Mushrooms and truffles can be eaten either fresh or dried, the main difference between the two, apart from the very different intake amounts due to the water contained in the fresh ones, being the shelf life. Fresh mushrooms last only a few days if they are kept in the refrigerator, while fresh truffles last up to a maximum of 2 months if kept in a vacuum in the refrigerator, but often the actual storage time is shorter, about a month or less.
Sometimes you have fresh mushrooms or truffles and at the same time you have time to consume them immediately, but in most cases you harvest them when they are ripe and then consume them when the conditions are right, i.e. optimal set & setting. Fortunately, it is easy to store them for a long time so you can have them when you want, drying is the only method we need to know, it is simple and effective to keep them psychoactive without significant loss of potency, a method used for millennia and still valid today.
Magic mushrooms are beautiful organisms, and if we select them in the wild or cultivate them at home, we can end up with an abundance of them. Taking them fresh is lovely, but we frequently have a lot left over.
Fresh mushrooms don’t stay long since they are wet and prone to decay. Fortunately, drying magic mushrooms is a simple process that provides a dependable alternative for long-term storage. They may endure a very long time if done correctly!
WHY DRY MAGIC MUSHROOMS?
Drying magic mushrooms is absolutely essential to long-term, or even fairly short-term, storage. If you want them to last longer than a day or two, then you must dry them! Not only is drying the best and only storage solution for magic mushrooms, but it’s the starting point for many different methods of consumption. Mushroom tea, lemon tek, and blue honey all require dried mushrooms. So once you’ve dried your shrooms, that doesn’t mean you’re bound to a bleak future of chewing up cracker-dry fungi every time you want to take yourself on a psychedelic adventure. Instead, see it as a starting point for several delicious ways to take shrooms. HOW TO DRY MAGIC MUSHROOMS IN IRELAND
HOW TO DRY MAGIC MUSHROOMS IN IRELAND
There are quite a few ways to dry magic mushrooms, but the three listed below are the simplest, and should be accessible to nearly everyone—so long as you have access to some air. Two of the methods require a food dehydrator and an oven, respectively, with the former being the best method available (but by no means essential!).Note: psilocybin begins to break down at around 72.5°C. Therefore, it’s essential to keep any method below this temperature if you want to retain the potency of your shrooms. HOW TO DRY MAGIC MUSHROOMS IN IRELAND
1. Drying: The first step is to dry your mushrooms or truffles thoroughly. They should be completely cracker-dry to prevent spoilage and preserve the active compounds. You can use a dehydrator or set them out in a well-ventilated area.Airtight Container: Once the mushrooms or truffles have dried, place them in an airtight container. It is best to use glass jars with a good seal. Mason jars are ideal for this task. 3. Oxygen Absorbers: Consider adding oxygen absorbers to the jar to prevent moisture and contamination. These are easily obtained online or from specialised food storage retailers. 4. Silica Gel Packets: Add silica gel packets to the container to absorb any remaining moisture. These are also available online and at craft stores. Check that they are non-toxic and safe to eat.. 5. Cool and Dark Storage: Finally, store the container in a cool, dark place such as a pantry or a cupboard. Exposure to sunlight, heat, or moisture can degrade the potency of your mushrooms or truffles. HOW TO DRY MAGIC MUSHROOMS IN IRELAND
When properly stored, dried magic mushrooms can last for several months, while magic truffles can last for up to a year. However, it’s worth noting that the potency of the mushrooms or truffles may degrade over time.
DRYING MAGIC MUSHROOMS IN A FOOD DEHYDRATOR
This is the best method for drying mushrooms. Not only does it basically guarantee cracker-dry shrooms, but it’s cool enough that they won’t lose any potency. If you can afford to buy a food dehydrator, we’d seriously recommend doing so. And if you intend to cultivate shrooms on a regular basis, then a food dehydrator is basically essential. It will soon pay for itself in terms of effectiveness and ease when processing large amounts of mushrooms.
Depending on the size of the mushrooms, 12–24 hours at a low temperature setting should suffice. When you think they’re done, give them a squeeze. If the caps and stems are brittle and feel totally dry, then you should be good! If they still feel soft and flexible, they could probably do with more time.
DRYING MAGIC MUSHROOMS IN AN OVEN
This is perhaps the most accessible option, but it can go wrong. Spread your mushrooms on a baking tray lined with baking paper or foil, and heat the oven to a low temperature of around 30°C. Place your tray of shrooms in the oven, and leave the door ajar. Exactly how long this process takes is difficult to assess, but, as always, you can be sure they’re “done” when the stems and caps are cracker-dry. Fan ovens work better for the mushroom drying process as they promote airflow, but any should work so long as the door is ajar and the heat is low.
Note: mushrooms can stick to whatever surface they’re on as they dry, so it’s good to move them around once or twice during the process.