Simple Dehydrated Mushrooms
Follow this easy dehydrated mushrooms recipe (minced or sliced) in a dehydrator, oven, and air fryer. Easily convert your dehydrated mushrooms into mushroom powder by following the instructions below.
Dehydrating mushrooms is a fantastic way to preserve their flavor and extend their shelf life. By removing the moisture content, dehydrated mushrooms become concentrated in taste and texture, making them perfect for adding depth to various dishes. Imagine those plump fungi transformed into little bursts of concentrated deliciousness. From adding depth to soups and stews to creating tantalizing sauces and risottos, these versatile gems can do it all! And the best part? Dehydrated mushrooms are like flavor-packed powerhouses that fit snugly in your pantry.
Next to dehydrated onions, dried garlic, and dehydrated peppers, dehydrated mushrooms are a kitchen staple!
Why Dehydrated Mushrooms ROCK!
Key Ingredients
Mushrooms: When it comes to dehydrating mushrooms for culinary uses, some varieties are particularly well-suited for the task. Some popular choices include shiitake, porcini, chanterelle, morel, and white button mushrooms. These mushrooms offer a meaty texture and robust flavor when dried, making them fantastic additions to soups, sauces, risottos, and more. Each variety brings its own unique characteristics to the table, so feel free to experiment and discover your personal favorites.
How To Prepare Mushrooms For Dehydrating
Give your mushrooms a quick wash and dry them using the methods outlined below. Remove the stems by slicing or gently snapping them off (my favorite). Decide on your intented use for the dried mushrooms before chopping them. If you want full slices of mushrooms, simply slice them about 1/4 inch thick. If you prefer “chunks” of mushroom, coarsely dice the mushrooms by slicing one way, turning, and slicing in the other direction.
Choose your method for dehydrating raw mushrooms below and follow instructions.
How To Dehydrate Mushrooms In a Dehydrator
Kate’s Two Cents: Using a dehydrator to dry mushrooms is my favorite method of the three because it is simple, energy efficient, you can dry a lot of mushrooms at once, it is easy to control moisture and temperature, AND I can keep the mushroom smell outside.
Step 1. Prepare. Prepare the mushrooms as outlined above.
Step 2. Arrange. Arrange the mushrooms in a single layer on your dehydrator sheet.
Step 3. Dehydrate. Set the dehydrator to the “vegetable” setting or 130°F and dry for 6-8 hours. Drying time depends on the size of your mushroom pieces, uniformity, and general humidity. Check the mushrooms at the 6 hour mark and add drying time as necessary.
Step 4. Check for doneness. For this recipe, mushrooms should be crispy/brittle. The slices and pieces should break when folded and there should be no signs of moisture. Once dried, allow the dried mushroom pieces to cool at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before moving on to conditioning (see section below).
How To Dehydrate Mushrooms In an Oven
Step 1. Prepare. Prepare mushrooms as outlined above.
Step 2. Arrange. Arrange the diced/sliced mushrooms in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet or line your cookie sheet with a jerky mat to elevate it and allow for a bit more airflow.
Step 3. Dry. Set your oven to 170°F. Dry the mushrooms for 90 minutes, stir pieces/ flip slices, and dehydrate for another 90 minutes (adjusting time as needed – m thickness, moisture content, oven temperature and humidity levels can change drying time). Be sure to leave your oven door open slightly to allow moisture to escape. I use a linen dish towel to prop my oven open, you can also use a heat-safe utensil. Some ovens have dehydrate settings- use that, and follow drying guidelines in the dehydrate section.
Step 4. Check for doneness. For this recipe, mushrooms should be crispy/brittle. The slices and pieces should break when folded and there should be no signs of moisture. Once dried, allow the dried mushroom pieces to cool at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before moving on to conditioning (see section below).
How To Dehydrate The Mushrooms Using an Air Fryer
Step 1. Prepare. Prepare the mushrooms as outlined above.
Step 2. Arrange. Arrange the mushrooms in a single layer in your air fryer basket. I use these jerky mats for SO many things in the kitchen including anytime I am dehydrating small pieces of produce in my air fryer. I simply cut one of my mats to fit the bottom of each basket in my Ninja Foodi Air Fryer, allowing me to efficiently arrange produce (mushrooms, garlic, strawberries, peaches, other herbs) without losing them down the grates.
Step 3. Dry. Set your air fryer to the dehydrate setting OR as close to 135°F as possible. Air fry the mushrooms for 2-4 hours, checking for doneness after 2 hours. Adjust time as needed – mushroom thickness, moisture content, higher air fryer temperature and humidity levels can change drying time.
Step 4. Check for Doneness + Condition. Mushrooms are done in the air fryer when the pieces have a hard, crisp texture after being cooled for 10 minutes. Dry mushroom slices and pieces will break when folded, and there will be no signs of moisture when twisted or torn.
Conditioning + Storing Dehydrated Mushrooms
At this point you should condition the dehydrated mushrooms (test for dryness) over 5 days. Place a handful of dried mushrooms in an airtight container. Turn the jar or container once a day for 5 days. After 5 days if you notice moisture, or mold, discard the dried mushrooms. Check out this full guide to conditioning dehydrated fruits and vegetables for more information.
Store dehydrated mushrooms in an airtight container (I love mason jars for this) in a dry, dark place. Dehydrated mushrooms will store for up to twelve months before the flavor and texture starts to degrade.
Tips + Tricks for Dehydrating Mushrooms
- Choose the freshest mushrooms possible- good quality produce produces good quality dehydrated goods. Choose organic when possible to avoid unwanted pesticides. Check out local farmer’s markets, CSA programs, or the organic section of your local grocery store.
- Save mushroom stems for use in your own homemade broth or stock.
- Dehydrate mushrooms outside of your house when possible to avoid strong mushroom smells lingering in your kitchen.
- Keep the size of your sliced/diced mushrooms the same. Uniform pieces will dry at a more even rate.
How To Properly Wash Mushrooms
First things first, grab a colander and give it a quick rinse. Next, gently place your mushrooms under cool running water. It’s important to be gentle here because mushrooms are delicate. Use your fingertips to lightly rub off any dirt or debris.
Pro tip: if you’ve got some stubborn dirt clinging to those caps, a soft-bristled brush works like magic!
Some folks say, “Never let your mushrooms take a bath!” While others swear by a quick dip in a bowl of water. My advice? Find what floats your boat! If you prefer dunking, go for it, just make sure it’s a quick dip – we’re talking seconds, not minutes. After dunking the mushrooms, gently pat them dry with a kitchen towel or blot dry with paper towel. You want them slightly damp, not drenched.
Fresh Mushrooms to Dehydrated Mushroom Conversion
8oz of fresh mushrooms (stems intact) yields about 3 cups of fresh diced.
3 cups of fresh , coarsely diced mushrooms= roughly 3/4 cup of dried mushrooms. This amount will change based on how you have prepared the mushrooms. Sliced, dried mushrooms take up more space than dried, diced mushrooms.
This calculation means that 1/4 cup of dried mushrooms = roughly 1 cup of fresh mushrooms.
How To Make Mushroom Powder
Mushroom Powder: Once you have the dried garlic slices or chunks, place it into a blender or spice grinder and pulse until it reaches a fine powder consistency. You may need to scrape down the sides of the blender or grinder to ensure even grinding. Once you have the desired texture, transfer the mushroom powder to an airtight container for storage.
How to Rehydrate Dried Mushrooms
To begin, place your desired amount of dried mushrooms in a small bowl. Next, cover the mushrooms with cold water and let them soak for about 30 minutes. According to an article put out by the University of Missouri, “When rehydrating, do so in the fridge to reduce the risk of pathogens growing rapidly, which can lead to foodborne illness.” Once the mushrooms have soaked, drain the water and pat them dry with a paper towel. Now, your rehydrated mushrooms are ready to be used in your favorite recipes. If you are adding dried mushrooms to moist dishes, there is no need to rehydrate– they will naturally rehydrate in soups, stews, sauces, etc…
Printable Guide For Dehydrated Mushrooms
Easy Dehydrated Mushroom Recipe
Follow this simple guide to learn how to dehydrate mushrooms (minced or sliced) in a dehydrator, oven, and air fryer.
Dehydrating mushrooms is a fantastic way to preserve their flavor and extend their shelf life.
Ingredients
- 8 oz white mushrooms (or mushroom of choice)
Instructions
- Wash + Dry. Grab a colander and give the mushrooms a quick rinse. Next, gently place your mushrooms under cool running water. Use your fingertips to lightly rub off any dirt or debris, or use a soft bristled brush. Blot dry with a paper towel or clean kitchen cloth.
- Slice. Remove the stems by slicing or gently snapping them off (my favorite). Decide on your intented use for the dried mushrooms before chopping them. If you want full slices of mushrooms, simply slice them about 1/4 inch thick. If you prefer “chunks” of mushroom, coarsely dice the mushrooms by slicing one way, turning, and slicing in the other direction.
- Arrange. Arrange the mushrooms in a single layer on your dehydrator sheet.
- Dehydrate. Set the dehydrator to the “vegetable” setting or 130°F and dry for 6-8 hours. Drying time depends on the size of your mushroom pieces, uniformity, and general humidity. Check the mushrooms at the 6 hour mark and add drying time as necessary.
- Check for doneness. For this recipe, mushrooms should be crispy/brittle. The slices and pieces should break when folded and there should be no signs of moisture. Once dried, allow the dried mushroom pieces to cool at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before moving on to conditioning
- Condition. At this point you should condition the dehydrated mushrooms (test for dryness) over 5 days. Place a handful of dried mushrooms in an airtight container. Turn the jar or container once a day for 5 days. After 5 days if you notice moisture, or mold, discard the dried mushrooms. Check out this full guide to conditioning dehydrated fruits and vegetables for more information.
- Store. Store dehydrated mushrooms in an airtight container (I love mason jars for this) in a dry, dark place. Dehydrated mushrooms will store for up to twelve months before the flavor and texture starts to degrade.
Notes
How To Dry Mushrooms In The Oven
- Prepare. Prepare garlic as outlined above.
- Arrange. Arrange the minced/sliced garlic in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet or line your cookie sheet with a jerky mat to elevate it and allow for a bit more airflow.
- Dry. Set your oven to 170°F. Dry the mushrooms for 90 minutes, stir pieces/ flip slices, and dehydrate for another 90 minutes (adjusting time as needed – m thickness, moisture content, oven temperature and humidity levels can change drying time). Be sure to leave your oven door open slightly to allow moisture to escape. I use a linen dish towel to prop my oven open, you can also use a heat-safe utensil. Some ovens have dehydrate settings- use that, and follow drying guidelines in the dehydrate section.
- Check for doneness. For this recipe, mushrooms should be crispy/brittle. The slices and pieces should break when folded and there should be no signs of moisture. Once dried, allow the dried mushroom pieces to cool at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before moving on to conditioning + storing.
- Condition + Store: See sections 6 + 7 above for storage and conditioning instructions.
How To Dry Mushrooms In The Air Fryer
- Prepare. Prepare the mushrooms as outlined above.
- Arrange. Arrange the mushrooms in a single layer in your air fryer basket. I use these jerky mats for SO many things in the kitchen including anytime I am dehydrating small pieces of produce in my air fryer. I simply cut one of my mats to fit the bottom of each basket in my Ninja Foodi Air Fryer, allowing me to efficiently arrange produce (mushrooms, garlic, strawberries, peaches, other herbs) without losing them down the grates.
- Dry. Set your air fryer to the dehydrate setting OR as close to 135°F as possible. Air fry the mushrooms for 2-4 hours, checking for doneness after 2 hours. Adjust time as needed – mushroom thickness, moisture content, higher air fryer temperature and humidity levels can change drying time.
- Check for Doneness. Mushrooms are done in the air fryer when the pieces have a hard, crisp texture after being cooled for 10 minutes. Dry mushroom slices and pieces will break when folded, and there will be no signs of moisture when twisted or torn.
- Condition + Store: See sections 6 + 7 above for storage and conditioning instructions.
1/4 cup dried mushrooms = approximately 1 cup fresh, diced mushrooms.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 3 Serving Size: 1/4 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 21Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 2mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 2g
Dehydrated Mushrooms FAQ
Dried mushrooms can be added to soup and will rehydrate easily!
This is up to personal preference! In fresh cooking, I always remove the stems- so I follow suit with the dehydrator. If you plan to include the mushroom stems on your dehydrating trays, be sure to remove any woody bits.
3 Recipes Using Dehydrated Mushrooms
Ultimate Venison Burgers | Quick + Easy Deer Burger Recipe
Throw 1/3 of a cup of dehydrated mushroom pieces into the raw deer meat mixture for an instant umami boost! Dried mushrooms can also be thrown into other types of burgers and meatball mixtures.
Mushroom Risotto
Replace fresh mushrooms with dried mushrooms in your favorite mushroom risotto recipe. This recipe from Platings and Pairings uses both fresh and dried mushrooms.
Creamy Mushroom Soup
Rehydrate dried mushrooms to use in a creamy soup base for a simple, mushroom soup sauce. This creamy mushroom soup recipe from Simply Recipes is the perfect use for your dried mushrooms.
