How to Rehydrate Dried Mushrooms

Wild mushrooms are a wonderful flavorful addition to many dishes. However, sometimes those mushrooms aren't available in your area or are out of season.

Dried mushrooms, although pricey, can be alternative to unavailable fresh wild mushrooms. An ounce or so of dried mushrooms added to fresh domestic mushrooms can add the right amount of flavor without breaking the bank.

Use the following steps to learn how to rehydrate your dried mushrooms and add some wild flavors to your next dish.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dried mushrooms such as porcini, shiitake or chanterelle
• Liquid for rehydrating; red or white wine, port or Cognac, or chicken or vegetable stock
• Colander
• Bowl

1. Try to buy dried mushrooms from a place that deals in bulk. You'll most likely get a better price, but more importantly, you'll get a larger selection to choose from.
   
   Bulk sellers also tend to turn over their inventory more quickly, therefore offering you a fresher supply.

2. When you get them home, look through them carefully for any foreign objects, twigs or anything not a mushroom.
   
   Once you've sorted through them, rinse well under cold water in a colander. You're looking to remove any grit, dust or growing medium that may be on the mushrooms. Pay particular attention to the gills underneath the caps.

3. Now you're ready to rehydrate the mushrooms. This is also time to add some additional depth and flavor by using something such as Cognac, port, red or white wine. You can also use chicken or vegetable stock. Anything you soak the mushrooms in will leave behind a bit of its flavor.
   
   Conventional wisdom advises against using hot liquids, particularly anything boiling, to rehydrate mushrooms, as it can cause bitterness.

4. Soak the mushrooms for up to six hours in the refrigerator. You may need to put a plate or saucer on top of the mushrooms to keep them under the liquid, as they will float.

5. When the mushrooms are rehydrated, you can chop them, saute them in a bit of butter and add them to your favorite recipe. You can strain the soaking liquid through a coffee filter if it has any grit or dirt that's settled to the bottom of the bowl and incorporate that into soups and stews. It too contains flavors from the mushrooms and can add richness to your recipe.

[1960texan]

on 8/22/2009 Great directions for rehydrating mushrooms, especially the bit about keeping them below the surface of the liquid.

[ScarlettOHairy]

on 6/25/2009 Great instructions for rehydrating mushrooms. I've never tried this but might now.