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Drying chanterelle mushrooms at home is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Not all people know which forest products are allowed to be dried, but this is important, since not all varieties can be subjected to the pre-treatment that mushrooms must undergo before drying.
Are chanterelles dried for the winter?
As you know, not every type of mushroom is suitable for drying. For example, some varieties after processing acquire an unpleasant taste or even crumble. As for chanterelles, they are the very option that is great not only for drying, but also for pickling and frying.
This type of mushroom is rich in beneficial vitamins and microelements. In addition, they contain ergosterol, trametonolinic acid and chitinmannose, the olisaccharide D-mannose. All this allows us to fight various parasites from which humans suffer. According to numerous studies, only raw or dried mushrooms can get rid of such pests.You can also store fresh chanterelles in the freezer, but the dried product takes up much less space, so many people prefer to dry them. As a medicine, a tincture is made from dried chanterelles. To do this you need:
- Grind 10 g of dried mushrooms in a coffee grinder.
- Pour the resulting powder with vodka in a volume of 150 ml.
- Leave for ten days, shaking occasionally.
In order to achieve a therapeutic effect, it is worth knowing how to properly dry chanterelles for medicine. The final quality of the product depends on adherence to technology.
How to prepare chanterelles for drying
Drying chanterelles is one of the most common options for preparing preparations for the winter. The processing of mushrooms should be approached with all responsibility, since the quality of the dried product depends on it. Before drying chanterelles for the winter, you must adhere to the following rules:
- Choose the right mushrooms. They should be young, elastic, beautiful and whole. As a rule, they are not worm-bearing, since they contain the substance quinomannose, but it is still worth checking for their presence.
- Thoroughly clean off dirt and grass. It is not recommended to wash immediately before the process, as they absorb a lot of water, which will affect the drying time. If the surface of the mushroom is very dirty, you can lightly wipe it with a sponge or carefully remove the skin.
How to properly dry chanterelles at home
Quite often, many people dry mushrooms whole, but this approach does not always lead to good results. This is due to the fact that not all the moisture may come out of whole chanterelles, which will lead to the appearance of mold. It is best to cut them into small slices.This will not only provide a high-quality product, but will also significantly reduce the time spent on drying. There are several ways to dry chanterelles. It is worth considering each separately.
How to dry chanterelles in an electric dryer
Drying chanterelles at home using an electric dryer is quite simple. The drying process using this method does not require constant monitoring and presence. It has several tiers, where small pieces are evenly laid out in a thin layer. Dry the mushrooms at a temperature of 55 degrees for about 5 - 6 hours. Properly dried chanterelles should be dry, but not crumbly. The thinner the slices are cut, the less time it will take to dry the chanterelles at home. To speed up the process, you can periodically swap the pallets.
How to dry chanterelle mushrooms in the oven
You can dry chanterelles in the oven both for medicine and as preparations for the winter. To do this, clean mushrooms are laid out on a wire rack in one layer at a short distance from each other. To ensure even cooking during the drying process, they should be turned and rearranged as often as possible. When drying mushrooms in the oven, it is very important to ensure that the temperature does not exceed 60 degrees. Experts recommend preheating the oven to 40 degrees at the very beginning, gradually bringing it to maximum temperature. The duration of drying chanterelles in the oven will depend on their size.
How to dry chanterelles in the microwave
Drying mushrooms in the microwave takes much longer than other options. To do this, use the minimum power of this equipment and turn it on for 20 minutes. After this, the tiers with mushrooms are removed and ventilated for about 10 minutes so that all moisture evaporates. This process should be repeated until they are completely dry.
How to dry chanterelle mushrooms in an air fryer
Only non-wormy and fresh mushrooms can be dried in an air fryer. The chanterelles should be spread out on its surface in a thin layer, since an unsorted pile can lead to large mushrooms remaining raw and small ones burning. As a rule, even specimens of similar size can dry differently, so it is important to periodically check their readiness and remove dry ones. Approximate drying time is about 2 hours at 70 degrees. You should also carefully ensure that they do not dry out, as the aroma and taste will be lost. But not drying it completely is also dangerous, since mold can form on wet chanterelles.
How to air dry chanterelles for the winter
This method is only suitable if the weather outside is sunny and warm. This process takes about 10 days. To begin with, leave the mushrooms on newspaper in a ventilated place to dry them a little. After which the workpiece is laid out on a special grid and covered with gauze. They should be turned over from time to time.
How to determine the readiness of mushrooms
Determining the degree of readiness is not difficult: when bent, the pieces should spring slightly and not break, and look completely dry in appearance. If the dried pieces have darkened, become hard and break, then they have been overdried. Such a product is no longer suitable as a medicine, but it can be used to make mushroom seasoning. To do this, grind the dried pieces in a coffee grinder, add a little salt and mix well. Pour the resulting mixture into a glass container and close tightly.
Terms and conditions of storage of dried chanterelles
Any mushrooms tend to absorb all sorts of foreign aromas, so improper storage can ruin the product. In this regard, after drying, they should be cooled to room temperature and placed in a glass jar with a tightly closed lid. This product should be stored in a dry and ventilated area.
Conclusion
Drying chanterelle mushrooms at home is quite simple. There are quite a few ways to do this: using an electric dryer, oven, convection oven, and even in the fresh air.Regardless of which drying method the housewife chooses, it is important to remember that the mushrooms must first be thoroughly processed, but under no circumstances washed. But the dried product should be washed before use and then soaked in water for several hours. If you follow all the rules, you can prepare a tasty and healthy product.
