grill, bake, broiled and stir-fried it. Shiitake mushroom is a great way to enhance every dish.
6. Portabello
This is the best mushroom for any meat dishes. You can add it on dressings, saute it, add on your omelet, and many more. It adds flavor, texture, and color to any dishes.
7. Chanterelle
The classic yellow chanterelle mushroom is the traditional favorite. You can add it into poultry, pork, veal, white sauces or even with eggs.
Conclusion
Fresh mushrooms can be dehydrated or frozen. Depending on the process you prefer to use, you can have your mushroom supply all year round.
If dehydrating then just make sure that you will store them in a dry container so that it will not end up spoiling. That defeats the purpose of being able to store them longer.
Since mushrooms are versatile, you can add them to almost any dishes. That’s the reason why it’s best to have them dehydrated so that you can enhance the flavor of your meals at any time. Stocking them can help you enhance your dishes and it’s worth the effort of having them dehydrated for your consumption.
