View source for Tutorials/Harvest/Drying and Storage

Fresh mushrooms are mostly water, around 90%, and start breaking down within days. Drying them properly lets you keep a harvest for a year or more. Colorado's dry air is a real advantage here.

== Fresh storage ==
If you'll use them within a few days:
* Don't wash them. Brush off any substrate.
* Store them in a '''paper bag''' in the fridge. Plastic traps moisture and turns them slimy.
* Most keep about 5–7 days this way.

== Drying ==
The goal is '''cracker dry''': a stem should snap cleanly with an audible crack, not bend. Anything less than cracker dry can mold in storage.

=== Food dehydrator (most reliable) ===
# Clean off substrate and trim any dirty stem bases.
# Cut large mushrooms in half lengthwise so they dry evenly.
# Spread them on the trays in a single layer, not touching.
# Dry on a '''low setting''', roughly 95–120°F. High heat dries faster but can cook them and darken the color.
# Most batches take 6–24 hours, depending on size. Check by snapping the thickest stem.

=== Fan and air drying ===
Indoor air in Colorado is often 10–25% humidity, which is dry enough to air-dry mushrooms without heat.
# Lay the mushrooms on a wire rack or screen so air reaches every side.
# Point a fan at them. Moving air is what does the work.
# Expect them to reach a leathery stage in a day or two. This is usually '''not''' fully dry; finish them in a dehydrator or with desiccant (below).

=== Desiccant finish ===
For a guaranteed dry, seal fan-dried or dehydrator-dried mushrooms in an airtight container with a few '''silica gel''' packets for a day or two. The silica pulls out the last of the moisture.

== Long-term storage ==
* '''Airtight containers''': mason jars or vacuum-sealed bags.
* Add a '''desiccant packet''' (food-safe silica gel) to each container.
* Store them '''cool, dark, and dry'''. Light and heat degrade dried mushrooms over time.
* '''Label''' each container with the strain and harvest date.
* Check jars occasionally for the first few weeks. Any softness, condensation, or musty smell means they weren't fully dry; re-dry them right away.

Dried properly and stored this way, mushrooms keep well for a year or more.

== Rehydrating ==
Soak dried mushrooms in warm water for 20–30 minutes. Keep the soaking liquid; it carries a lot of flavor for cooking.

{{Cultivation}}
[[Category:Tutorials]]
[[Category:Harvest]]