Dry-preserving mushrooms. This way, they’ll easily last all winter

Mushroom-picking season is currently in full swing, and in many areas, mushroom hunters are bringing home full baskets. That’s exactly why it’s worth knowing how to make the most of your harvested mushrooms. Traditionally, people prepare dishes like mushroom sauce, sautéed mushrooms, parasol mushrooms with caraway, fried parasol mushrooms, or even cracklings made from russula mushrooms, which are a real treat. However, if we want to preserve the mushrooms, we have only a few options. We’ll take a closer look at them and also recommend dry preservation of mushrooms, which is relatively unconventional but very effective. This way, the mushrooms will remain in excellent condition until spring—and even longer.

Freezing, pickling in vinegar, and drying mushrooms: The Classics

Most people preserve mushrooms by simply freezing them. This can be done immediately after the mushrooms are cleaned and cut into small cubes. However, it’s much better to first simmer the mushrooms and then freeze them in this state. This creates a compact mass that can be used later. Pickling in vinegar isn’t difficult either, and drying mushrooms directly on a mesh screen or parchment paper is a classic method. Mushrooms preserved this way will last all winter without any problems.

Dry canning of mushrooms is an original and effective method

If you want to try a relatively unconventional method of preserving mushrooms, dry canning is definitely worth a try. It’s not at all difficult—you’ll have no trouble mastering it. On the contrary. All you need to do is prepare the dried mushrooms and canning jars. Pack the jars tightly with mushrooms and seal them securely. Then steam-preserve them at 80 degrees Celsius. You can use either a traditional steam oven or, of course, a pot that generates steam. Just steam-preserve them for a few minutes, until the lid sticks to the jar.

Tip: We preserved the mushrooms in our own brine. You can try this, too.

Bay leaves help prevent the mushrooms from going stale

Preserved this way, the mushrooms will keep just fine until spring, and often even longer. However, many people worry that they’ll go stale and lose their flavor. If you add a bay leaf to the jar, Add a bay leaf, you can be absolutely certain that nothing like that will happen.

Sources: Author

Photo: Chat day