Umbrella mushrooms owe their name to the umbrella-like shape, which makes them look very pretty. They are among the most popular edible mushrooms in our latitudes. This post tells you how to dry umbrella mushrooms and preserve them for months. In this context, it should be noted that freezing these vegetables does NOT make sense.

Drying is the best way to preserve umbrella mushrooms

How to dry umbrella mushrooms

There are several options for drying umbrella mushrooms:

  • in the dehydrator
  • in the oven and in the air
  • in the air

Dry the umbrella mushrooms in the dehydrator

  1. Clean the umbrella mushrooms and eliminate black and slimy spots.
  2. Remove the stems from the umbrella mushrooms and set them aside (don't throw them away!).
  3. Slice the hats in a pie shape along the slats and apart. If you prefer to slice them, you can do so without hesitation.
  4. Distribute the pieces among the tiers of your dehydrator.
  5. Activate the machine (follow the manufacturer's instructions).
  6. While the dehydrator is working, you can cut the stalks into small wheels (just against the grain).
  7. Once the hat pieces are dry, transfer the stem wheels into the machine as well.
  8. Place the dried stem wheels in a coffee grinder or in a mortar to grind them into a flavorful powder.

Dry umbrella mushrooms in the oven and air dry

  1. Clean the umbrella mushrooms and remove black and slimy spots.
  2. Cut the mushrooms into 3 to 5 mm slices.
  3. Spread the slices evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  4. Put the umbrella mushrooms in the oven for about 20 minutes. The temperature should be between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius throughout and the door should be open slightly so that the moisture can escape - simply clamp a wooden spoon between them.
  5. Remove the mushrooms from the oven and lay them out on newspaper.
  6. Let the umbrella mushrooms dry in the midday sun for three to four days (only!).

Note: If you only dry the mushrooms in the oven, you will probably get a very unsightly and tasteless result - namely black and hard specimens.

In general, it is important that the mushroom pieces do not touch each other while drying - and that you turn the slices or pieces regularly. If necessary, replace the newspaper from time to time.

Air dry umbrella mushrooms

  1. Prepare the umbrella mushrooms as usual (wash and cut).
  2. Spread the pieces out on a grid lined with parchment paper or newspaper.
  3. Place the grid in a dry, airy space.

tips

If the mushrooms rustle audibly, they are completely dry.

Store dried umbrella mushrooms

Store dried umbrella mushrooms (also mushroom powder) in airtight, preferably dark jars.

Tips:

  • Mushroom powder is ideal for flavoring sauces, soups and salads.
  • For further processing, soak the mushroom pieces in lukewarm water for about 30 minutes and then use them like fresh mushrooms.

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

  • as a free PDF file to print out yourself

Category:

Vegetable garden