How to dry mushrooms

One of the best ways to study the properties of hallucinogenic mushrooms is to analyze dried mushrooms. Therefore, we will explain how to dry mushrooms from the mushroom bread growing kit using different methods. We will also discuss how to preserve them in the best possible way to maintain their properties intact and prevent them from rotting.

Why dry mushrooms?

Drying hallucinogenic mushrooms allows you to preserve them in good condition. You’ll be able to store them for several years before studying them! To achieve this, it is necessary to remove almost all the moisture they contain. This article details different methods for you to choose according to the necessary resources.

All the techniques that will be explained work perfectly. They differ in the time needed to reach the optimal point of dehydration for study and/or preservation. It is important to note that for those who use hallucinogenic mushrooms in areas where these practices are legal, the doses and effects of hallucinogenic mushrooms will vary depending on whether they are fresh or dehydrated.

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Before drying: disinfection

Before drying mushrooms, it is important to disinfect the work environment, as well as the tools and containers that will be used during the process.

Disinfection of the work environment

It is essential to disinfect the work environment when growing mushrooms at home. For this, distilled water with 5-10% bleach can be used. Two clean cloths will also be needed.

One of the cloths is moistened with the mixture of water and bleach and wiped over the work surface. The other one is moistened with distilled water only to remove any bleach residue. Then, let the space air out for a few hours, and it will be ready to use.

Disinfecting tools and storage containers

Regardless of the material used to dry hallucinogenic mushrooms, it must be disinfected to prevent contamination risks. Failure to comply with these standards can lead to problems affecting their study. Here is the material needed to disinfect tools and storage containers:

• Alcohol
• Lighter
• Distilled water
• Unscented bleach
• Unscented paper towels
• Talc-free latex gloves

If using scissors or other steel tweezers to harvest and handle the mushrooms, you should dip them in alcohol and heat them with a lighter. Then rinse them in a container with distilled water to remove any alcohol residue and place them on a disinfected surface and/or unscented paper towels.

The airtight container that will be used to store the mushrooms should be filled with distilled water and 5-10% bleach. Then, it must be vigorously shaken for a few seconds to disinfect it completely and then rinsed at least three times only with distilled water. Afterwards, let it dry on a disinfected surface.

Pre-drying

Before starting the definitive drying process, it is necessary to perform an initial drying. The equipment needed for pre-drying will be as follows:

• Talc-free latex gloves
• Unscented paper towels
• Fan
• Thermohygrometer

To achieve good pre-drying and prevent molds from appearing during the preservation of the mushrooms, it is important to ensure that the pre-drying space is disinfected, dark, and has airflow (fan). This will accelerate the drying process. With the help of the thermohygrometer, it must be ensured that the humidity of the environment does not exceed 55%.

Therefore, the mushrooms should be separated on paper towels. Thus, they will lose much of their moisture naturally. This method is the most used by mushroom growers. This process cantake several days depending on the time of year and the conditions of the drying space.

Once this first pre-drying stage is completed, these mushrooms can be used without problems for studies or analysis. However, it is ideal to carry out a complete dehydration process. This will begin when the mushrooms have a more or less brittle texture.

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Drying mushrooms: different methods

To achieve the drying of pre-dried hallucinogenic mushrooms, it is possible to use different methods, some very simple and others a bit more complex. As explained at the beginning, you can choose the one that suits you best. To dry hallucinogenic mushrooms, you will need the following material:

• Talc-free latex gloves
• Airtight glass jars
• Unscented paper towels
• Silica gel packets (optional)
• Epsom salts (optional)
• Food dehydrator (optional)
• Vermiculite (optional)

Additionally, it is worth remembering to use several small airtight jars to store and distribute your collections. This will prevent you from having to open and close a single airtight jar every time you want to analyze one or more mushrooms.

Method 1: silica gel packets

Place the paper towel at the bottom of a glass jar and arrange several mushrooms, avoiding overcrowding. It is preferable to put fewer mushrooms so that they do not touch. Finally, insert a small silica gel packet (like those found with clothes) to remove moisture.

A single small packet per jar is more than enough. If you only have a few jars, you can layer alternating a piece of paper, mushrooms, a piece of paper, etc. However, care must be taken not to crush them too much.

Method 2: food dehydrator

Insert the pre-dried hallucinogenic mushrooms into the food dehydrator leaving some space between them. Set the temperature to 55 °C and let it act for approximately 8 hours. This process can be done similarly in an oven. Be sure to clean the dehydrator well after use as spores may remain.

Method 3: vermiculite

Form a 1 or 2 cm layer of vermiculite at the bottom of the airtight jars. Place a layer of paper towel and arrange the mushrooms on top. This method is quite simple and is very similar to using silica gel. It is an interesting alternative if you do not have silica gel packets. Moreover, it is relatively inexpensive.

Method 4: Epsom salts

This is the most laborious method to perform. It is also one of the best options. To prepare the Epsom salts, you will need an oven and a tray. Preheat the oven to 220 – 250 °C. Pour a 1 cm layer of salt on the tray. Place it in the oven at medium height and let it bake for about 2 hours. This will allow the salts to lose all their moisture, and they will be ready to absorb the little moisture that may still be present in the mushrooms.

Once the salt is prepared, it is important to quickly place it in the airtight jars to prevent it from becoming moist again. A 1 cm layer should be placed at the bottom of the airtight jars. Then, a paper towel and the mushrooms should be placed on top, making sure they do not touch the Epsom salts.

As seen, the most important thing for proper storage and preservation of mushrooms is to control humidity. Otherwise, the time for studying them can be drastically reduced. Our readers should be reminded that the recommendations provided are only for the study and analysis of mushrooms and in no case for consumption. GB The Green Brand is not responsible for misuse of this article for informational purposes.