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I have to admit, I’m not a fan of a mushrooms. I want to like them because they are good nutritionally, but I just don’t love the texture of them. You might wonder why I would write a blog post about dehydrated mushrooms if I don’t like them.
I do like the flavor of mushrooms so I tried to dehydrate them to see if I could add them to other foods. What I found out is that they rehydrate great. It seems to eliminate the rubbery texture when rehydrated. They can be powdered to add flavor and eliminate the texture issue.
In fact, my boyfriend’s picky son was willing to try beef stroganoff as long as I used powered mushrooms. He loved the stroganoff! I’ll take that as a win.
Read on to learn how you can dehydrate mushrooms and what you can do with them.
What is so good about mushrooms?
- Mushrooms are low in calories at about 22 calories per serving.
- The number of mushrooms will vary per serving based on the type of mushroom, but 4-5 mushrooms is about a serving.
- Mushrooms are used as a meat substitute due to their texture
- Mushrooms contain about 2-3 grams of protein per serving.
- There is only about 3 grams of carbohydrate in a serving of mushrooms
- Dehydrating mushrooms does not decrease their nutritional value.
Fun fact: Mushrooms are the only vegetable that contain Vitamin D.
How should mushrooms be prepared for dehydrating?
Clean
Mushrooms don’t need a lot of effort to clean them. The easiest way is to brush dirt off with damp paper towel. They can be rinsed lightly with water. Pat the mushrooms dry with a paper towel or use a salad spinner. Do not soak mushrooms in water as they will absorb the water. Why add extra water when you are planning on dehydrating them.
Cut
Cut off any tough stems. You can make your preparation time shorter by slicing the mushrooms with an egg slicer* or a mushroom slicer*. Some egg slicers may not have strong enough wires for a tougher mushroom. If you would like a thicker mushroom slice, a good sharp knife and cutting board works too!
Pro tip: If using the mushrooms for a dehydrated meal, slice before dehydrating as they might crumble more after dehydrating.
What’s the dehydrating temperature and time?
Dehydrate the mushrooms at 130 to 135 degrees F for about 2 hours before checking to see if they are dehydrated. Mushrooms are about 93% water with low sugar content so they dehydrate quickly. The drying time will be impacted by the thickness of the mushrooms or slices.
What affects dehydrating time?
- Thickness: whole mushrooms can be dehydrated as long as they fit in your dehydrator, however they may take longer to dehydrate than mushroom slices
- Humidity: higher humidity in the air causes a longer dehydrating time
- Crowding: too many mushrooms or slices on a tray does not allow the air to flow as well around the mushrooms
When are the mushrooms done dehydrating?
After about 2 hours, remove a mushroom slice. Let it cool for a few minutes. If it easily snaps, it is done. Check a few slices, especially thicker slices. If you feel any moisture, dehydrate the mushrooms longer.
Pro tip: If you are planning on powdering the mushrooms, make sure they are completely dehydrated. Any moisture will create clumps and could cause mold.
How long do dehydrated mushrooms last?
That depends on how much you use them! All jokes aside, dehydrated mushrooms should keep for about 6 months. If storing during humid summer months, they could take on some moisture and lose their crunch. If they do lose their crunch, they can be put back on the dehydrator for about an hour.
Store the dehydrated mushrooms in a cool, dry, and dark place.
How can dehydrated mushrooms be used?
- Use sliced mushrooms in dehydrated meals, such as beef stroganoff or an egg dish
- Power them using a coffee grinder to mix into a smoothie, gravy, crackers, or pasta
- Hide them in sauces either powdered or in small chunks to boost your picky eater’s nutrition
- Snack on them (they crunch like those marshmallows you find in a popular cereal!)
I hope you find creative ways to use your dehydrated mushrooms. Let me know in the comments how your dehydrated mushrooms turned out and how you used them!