How to Dry and Store Mushrooms at Home

Fresh mushrooms don't keep long. Left in the fridge, most varieties turn slimy or start losing flavour within a week. Drying is the simplest way to extend that shelf life from days to months, and dried mushrooms often develop a deeper, more concentrated flavour than fresh ones, particularly with meatier varieties like shiitake and porcini.

Why Dry Your Mushrooms?

Drying removes the moisture that mould and bacteria need to grow, which is why properly dried mushrooms can be stored for a year or more without spoiling. It also concentrates flavour compounds, so a small amount of dried mushroom can do the work of a much larger quantity fresh. If you're harvesting more than you can eat from a grow kit or bulk substrate, drying is the most practical way to avoid waste.

Best Drying Methods

Air Drying: slice mushrooms thinly (3-5mm) and lay them on a wire rack or thread them onto string in a warm, dry, well-ventilated spot out of direct sunlight. This works well in a warm kitchen but can take several days and isn't reliable in humid conditions.

Oven Drying: set your oven to its lowest temperature, ideally under 50°C, and prop the door open slightly to let moisture escape. Lay sliced mushrooms on a wire rack rather than a solid tray so air can circulate underneath. This takes four to eight hours depending on slice thickness.

Using a Dehydrator: a dedicated mushroom dehydrator gives the most consistent results, with even heat and airflow that dry mushrooms fully without cooking them. It's the method we'd recommend if you're drying regularly, especially for bulkier harvests from monotubs or multiple grow kits. Our mushroom dehydrator is sized for home growers and takes the guesswork out of the process.

How to Tell When Mushrooms Are Fully Dried

Fully dried mushrooms should be brittle and snap rather than bend. If a piece feels leathery or flexible, it still has moisture in it and needs more time. Any dried mushroom that isn't fully brittle right through risks mould growth in storage, so it's worth checking a few pieces from different parts of the batch before packing them away.

Storing Dried Mushrooms Properly

Once fully dried, cool the mushrooms completely before storing, sealing warm mushrooms traps condensation inside the container. Store in an airtight jar or vacuum-sealed bag, away from direct light and heat. Stored this way, most dried mushrooms keep their flavour for six to twelve months, though they remain technically safe to eat for longer if kept dry.

Rehydrating Dried Mushrooms

To use dried mushrooms in cooking, soak them in warm water for twenty to thirty minutes until pliable, then drain. Don't discard the soaking liquid, it carries a lot of the mushroom's flavour and works well as a base for stocks, risottos, or sauces.

If you're looking for ways to use your harvest, whether fresh or rehydrated, our recipes blog has ideas for putting them to good use.