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A large number of mushrooms, collected in the fall in the forest or grown independently at home, are trying to save until spring. The resulting crop is frozen, salted in barrels, marinated. Dried mushrooms retain their natural aroma and taste completely, only they will have to be cooked a little longer - about 50 minutes. Mushrooms are used to prepare caviar, pizza, soups, and fried with potatoes. You can dry the autumn harvest at home in five simple ways.
Is it possible to dry mushrooms, and for whom are they useful?
The answer to the question whether it is possible to dry mushrooms is unequivocal - yes. Mushrooms lend themselves well to this type of harvesting. Honey mushrooms themselves have an excellent aroma, excellent taste, and this is all preserved when dried.
First of all, mushrooms are useful for people suffering from low hemoglobin. They should be included in the diet of every anemic patient. Of the useful microelements, the pulp of the mushroom contains a lot of phosphorus, as well as calcium. If teeth or weak bones often crumble, which is accompanied by frequent fractures, at least every other day you should eat up to 150 g of honey agarics.
Among doctors, nutritionists drew attention to dried mushrooms. Mushrooms are recommended for overweight people for weight loss, as well as for removing cholesterol from the body.
Who should refuse dried honey mushrooms
The conversation about the harmfulness of the mushroom should start with the fact that it is better for an unknowing person to refuse to go to the forest. There are very similar in appearance false mushrooms... If such a representative ends up in the basket, you can get severely poisoned.
As for edible mushrooms, they are difficult to digest, like any other mushroom. Poor absorption is observed in the elderly. People with gastrointestinal problems should stop eating mushrooms or limit them to a minimum.
Honey mushrooms in folk medicine are used as a laxative. People with an upset stomach should consider this point. You can not eat dried honey mushrooms at the same time as taking laxatives.
Another feature of the mushroom is the structure of its pulp. During cooking, it absorbs a lot of salt and oil like a sponge. Overeating can cause swelling. For a losing weight person, a mushroom saturated with oil will do more harm due to the increased calorie content. It is better to just cook honey mushrooms for a diet salad or toss them into soup.
The advantage of drying mushrooms
Often with the question of whether it is possible to dry mushrooms, people are interested in the benefits of this whole process. Let's take a look at all the benefits:
- Dried mushrooms are convenient to store, as they greatly decrease in size after heat treatment. A huge crop will fit in a small bag, not dozens of jars.
- The shelf life is increased, you just need to create favorable conditions.
- Dried mushroom quickly recovers its pulp structure during cooking, giving it an exquisite taste.
- The pulp retains its aroma and useful microelements.
- Drying honey agaric alone allows you to save five times more protein. Preservation and salting do not give such an effect.
Among the disadvantages, there is a decrease in the attractiveness of mushrooms.
Rules for preparing mushrooms for drying
Before you figure out how to dry mushrooms at home, you need to learn how to prepare them for this complex process:
- If the crop was harvested in the forest, then it is subject to mandatory sorting. During the examination, false mushrooms are revealed, old, wormy, dubious mushrooms are thrown away.
- Young housewives are often interested in the question of whether it is necessary to wash mushrooms before drying? Hats with legs are thoroughly wiped from dirt. You can use a slightly damp cloth. If you wash the mushrooms before drying, the pulp will be saturated with moisture. The process will be delayed, and may even be accompanied by rotting.
- Only the hats are usually dried for the winter. Of course, gourmets want to know how to dry mushroom legs in the oven for winter storage. If you want, you can do it, you just have to try. The legs are cut into pieces 3 cm long or divided along with a knife so that the moisture evaporates faster.
Young mushrooms are considered the best for drying. You should not be afraid of a large amount of harvest. After drying, out of 10 kg, only 1.5 kg remains, a maximum of 2 kg of honey agarics.
Five ways to dry mushrooms at home
In the villages, our ancestors dried any crop on metal sheets or ropes. The sun was the source of heat. With the advent of modern household appliances, the process has simplified, but not everyone abandons the old methods.
On a thread
First of all, let's figure out how to dry mushrooms on a string in the old way. The advantage of the method is its simplicity, the absence of the need for costs. From the materials you need a sewing needle, strong thread, or you can take a fishing line. Mushrooms are strung one after another to make beads. It is important to maintain a clearance of about 1 cm for the passage of air.
The resulting beads are hung on the sunny side. The mushrooms should be blown by the wind and stay in the sun longer. In the conditions of an apartment, a balcony is suitable for the procedure. You can make a rectangular frame from the slats, pull the threads and put the structure on the windowsill. Only the process will take a little longer. No one is able to accurately answer the question of how much to dry mushrooms on a string. It all depends on weather conditions, air temperature and humidity. Usually the process lasts at least a week.
On a tray
The second answer to the question of how to dry mushrooms at home using the old method is to use metal trays. The bottom is covered with parchment paper so that the delicate hats do not bake. The mushrooms are evenly spread over a tray and placed in the sun. From time to time, the drying is turned over by hand.
In the oven
The third method will help the hostess learn how to dry mushrooms in the oven if there are no specialized household appliances at hand, and the weather is damp outside. The process is lengthy, complex, requiring constant attention. During drying, the pulp should not release juice and bake.
It is better to use grates for drying. Baking trays will do, only the mushrooms will have to be turned over often, which is very inconvenient and takes a lot of time. It is important to know at what temperature honey mushrooms are dried so as not to spoil them. First, the oven is preheated to 45aboutC. Mushrooms sent out on a wire rack or baking sheet are set for 4.5 hours. During this time, the juice should evaporate. To prevent steam from forming inside the oven, keep the door slightly open.
After 4.5 hours, the temperature is raised to 80aboutC. The door remains ajar at all times. Now comes the crucial moment. Mushrooms are often checked for readiness to avoid overcooking. The finished mushroom is light, bends well, does not break and is resilient.
In an electric dryer
Any modern housewife wants to know if honey mushrooms can be dried in an electric dryer designed for fruits.Of course, this is a great option. The household appliance is equipped with comfortable grilles, but the main advantage is the presence of blowing. The mushrooms are simply laid out, the electric dryer is turned on, and she will do everything herself.
The recipe for drying mushrooms in a vegetable dryer is simple. The mushrooms are sorted, cleaned, the caps are separated from the legs. To speed up the process, you can cut it in half. On the lattice, the hats and legs are laid out in one layer. Drying takes about 6 hours. This acceleration is achieved by blowing hot air with a temperature of 50aboutFROM.
In the microwave
Modern drying honey agarics at home can be done using a microwave oven. The process is inconvenient, requiring constant supervision, but it is often the only way out for apartment residents. The portions are loaded small. After the preparation process, the mushrooms are first placed in the sun so that they become dried. If the weather is cloudy outside, instead of the sun, you will have to use a lamp with a powerful incandescent lamp that emits heat.
When the hats with honey agaric legs become slightly dried, they are laid out in one layer on a plate and sent to the microwave. Drying continues at 100-180 W for a maximum of 20 minutes. After the lapse of time, they try to squeeze the thickest leg or cap with their fingers. If juice is released, they are sent for a second procedure.
The video tells about drying mushrooms:
Secrets of storing dried honey mushrooms
So that the work is not in vain, the storage of dried mushrooms is carried out only in a dry room. The absence of sharp extraneous odors is important, otherwise the pulp will quickly absorb them. If there is space in a clean room, the mushrooms can be left hanging on a string.
To avoid clogging with dust, use homemade paper bags or cloth bags. Glass jars are good for storage. If drying is to be used as a seasoning, grind it with a blender. The powder is stored in a tightly closed glass jar.
It is important to ensure good ventilation during storage. The penetration of flies is unacceptable, otherwise they will lay off the larvae, worms will start. Subject to the conditions, mushrooms can be stored for three years. All this time, you can cook delicious dishes from them and delight your loved ones with them.
