How to store dried mushrooms: how, where, how much?

Sometimes there is such a mushroom summer that only the lazy can be left without mushrooms. But those who are not lazy have reasonable questions: how to store dried mushrooms, where and how much? Why dried? Because drying is the most optimal way to prepare them for the winter. For example, frozen mushrooms take up a lot of space, while when dried they significantly decrease in volume. Compared to pickled mushrooms, dry mushrooms are better digestible, last longer, and can also be used in a wider range of dishes.

What to store in

To ensure the safety of home-dried mushrooms, you should choose the right container and place. This will extend their shelf life. Best suited:

• fabric bags made of cotton, linen;
• glass jars;
• paper bags;
• carton boxes;
• ceramic jars;
• vacuum containers.

These are the most common packaging that ensures proper preservation of the product. But each package has its own disadvantages and advantages. Cloth bags, paper bags and cardboard boxes are cheap containers that allow mushrooms to breathe. However, there is a high probability that grain bugs or moths will appear during storage.

In glass jars, closed with a screw or polyethylene lid, the product is not threatened by pests, but it will not breathe. Therefore, this storage option is acceptable only if the mushroom mixture is thoroughly dried. Otherwise it will become moldy. The same applies to ceramic jars for bulk products.Their significant advantage is the lids with clips, equipped with a rubber gasket. This ensures tightness and protection from foreign odors. But only completely dry mushrooms can be stored in them, just like in glass jars.

Mushrooms will be perfectly preserved and will be completely protected from bugs, foreign odors and mold formation in vacuum containers. But their price is quite high compared to bags, bags and glass jars. Ceramics, by the way, can also have a price above average (depending on the design, appearance and decor).

When choosing a particular package, check the mushrooms from time to time for the presence of moth larvae and bugs (bags, paper bags) or mold (glass or ceramic jars).

Where to store

Due to the fact that dry mushrooms are prone to quickly absorbing moisture and foreign odors, the storage conditions should be chosen as follows. The location should be:

• dry - otherwise the product will become moldy;
• well ventilated;
• without strong temperature changes;
• away from products with a strong smell (seasonings, flavored tea, garlic, etc.).

As a rule, these requirements are met by shelves in kitchen cabinets located far from the stove and sink.

Many housewives store dried mushrooms in the refrigerator. Glass jars or vacuum containers are suitable for this storage method.

How long to store

When asked the question of how long dried mushrooms can be stored, you can get a variety of answers. The minimum period is 12 months, the maximum is as long as desired. Yes exactly. Many avid mushroom pickers believe that dried mushrooms have virtually no shelf life.There have also been cases when a bag of mushroom shavings was littered in the cupboard with other products for several years, and when it was found, the product did not lose its taste and was not spoiled.

If you pay attention to the labels of purchased dried mushrooms, you will notice that manufacturers limit the useful life to 12 or 18 months. It is believed that during this time the mushrooms will not lose either taste or aroma and their appearance will remain original, the same as just after drying. Indeed, under correctly chosen storage conditions, not only store-bought, but also home-prepared products will not deteriorate within a year.

Tip: before storing, make notes on the container with the date of “production”.

Dried mushrooms also have an average shelf life of 3 years. If a housewife decides to use a dried mushroom mixture that has been stored for more than 3 years in cooking, it is worth checking it for freshness. The product must have an unaltered, “clean” smell; it must not contain bugs, moth larvae (worms), or mold. If the appearance or smell of the dried mushroom mixture is questionable, it is best to throw it away.

How to cook

Looking at dried mushrooms, you can’t immediately figure out how to cook them. It's actually quite simple. They must first be washed under running warm water, since they are not washed before drying, but only cleaned of dirt. This is followed by soaking in cold water for 2-3 hours. After this simple processing, the mushrooms are ready for further cooking. Dried mushroom mixture can be used in soups, main courses, and sauces.

Tip: famous chefs advise adding 1-2 pinches of dry mushrooms, ground in a coffee grinder, to add flavor when preparing cream soup from fresh mushrooms.

You can make homemade seasoning from dried mushrooms. This is a healthy alternative to store bought cubes. To do this, dry mushrooms are ground into dust in a coffee grinder and mixed with various aromatic additives. It can be salt, dried parsley, dill, celery, caraway seeds, allspice, etc. The main thing is to choose what you like. This seasoning is suitable for adding to soups, sauces, main courses - everywhere it will enhance the aroma and add piquancy.

Porcini mushrooms have a unique aroma and taste, but a generous harvest does not happen every summer. Drying, in this case, is the best way to preserve them for a year or more. If you follow the rules described in the article, the dried mushroom mixture will be stored for a long time, and most importantly - correctly.