Is it time to harvest your mushrooms, then it’s also time to think about what to do with your carefully cultivated mushrooms. Mushrooms don’t have a very long shelf life (ranging from a few days to two weeks) and it would be a shame for them to spoil anyway. In general, that’s why it’s convenient if you’re going to dry them. This is not difficult, and it assures you of a supply of mushrooms that will retain their flavor and potency for a long time to come.

But how do you tackle this, you ask? In any case, start drying your mushrooms immediately after harvesting. This will remove all the excess moisture. You can use one of the methods below.

Air drying

This is the easiest method, but not the most effective. Grab a towel, kitchen paper or a large piece of cardboard. On this you are going to put your mushrooms, so, that they don’t touch each other. Place the cardboard or cloth in an area that is well ventilated. An additional heat source may be helpful, such as a fireplace or place them in sunlight. A fan can also help speed up the process. If you use a towel or kitchen paper, replace it occasionally, as the moisture from the mushrooms will soak into it.

Drying your mushrooms will take several days. They start to look wrinklier and drier. Don’t stop drying too soon. If moisture remains in the mushrooms, it can cause them to mold and spoil. You can test if your mushrooms are properly dry. Take one in your hand and bend it in half. If it breaks, it is dry enough.

Drying using a drying agent

Another and convenient way that makes drying easier and faster is to use a drying agent. For example, you can use silica gel. These are those little bags that you can find in packages whose contents need to stay dry well. Silica gel absorbs moisture from the environment very effectively. The substance is non-toxic, so you can also use it to dry mushrooms.

You tackle this as follows. Place the silica gel in a spacious container that you can seal airtight. Now take a drying rack (or make your own from a piece of gauze) and put it over the gel. This is where you now place your mushrooms. The rack is designed to prevent the mushrooms from touching the gel. Now put the lid on the container and check every day to see if your magic mushrooms are already dry.

Another option is to make your own desiccant. You can easily do that with Epsom salt. In fact, this can also absorb moisture well. Before it is usable, you must first heat it to 250 degrees Celsius. By doing so, you remove all the moisture from the salt. Place 1 cm of Epsom salt on a baking sheet and bake for 2 hours at 250 degrees in the oven. Break the slice of salt into pieces and use the same method as for the silica gel. It does not need to cool down first.

Mushrooms drying with a dehydrator

The last way to dry your mushrooms is with a dehydrator. This device is used to dry food, so it is also suitable for magic mushrooms. It contains a heating element that will heat the mushrooms, causing them to dry out. A fan allows hot air to dissipate.

A dehydrator does represent an investment, but if you grow magic mushrooms often, it may be worth it to purchase one. The device helps dry your mushrooms in a hygienic way, you run much less risk of contamination and drying also takes much less time. With a dehydrator, your mushrooms will be dry within 4 to 8 hours