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There are a lot of ways to harvest mushrooms for the winter, which often leads to difficulties in choosing. Dried oyster mushrooms will be an excellent solution to the problem. Harvesting by drying will allow you to preserve the mushrooms for a long time, and then make first courses, snacks, sauces and pates with them. They must be stored 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 be used in the future to prepare a variety of dishes.
Another important advantage is the long shelf life. Under optimal conditions, dried fruit 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 harvesting, but then the shelf life will be significantly reduced.
First of all, oyster mushrooms need to be cleaned of contamination. To do this, they are placed in a container with water, wiped with a kitchen sponge or soft brush. Only then should the fruiting bodies 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, they can be dried 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 taste the same 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 are prepared very quickly, after which they can be immediately transferred to a permanent storage location.
You will need:
- oyster mushrooms;
- baking sheet;
- parchment paper;
- wooden knitting needles;
- 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
Drying preserves useful substances, vitamins and microelements in oyster mushrooms
Cooking steps:
- Put a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet (or grease with vegetable oil).
- String the previously cleaned fruit bodies onto wooden knitting needles, leaving a distance between each 3-5 mm.
- Place the filled knitting needles in the oven.
- Dry at 50 degrees for the first 1.5 hours, then increase to 70 ° C.
- Cook for another 2 hours, reduce to 55 degrees, dry for 2 hours.
During the process, you should periodically open the oven and turn over the knitting needles, and also check which specimens are already dry. They need to be removed from the oven, and the rest should be left to dry.
You can make dried mushrooms without needles:
Fruiting bodies are laid out on a baking sheet with parchment caps on top and cooked in an open oven.
In an electric dryer
An excellent solution for the manufacture of 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:
- Place the prepared fruit bodies on a sieve dryer.
- Place in the device.
- Dry at 50 degrees for 2 hours.
- Increase the temperature to 75 degrees and keep until the fruiting bodies are dry.
Overdried mushrooms will begin to crumble, and underdried mushrooms will be poorly stored.
Some electric dryers are equipped with a special mode for harvesting mushrooms. With its help, you can make dried oyster mushrooms much faster than on a conventional device.
On air
Fruit bodies can be harvested without any technical devices, using only fresh air and sunlight. This method is better suited for the summer season. Oyster mushrooms must first be cleaned and washed, and then let the water drain.
For the preparation you will need:
- baking sheet or tray;
- sewing needle;
- strong thread (can be replaced with wire or fishing line).
To air dry oyster mushrooms, you need to choose the right place. It should be well ventilated and in direct sunlight. Some people prefer to do this on the balcony, but this option is not recommended, since the air is usually stagnant there. It is best to make dried oyster mushrooms in an area that is outdoors and well-ventilated by the wind.
Cooking steps:
- String oyster mushrooms on threads.
- Hang in a well-ventilated, sunny place.
- Let the fruit bodies dry for 3-4 hours.
- Transfer and hang them in a warm, dry place (ideally over a powered stove).
Air dry only in dry, hot, sunny weather
Using this recipe for dried mushrooms, oyster mushrooms are prepared 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
You can make a wide variety of dishes from such a blank. 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 these purposes, as it promotes softening.
The prepared dry oyster mushrooms need to be boiled in order to be used later for cooking. They are poured with water, brought to a boil, salted and cooked until tender (at least 30 minutes). These mushrooms are best for making soups and as an addition to baking 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. They need to be opened and stirred periodically to provide 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 harvest that can be used to preserve mushrooms for the winter.It is very easy to prepare and dry fruit bodies, especially using an oven or a special electrical appliance. Under suitable conditions, they will last for several years. Moreover, they can be used for almost any dish.
