How to Dehydrate Mushrooms and Mushroom Powder
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Dehydrate mushrooms and make a mushroom powder seasoning that elevates the fungi into so much more! Dried mushrooms mushroom powder are amazing pantry staples you should always have!
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Fresh mushrooms are awesome, but don’t have a long shelf life. Dehydrating mushrooms gives you the chance to make them shelf-stable to use in your everyday cooking, and you can store them for a few years!
But the best thing about dehydrated mushrooms?
The powder.
Oh, the mushroom powder! It’s just to die for.
Well, please be really careful about the mushrooms you use to make it – you don’t really want to die from it!
How to Prepare Mushrooms for Drying
To brush or rinse. That is the question.
The truth is, you can do either. Really.
Whether you’ve picked safe mushrooms or you have purchased some from your local grocer, there is some sort of cleaning to be done.
- Wiping: wiping of the dirt/medium of you mushroom is generally good enough to clean for eating. You can use a mushroom brush, a cloth, or even a damp cloth.
- Rinsing: Rinsing in water is safe to do, as well. Mushrooms will absorb only a small amount of water.
Don’t Mushrooms Soak Up Too Much Water?
Alton Brown did an experiment on his show Good Eats back in the day called “Fungal Gourmet”. You can read the transcript of the show, but the final findings were that mushrooms were absorbing only about a teaspoon of water, whether they were rinsed or soaked for 10-30 minutes.
So, if you have particularly dirty mushrooms – don’t be afraid to rinse them to help clean them up!
The only thing it might do is make your mushrooms a little darker after drying.
How to Dehydrate Mushrooms
Quick Instructions: Slice and dry at 125°F / 52°C until dry and brittle.
These instructions are going to be for generic mushroom drying. Most of us can access a few kinds from the local grocery store. You may have more options at specialty stores, and you may pick your own.
Step 1: Rinse or brush clean.
Mushrooms are best if there are no signs of mold growing on cut ends, that the gills have not opened and fallen apart, etc. Fresh mushrooms are best.
If you have stems that are large or woody, you can remove them and do them separately – they are perfect for powder (instructions below).
Step 2: Slice into 1/4 slices
Cutting with a knife is a perfect way to cut the slices. You do not have to be exact, but 1/4″ gives a good efficient drying size without breaking too easily.
You can use this mushroom slicer if you want more control over the exact size of your mushroom pieces. I caution against using a regular egg slicer as the mushrooms can break the wires.
Alternatively, you can pulse your mushrooms in your food processor or use a vegetable chopper like the one I use in the video and create mushroom pieces. This is my favorite way of using and storing mushrooms for regular use and makes it easy to powder when I’m ready. It also decreases the drying time by half or more.
TIP: If you’re doing a ton of mushrooms, use a good, heavy-duty egg slicer with solid blades to help slice your mushrooms. I use this one from Amazon as I’ve never found one in a local store. Using a regular egg slicer with the wire cutters will lead to the wires breaking.
Step 3: Dry at 125°F-135°F (52°C to 57°C)
Mushroom Slices – place your slices onto your dehydrator racks. You do not have to use protection as they don’t stain and they don’t tend to stick.
Mushroom Pieces: With the mushroom pieces, fruit leather sheets or parchment/baking paper is recommended as pieces will dry small and can fall through to the bottom.
Slices will take approximately 6-10 hours to dry, pieces will be dry in 3-6 hours.
Step 4: Dryness Test
Mushrooms should be cooled to test. They should break easily and have a leathery texture
Step 5: Condition
Condition by placing dried mushrooms into a large, airtight container. Shake once a day for a week. Keep an eye out for any indication that there is condensation, sticking or other moisture issues.
As long as no mold is found, you can throw them back into the dehydrator if needed.
Step 6: Storage
Store in an airtight container for up to two years. You can use a desiccant pack if you live in a humid environment and are in and out of the container a lot.
Dehydrating Different Mushroom Varieties
Beech Mushrooms
How to Dehydrate Mushrooms in the Oven
- Thinly slice cleaned mushrooms
- Place on parchment paper on a cooling rack that is over a cookie sheet for best results. This keeps the paper off the hot cookie sheet.
- Dry for 1-2+ hours at a temp below 200°F.
- You can flip after the first 30 minutes to release moisture from the bottom of the mushroom slices.
- Cool, then test for dryness – leathery texture, easy to break apart.
- Condition
- Store in airtight containers in a cool, dark place for up to two years.
Dehydrate Canned Mushrooms
If you are short on time, have a load of canned that you want to convert, or just want to experiment, yes, you can dehydrate canned mushrooms.
Following the above steps for the drying process, this is what my experience has been.
They shrink up tremendously. The canning process breaks down all the fibers, which is why they are so soft, thus once dried, they shrink tremendously.
Their flavor is definitely changed resulting from salt used in the canning process, etc.
Their flavor is not great (this is my personal opinion, you may love them), and are fine to go ahead and powder to use instead.
Best Mushrooms for Mushroom Powder
My personal take is whatever safe mushrooms you can get your hands on, use them. However, price plays into this in that bulk creating mushroom powder from very expensive mushrooms can be cost prohibitive.
The more flavor a mushroom has, the better suited for mushroom powder. But even with the simple Button Mushroom, the dehydrated mushroom powder is amazing. We actually prefer it over dehydrated mushrooms in our meals.
- Button
- Cremini
- Shitaki
- Portobello
- Oyster
- Porcini
- Chicken of the Wood
- Oyster
- Any foraged mushroom that is safe to eat
There are so many varieties to choose from and not all listed here. My criteria is usually how much powder will get (which is why I don’t use Enoki or Beech – they are saved for dried and cooking).
I generally look for bulk alternatives since I make this once a year.
Safety:
- Know your mushrooms, and don’t dry anything you can’t identify as edible.
- Know which mushrooms need to be cooked before being eaten (Morel, Porchini, Honey.
- Mycologist Paul Stamets suggests that no mushrooms should be eaten raw (as they are largely indigestible and don’t give you full nutrients), but you’ll be using your mushrooms in meals.
Rehydrating Dried Mushrooms
- Mushrooms are best rehydrated in a pot of simmering water for 30 minutes.
- Then they need plenty of time to cook in the meal you are using them in for best results.
- Save the water to add to the broth – it’s incredible!
If you really love the mushroom flavor but aren’t a fan of the texture of rehydrated mushrooms – take it a step further with mushroom powder!
How to Make Mushroom Powder
Place mushrooms in the grinder of your choice (bullet blender, coffee grinder, or large blender).
- Pulse until larger pieces break up, then grind until you have a fine powder
- Remove and allow to cool
- Place in an airtight container for up to a year
- Use about 1 Tablespoon (or personal preference) for added ‘umami’ flavor to any savory dish.
Uses for Mushroom Powder
You can think of mushroom powder as being a shot of umami – that unknown quantity that just makes things have a deep flavor profile. Some compare it a little adding MSG, without the MSG. It’s a meaty flavor that is hard to quantify.
- Add 1 TB (or more or less to your liking) to mac n cheese sauce
- Toss into spaghetti sauce for flavor without the texture
- Create a Mushroom Powder Seasoning Blend
- Sprinkle on top of meat or add to a burger blend
- Make this Mushroom and Parmesan Seasoning blend for everything!
- Use as a seasoning base for roasting potatoes or green beans or other root vegetables.
- Make your own Cream of Mushroom soup for cooking.
Watch How I do it all in this video:
In the video, I used the Saraha Folding Dehydrator by Brod & Taylor. It folds up into 1/3 of the size of a standard dehydrator and can be tucked away in your closet, under your bed, or behind a couch. It’s a great choice for those with limited storage space like small house dwellers and RV/Campers.
Dehydrating Mushroom FAQs
Yes, you can, but they are a poor substitute for fresh, dried mushrooms. They have a rubberized texture, are usually much saltier, but do translate to a seasoned powder well.
Properly stored, dried mushrooms last quite a few years, though the ‘safe’ answer is about a year. Mushroom powder also lasts much longer than typical powders, up to two years.
While you can, I don’t recommend it. They are better used as they are unless you just need to do it because your freezer died. They turn dark, and hard and don’t have the same texture as doing fresh. Dehydrating would be a last resort.
Try canning mushrooms for pantry storage! It is easy to do in small or large quantities, and the process will give you a wonderful broth to use as well for making risotto or other meals!
Thoughts or questions?
If you’ve had questions about dehydrating mushrooms or have some experience to share in how you use them, please leave a comment below!
Other Ways to Use Mushrooms
Dehydrate Mushrooms & Make Mushroom Powder
Equipment
- Coffee grinder Use a coffee grinder, bullet blender or blender to create powder
Ingredients
- Mushrooms Use whatever safe mushroom you'd like to use!
Instructions
How to Dehydrate Mushrooms
- Rinse or brush clean.
- Slice into 1/4 slices
- Place into single layers on dehydrator trays
- Dry at 125°F-135°F (52°C to 57°C)
- Test for dryness (should be crisp and break easily)
- Condition
- Store in an airtight container for up to three years
How to make Mushroom Powder
- Place mushrooms into a grinder of choice
- Pulse until mushroom pieces are broken down
- Quickly blend until powder
- Do not open jar until dust has time to settle
- Condition powder
- Store in an airtight container for up to two years
Video
Darcy’s Tips
https://www.thepurposefulpantry.com/mushroom-powder-seasoning-blend/
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimation only. Nutrient information for dehydrated foods is based on fresh. Use 1/4 of the servicing size for the same nutrient information. Thus 1 Cup of fresh fruit has the same sugars as 1/4 dried.
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So to use on pizza, I should rehydrate, an be then add to the pizza? Is that right?
Completely up to you – try it both ways to see which you prefer.
I’d like to dehydrate lion’s mane mushroom into powder for it’s health benefit. Could I consume the powder as is, in pill form, or teaspoon? or should I fry up the mushroom before dehydrating? I saw you mentioned that this will work for smoothies but you also included info that raw mushrooms should not be consumed because we can’t digest them.
You can, but they will be better for your body in the long run to cook first, then dry, then powder.
Can’t wait to try this! Thank you
Thank you. This was very helpful! Is there ratio for mushrooms to powder? I hate the texture of mushrooms, so I’m hoping to replace the mushrooms for powdered in recipes.
However much you like – as with all powdered. Typically, 1 C fresh = 1/3-1/4 cup dried = 1 TB powdered – but it’s more of a ‘to taste’ thing than exact ratio.
Sounds wonderful. Will definitely be trying the mushroom powder and mushroom spice powder.. Thanks.
Hope you enjoy!
Hi Darcy,
How would I use mushroom powder to make cream of mushroom soup?
Add as much mushroom powder as you’d like. It’s a flavorant.
I love powdering the mushrooms because I can use them and my husband doesn’t know! He doesn’t like most veggies so he gets green powder, too! lol Thanks!
My dehydrated mushrooms have white spots…. are they safe to use?
I can’t know unless I saw them – feel free to send me a copy in email at the purposefulpantry @ gmail.com
Hi Darcy, I was wondering if you can dehydrate frozen mushrooms from the frozen veggie section? Thanks!
Yes – but they turn quite dark, and aren’t the same texture as fresh. I’d personally leave them frozen.
I have been working for three days to dehydrate baby portobello mushrooms. I chopped them up so my granddaughter and I can use them in a beefy mushroom dry soup mix. I get them dehydrated, it seems they are crisp so I leave them in the dehydrator to cool, when I come back they have a soft texture, not crisp anymore. I purchased the packs on your site to store in the jar. What am I doing wrong???? I hate to make this soup mix and the mushrooms and they start absorbing moisture, and now I have ruined the whole recipe.
Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You!!!
How long are you leaving them to cool? It shouldn’t take more than 5-10 min.
Hi Darcy,
I appreciate your expertise! I have been winging it for years. After I dry mushrooms, while they are still warm, they are crispy. However, after I let them cool, they seem to lose that crispness and are slightly flexible but still break. Are they dry enough? I usually put them back to dehydrate more, but it seems like a waste of electricity. PS: We live in a dry climate. Thanks!
How long are you letting them cool? They need no more than 10 minutes before putting into your storage containers for conditioning. And then be sure to store them properly in an airtight container
about the right size as the volume of mushrooms you have.
You can always throw them back on if you feel they’ve picked up too much moisture over time. But if they break easily, they are fine.
I was going to dehydrate mushrooms as my first project. Your instructions say to reconstitute, but then they still need to cook for a while. If I am going to use them in egg muffins and bake for 20 minutes, is that long enough?
thanks
You’ll have to find out if that’s long enough to you. Mushrooms are a bit notorious for not getting soft enough that people are used to from fresh cooked mushrooms. So soak them overnight, cut them down, and see what you think you’re first time out. I really do prefer powder to get that flavor, but not have to bite into a rehydrated mushroom.
Hi! I’m looking to make white button mushroom powder to add to my smoothies. Will dehydrating the mushrooms cook it enough to use the powder raw? Or should I bake the mushrooms first? Don’t want to over process and loose nutrients.
Follow these directions and you’ll get it right. No cooking involved – which is why I didn’t show cooking or add it to the instructions.
great info. thankyou
Glad you found it helpful!
The seasoning blend is so good!! I grabbed a mix of clearance mushrooms to dehydrate and already had the other spices. Thanks, Darcy!
Glad you love it!
Hello, can you clarify the equivalents for mushrooms. If a recipe calls for 1.5 cups fresh mushroom slices / approximately 4 oz, how do I know how much of my dried mushroom slices to rehydrate?
Your site is my go-to as I’m learning dehydrating this summer!
Thank you
1.5 cups is about 1/2 Cup dried – depending on the kind of mushroom and how it was prepared (whole, sliced, diced?) The good thing about cooking recipes is that the ratio isn’t exact. So add some, and if you need to add more, do it!