Dehydrating morel mushrooms is a great way to preserve them all year long! It’s a simple process that proves to be the best way to make these tasty fungi last. Dehydrating mushrooms is a popular option for storing fresh morels, so find out the easy tips below.
Every morel mushroom hunter loves learning new ways to make these flavors last!
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Dehydrated morel mushrooms are a great way to store mushrooms and keep them fresh for a long period of time. Many people look at it in a favorite way, although you can freeze morel mushrooms for storage, too.
Preparing Fresh Morel Mushrooms
Before you dry morels, it’s super important to clean them really, really well. This is always the first step that should be done. To clean morels, slice them in half and then place them in a large bowl of cool water, and salt. A salt water soak is the perfect way to get the bugs out of all the crevices that are hiding in it. (and yes, there are ALWAYS some, even if you can’t see them)
Once you’ve cleaned them, lay the halved mushrooms on a clean paper towel to let the water come out.
I will say that if you’re going to air dry morels, people tend to do that whole, so slicing them isn’t common. I would still clean them really, really well!
Air-Drying Morel Mushrooms
Letting the air dry morels is a common practice and technique. This involves stringing them with a needle and thread and drying them out in the open air. Again, most people actually air dry whole mushrooms and don’t slice them for this drying process.
It’s important that you hang dry the morels in a warm to cool, dry place. You’ll find that it will take anywhere from 2 days to 3 weeks for the air to dry out the morels. (it all just depends on the humidity level)
If there is too much humidity in the air, it can take a lot longer of a process. (and it can also cause them to mold!) Be sure that you space the mushrooms out on the thread so that air movement can circulate.
The biggest problem with air drying morels is that mold and spoilage can happen. It also takes a longer time than other drying methods – which isn’t great for people with low patience.
Oven-Dry Morel Mushrooms
Using the oven to dry this delectable fungi is another super popular method. The air flow of the oven keeps a constant hot temperature on the mushrooms, and dries them out over a span of several hours.
Be sure that you clean and slice the morels as you would normally, before placing them on a baking sheet.
Arranging Morels for Drying
To dehydrate morel mushrooms using the oven method, start by arranging the cleaned morels in a single layer on cooling racks placed on top of baking sheets. This setup allows for proper airflow during the drying process.
Drying Morels in the Oven
Set your oven to a low temperature between 120F to 140 F. Place the baking sheets with the morels in the oven and close the oven door.
Leave them in the oven for about 8 – 12 hours. Cooking them low and slow is key.
Using a Food Dehydrator
Once again, clean and slice the large morels and small morels first. Once they are cleaned, place them on dehydrator trays. Make sure that they aren’t overlapping or touching.
Dry the morels at 125 degrees for about 5-8 hours. This type of drying method is great because you can set it and forget it, and don’t have to keep checking on it during the process.
You should still keep an eye on them, however – as you might have to rotate the tray here and there.
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How to Store Dehydrated Morel Mushrooms
To retain the texture of the morel, you need to store them in an airtight container. A lot of people use mason jars or containers with lids for this.
Keep the container in a cool, dark place so that it retains its quality and rich flavors.
It is imperative that you keep moisture out of the container. And yes, the mushrooms should look tiny and be crunchy or hard.
Vacuum sealing containers or bags is a great option to suck out any excess air.
I would also label the jar with the date that they were dehydrated so you have an idea of how soon you need to use them.
If any moisture gets into the container or jar, the mushrooms will mold – and the entire batch will have to be thrown out.
Rehydrating Morel Mushrooms
Once you’re ready to use dried mushrooms, you can rehydrate them by adding them to a bowl of water and letting them soak for a few hours. As they absorb the water, they’ll soften and plump back up. Once they soften, you can then cook them before eating.
It’s important to remember that rehydrated mushrooms are NOT cooked mushrooms. You MUST cook them once they are rehydrated!!!
How to Use Dried Morels
There are many ways to use morel mushrooms in your recipes. The biggest thing to remember and understand is that you cannot eat them raw. You must cook them first!
Once you rehydrate them, you have to cook them by frying them, baking them, sautéing them, air frying them, and more.
I’m a big fan of the good ol’ dip ’em in egg batter and flour method to then fry and enjoy. You can’t go wrong with that one!
How do I prepare fresh morel mushrooms for dehydration?
To prepare fresh morel mushrooms for dehydration, start by cleaning them thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris. Slice the mushrooms lengthwise to ensure even drying. You can then choose your preferred method of dehydration such as air-drying, oven-drying, or using a food dehydrator.
What are the benefits of dehydrating morel mushrooms?
Dehydrating morel mushrooms helps in preserving their flavor and nutrients for a longer period. This also means that you can enjoy the flavors of morels during the middle of winter and you don’t have to wait until the next morel mushroom season to get that delicious unique flavor.
How can I rehydrate dried morels before using them in recipes?
To rehydrate dried morels, simply soak them in warm water for about 20-30 minutes until they become plump and tender. The texture of the morels should be back to normal during that time as well.
What do morel mushrooms taste like?
The flavor of morel mushrooms is unique, and a lot of people will say that they have an earthy flavor and a sort of nutty taste. It’s super important that you remember that you have to cook them fully to enjoy them – and not be fooled by false morels that are out in the woods. False morels are poisonous and cannot be eaten!
Educate yourself on what to look for and how to properly cook morel mushrooms.