|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
pierce
Learning.
Registered: 12/11/05
Posts: 21
Last seen: 17 years, 9 months
|
Drying Techniques - So Many Options
#5049263 - 12/11/05 06:04 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
I've realized that when it comes to the stage of drying your mushrooms, there are numerous different ways and ideas to dry them. Some people suggest food dehydrators, or a desiccant chamber, or just paper towels. I've heard numerous pros and cons to all of these like the food dehydrator using heat to dry, which is what you DON'T want and paper towels in the open leads to temp or humidity problems?
What is the most effective and recommended mean of drying your mushrooms? I've gotten the vibe that it's a DIY desiccant, but what type? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
-------------------- Constantly Learning.
|
OJK
Stranger
Registered: 06/08/03
Posts: 10,629
|
Re: Drying Techniques - So Many Options [Re: pierce]
#5049271 - 12/11/05 06:09 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
I would say the broad consensus would be a period of fan drying, followed by the use of a desiccant chamber until the shrooms were 100% or "cracker" dry. I think most subscribe to the findings of ShroomGod: "the key to using any desiccant is to first fan dry the mushrooms".
Personally, I've only ever used calcium chloride, because that's all that's locally available - I don't attribute a massive amount of importance to whether it's calcium chrolide, silica gel or calcium sulfate - I'd use whichever I had easiest access to, based on my belief they will all dry shrooms adequately, given time.
|
pierce
Learning.
Registered: 12/11/05
Posts: 21
Last seen: 17 years, 9 months
|
Re: Drying Techniques - So Many Options [Re: OJK]
#5049280 - 12/11/05 06:14 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
So, many people choose to lay their mushrooms out on paper under a fan and fan dry for a matter of hours, days? Then, build a makeshift desiccant chamber like the one that uses a tupperware bowl with the 2 screens in it (bottom for water, calcium chloride in a rag on the first screen, then the mushrooms on the screen above it)? What are the average time periods for these techniques as in how long for the fan dry and how long for the desiccant dry?
-------------------- Constantly Learning.
|
OJK
Stranger
Registered: 06/08/03
Posts: 10,629
|
Re: Drying Techniques - So Many Options [Re: pierce]
#5049318 - 12/11/05 06:26 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
That's correct.
In my experience, I'd say that after two days of fan drying, one crop of mushrooms (say 400g or 500g) would be cracker dry after two days in the desiccant chamber.
But that would depend on the volume of mushrooms, the size of the individual mushrooms, the size of the desiccant chamber and the amount of desiccant used - perhaps even on the ambient RH.
|
pierce
Learning.
Registered: 12/11/05
Posts: 21
Last seen: 17 years, 9 months
|
Re: Drying Techniques - So Many Options [Re: OJK]
#5049339 - 12/11/05 06:29 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
Now, once you begin to dry them, do you need to worry about where you leave them, as in temperature, humidity, etc? Will a standard room temperature room (or a little warmer since it's winter)work? Essentially, what kind of risks of contamination do you run when drying, if any?
-------------------- Constantly Learning.
|
OJK
Stranger
Registered: 06/08/03
Posts: 10,629
|
Re: Drying Techniques - So Many Options [Re: pierce]
#5049426 - 12/11/05 06:52 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
I wouldn't say environment is terribly important - I've always found a normal room environment fine. You want it to be as clean and dry as possible, but, say a normal bedroom, study or a clean attic would be fine. Something like a basement or cellar would likely be unsuitable.
I've never encountered contamination when fan drying - I imagine that the constantly moving air would make contaminant spore germination less likely. Furthermore, the water content of the mushrooms will begin to go down as soon as you begin fan drying, and as the water content goes down, the risks decrease.
|
agar
old hand
Registered: 11/21/04
Posts: 9,056
Loc: Somewhere Else
|
Re: Drying Techniques - So Many Options [Re: pierce]
#5049430 - 12/11/05 06:52 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
AMERICAN HARVEST DEHYDRATOR (with temperature settings)
= = No RUSH, no muss, no fuss, set it & forget it. CRACKER DRY & Never fails. Well worth the investment, if you have any volume to dry.
--------------------
|
pierce
Learning.
Registered: 12/11/05
Posts: 21
Last seen: 17 years, 9 months
|
Re: Drying Techniques - So Many Options [Re: agar]
#5049442 - 12/11/05 06:56 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
That dehydrator looks perfect. Small, compact and efficient. The one thing is does it use heat to dehydrate them because if so, I hear that is a bad thing?
-------------------- Constantly Learning.
|
OJK
Stranger
Registered: 06/08/03
Posts: 10,629
|
Re: Drying Techniques - So Many Options [Re: agar]
#5049445 - 12/11/05 06:57 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
I concur, if I was growing a greater number of shrooms, and dehyrators were more availible in my area, I'd probably buy one. I've heard very good things.
They're not the standard technique, but they come highly recommended.
|
agar
old hand
Registered: 11/21/04
Posts: 9,056
Loc: Somewhere Else
|
Re: Drying Techniques - So Many Options [Re: pierce]
#5049462 - 12/11/05 07:03 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
pierce said: That dehydrator looks perfect. Small, compact and efficient. The one thing is does it use heat to dehydrate them because if so, I hear that is a bad thing?
Stay under 115/120F. No harm. It is a one time buy. Will last for YEARS. Never a complaint.....NEVER.
On top of that you can dry BUD in it, as well as veggies/herbs & make great JERKY.
--------------------
|
OJK
Stranger
Registered: 06/08/03
Posts: 10,629
|
Re: Drying Techniques - So Many Options [Re: agar]
#5049468 - 12/11/05 07:04 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
Agar, how long would you typically leave shrooms in a dehydrator to get them cracker dry?
|
pierce
Learning.
Registered: 12/11/05
Posts: 21
Last seen: 17 years, 9 months
|
Re: Drying Techniques - So Many Options [Re: OJK]
#5049520 - 12/11/05 07:20 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
Yea, that is a good question. I'd like to know, also. I'm going to look into one of these for the future. Thanks alot, agar.
-------------------- Constantly Learning.
|
agar
old hand
Registered: 11/21/04
Posts: 9,056
Loc: Somewhere Else
|
Re: Drying Techniques - So Many Options [Re: pierce]
#5051051 - 12/12/05 02:19 AM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
Until they are CRACKER DRY. Depends on the load.
--------------------
|
Oatman2000
-=Outa Space=-
Registered: 05/10/05
Posts: 2,877
Loc: Planetary Nebula
Last seen: 1 year, 6 months
|
Re: Drying Techniques - So Many Options [Re: agar]
#5052686 - 12/12/05 02:34 PM (18 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
agar? do you fill all the shelves?
i use a cheepo box fan, they are dry after 1 day. then into the desiccant chamber for "cracker dry"
i can leave them on the fan for 2 days and i would say damn near cracker dry......
that's a good way to increase weight, but make them look dry enough.... Muhahahahaha!
-------------------- Spawning to COIR My Chocolate Recipe WBS QUART SPAWN JAR PREPERATION ---------------------------- 4-PO-DMT; 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethltryptamine
|
TheStudent
Learning
Registered: 05/08/05
Posts: 281
|
Re: Drying Techniques - So Many Options [Re: agar]
#5153099 - 01/08/06 02:24 AM (18 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
agar said: On top of that you can dry BUD in it, as well as veggies/herbs & make great JERKY.
got a good recipe?
**EDIT** for the Jerky that is
Edited by TheStudent (01/08/06 02:24 AM)
|
pinheadjay
Experimental TeaBrewer
Registered: 07/24/07
Posts: 9
Loc: Houston, Texas
Last seen: 15 years, 4 months
|
Re: Drying Techniques - So Many Options [Re: pierce]
#8790837 - 08/18/08 12:35 PM (15 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
I always place mine on a paper towel in a shoe box lid then place a black shirt over them and put it all under a light for about two 2 days and they'll be cracker dry
|
|