Storage of dried mushrooms
In addition to harvesting a good harvest, the mushroom picker faces another challenge. Storage of dried mushrooms is an equally important issue. For this, high-quality and properly prepared fruit bodies are suitable. If you follow certain rules, then the products will not lose their original taste and aroma.
Storage of dried mushrooms
Training
Well-dried mushrooms are suitable for storage. The increased moisture content in the product contributes to the appearance of mold and, accordingly, the destruction of fungi. Old and spoiled copies are unsuitable for storage. They usually contain a lot of toxins. It is dangerous to eat such mushrooms.
Well-dried fruit bodies break easily and retain a pleasant mushroom aroma. Overdried specimens crumble, but you should not throw them away. In this case, it is better to grind the product into powder and add to different dishes.
Storage
The place must meet certain requirements. The optimal storage conditions for dried foods are as follows:
- temperature indicators at the level of + 11 ... + 15˚С;
- low humidity.
You should not keep the product in a cellar, in which dampness causes damage to the fruit bodies. One of the suitable places for storing dry mushrooms in a country house is the attic. For this, it is specially prepared:
- insulate;
- close up the cracks;
- wooden beams are treated with an antiseptic.
The room should be free of drafts and sudden temperature changes. If you plan to keep the dehydrated (dried) mushrooms in the apartment, you should place them in a dark pantry with good air circulation.
Storage method
Mushrooms tend to absorb different odors. For this reason, only food products are stored next to them, excluding onions, garlic, tea, coffee and other substances with a strong aroma. Correctly selected containers will help to extend the shelf life. Every 2-3 weeks, stocks are inspected for the presence of pests and mold. If they have absorbed moisture, then dry them again. This is determined by the soft state of the fruit bodies.
In bundles
You can save dried mushrooms if you string them on a string or fishing line and hang them in the attic. It is worth protecting the bundle from moths. To do this, it is wrapped with gauze folded in several layers and pre-moistened with saline solution.
In boxes
The vessel should be made of cardboard or wood.
The method is convenient when a large crop is harvested. Drying is prepared by this method:
- paper is placed on the bottom of the box;
- lay the product;
- carefully cover with a layer of sheets.
In linen bags
Flax bags are suitable for storage.
You can store dried mushrooms at home in homemade sacks.
They are made from natural fabrics. Flax, cotton will do. But some types of fruiting bodies lose their aroma after a certain time. Therefore, this storage method is most suitable for oyster mushrooms, champignons, porcini and Polish mushrooms.The advantages of using bags include saving space in the apartment, and the disadvantages are that drying is damaged by moths. To prevent her invasion, you should first perform the following actions:
- boil the material in a saline solution;
- dry;
- iron.
In glass jars
One of the most reliable ways. Protects mushrooms from moisture, pests and odors. Jars made of dark glass will do. They must be sterilized and dried well (you can in the oven). The use of vacuum lids will extend the shelf life.
If the cans are closed with metal lids, then a little alcohol is dripped onto them from the inside. It is set on fire, and the vessel is sealed. In the process of combustion, oxygen will disappear, a vacuum is formed.
In kraft bags
Such packaging is environmentally friendly and waterproof, preserves the quality of dried fruit bodies for a long time. To protect them from pests, hot peppers are placed in the bag.
In a vacuum container
To store dry mushrooms at home, use bags or containers, pumping air out of them. In this case, moisture and aromas will not affect the quality of the product. A significant disadvantage of the method is the high price of such packages, but this disadvantage is compensated by their suitability for reusable use and the lack of special care. The air must be evacuated every time the next batch of drying is taken.
Irina Selyutina (Biologist):
When storing dried mushrooms in a vacuum package, you need to know that:
- Deep vacuum is only generated by pump models. If your packaging creates a vacuum by pressing the lid, this model, although convenient, does not guarantee long-term storage of the pledged product.
- This type of packaging allows you to store mushrooms not only in high humidity conditions, but also next to pungent-smelling foods.
In a vacuum container, the harvested crop is stored in the refrigerator. The product is placed in the "freshness zone". Sometimes dry mushrooms are placed in the freezer, pre-placing them in bags with a lock-slider or in an airtight package. Attention! With this method of storage, the product is divided into portions, because the fruit bodies cannot be re-frozen. Otherwise, they will lose their taste.
Storage time
It is best to use drying before the next harvesting season, but it may be suitable for a longer period.
The shelf life of dried mushrooms depends on several factors:
- quality of fruit bodies;
- their kind;
- room microclimate;
- containers.
If the conditions are met, porcini mushrooms do not lose their qualities for the longest time. They are stored for up to 2-3 years. But fruit bodies are kept in linen bags for no more than a year. Boletus and aspen mushrooms are not suitable for long-term storage. They should be consumed earlier than 12 months after drying.
Irina Selyutina (Biologist):
Each type of mushroom has its own shelf life when dried. But they also say that for mushrooms there is an average shelf life of 3 years. If, after this time interval, the hostess wants to use such a mushroom mixture of her own production in cooking, initially it must be checked for freshness:
- Smell: should be "clean", without changes - mushroom;
- Insect damage: bugs, moth larvae (worms), holes in fruit bodies, strange crumbs should not be visually noticeable;
- Mold: on the surface of properly stored mushrooms, a “forest” of flour or other molds cannot appear.
If the appearance or smell of mushroom drying causes you concerns, it is better to throw it away.
The shelf life of dried mushrooms purchased in the store is no more than 1.5 years. When this period expires, the drying is inspected. If the flavor or appearance has changed, you should not use it. Also, do not use the product if mold is found or the fruit bodies have turned into crumbs.
Conclusion
Dry coarse will not spoil if you follow all the rules.In order not to spoil a valuable product, it is worth regularly inspecting stocks. If a mole appears, the drying is washed and placed in an oven with a temperature of 60-70 ˚С.
When harvesting mushrooms at home, a sticker with the date of packaging (bookmarks for storage) should be glued to the container. If, after a certain time, their quality is in doubt, the product should not be used.
