How to Dry Shiitake Mushrooms

You can slice shiitake mushrooms before drying them.

Shiitake mushrooms have a distinctive flavor that is much richer than that of many other mushroom varieties. Additionally, they can strengthen your immune system and provide a high dose of antioxidants, according to the World's Healthiest Foods at whfoods.com. You can store fresh shiitake mushrooms in a paper bag in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. If you wish to store them for longer, however, you can dry them and store them indefinitely in an airtight container.

Things You'll Need

• Knife (optional)
• Dehydrator (optional)
• Baking sheet (optional)
• Airtight container

Instructions

1. Rinse your shiitake mushrooms thoroughly in cool running water to remove any grit, insects or other contaminants.

2. Slice your shiitake mushrooms into thin strips, if desired. This is not necessary, but will make your shiitake mushrooms dry faster and may be easier to use in some recipes.

3. Place your shiitake mushrooms into your dehydrator and run it according to the dehydrator's instructions. Dehydrate your mushrooms until they are light and fairly dry, but still slightly flexible rather than brittle or crisp. Alternately, spread your shiitake mushrooms onto a baking sheet and place them in your oven. Turn the oven's heat on as low as possible (generally 200 degrees Fahrenheit) and open the oven door. Leave the baking sheet in the warm, open oven until the shiitake mushrooms are dried.

4. Place the dried mushrooms into an airtight container and store them out of direct sunlight.

References

• The World's Healthiest Foods: Mushrooms, Shiitake
• Fine Cooking: Shiitake Mushrooms
• PlanetGreen.com: Preserving the Harvest: Drying Mushrooms

Resources

• Fungifun: Mushroom Growers' Handbook: Shiitake