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venomx
psi·lo·cy·bin


Registered: 08/12/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Down Under
Last seen: 1 year, 4 months
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Drying Mushrooms
#9093173 - 10/17/08 06:49 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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Hi,
I have been reading around and learning about drying out mushrooms after harvest and when I start growing I will probably have them under a fan for 24 hours then move them into a container with (some)desiccant.
I have read that damprid is good, but I still need to check the local stores and see if they have any. I also read that people use silica gel? If so, does this work as good? I was looking on eBay and saw this.
Would this work? This would be really handy because it can be reused over and over by placing it in the oven:
Quote:
When the blue silica gel beneath the inspection window turns pink, reactivate as follows: Place the unit in a vented 300 degree F oven for at least 3 hours (or until the silica gel turns blue again).
Cheers, VenomX
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Cascadian
Feel like a Stranger



Registered: 09/13/08
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: venomx]
#9093212 - 10/17/08 06:57 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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Damn, that is some fancy desiccant. That should work beautifully.
To prolong the life of your desiccant so you don't have to dry it out so often, you might leave your goomers in front of the fan for more than 24 hours. If you live in a place with high humidity, it might take longer than 24 hours for them to give off most of their moisture. Fans are better for getting lots of moisture off fast, desiccant is great at getting those last little drops out that your fan would never reach.
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N8Martinez
Stranger
Registered: 10/17/08
Posts: 40
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: Cascadian]
#9093258 - 10/17/08 07:09 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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If you leave them out next to a fan or were there is good air exchange and movement. In a dry palce it take 24 hour for the smaller fruit but the monsters can take days. Make sure you rotate them from time to time by the fan. This speeds things up a bit. if you need to speed things up or have monsters, remove the caps, or split down the middel to increase the surface area.
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SkekTek
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Registered: 03/21/08
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: Cascadian]
#9093262 - 10/17/08 07:11 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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Yeah, I keep mine in front of the fan for about 48 hours, then it's into the desiccant chamber. Works perfectly and they get cracker dry.
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crazyeddie
Swimmer withouta pool



Registered: 01/15/08
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: SkekTek]
#9093358 - 10/17/08 07:36 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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That's a nifty Product, I want one.
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venomx
psi·lo·cy·bin


Registered: 08/12/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Down Under
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: venomx]
#9093552 - 10/17/08 08:10 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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Thanks for all the comments and tips! They will definately help me out when I get my grow going and (if)when the time comes to dry them.
Ok, so I recon I will leave them in front of the fan for 24hrs MIN and see how they are going and when I think that they are done as much as possible I will move them to the desiccant chamber.
Heh yeah, I was looking on eBay for the little silica gel packs, and found that! I think I might go ahead and grab one of them now.
Cheers, VenomX
Edited by venomx (10/17/08 08:15 PM)
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blackclw
on the way to the Red Queen

Registered: 06/04/08
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: SkekTek]
#9093715 - 10/17/08 08:41 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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I made my drying chamber from what I`ve found around the house heh. And I took some silica packets at footwear shops for free Also made some simple instructions http://bayimg.com/KALfbaAbi
Edited by blackclw (10/17/08 08:46 PM)
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mushroomhunter10
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Registered: 10/04/08
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: blackclw]
#9093908 - 10/17/08 09:19 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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They make desiccant cans that you can reuse over and over.
If you know anybody that works with lots of computers or electronics then you can ask them to grab you every desiccant bag they find. Technicians that are always swapping-out components and hardware can get TONS of desiccant packs.
Good Luck
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IcAnFeeLthErain
How ya like your Chang's Sauce?



Registered: 05/24/08
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I've had great success with Drierite. You can get a single jar for like 5 dollars on their website. www.drierite.com
They also have the indicating (changes from blue to pink) kind. I just got the regular. I think I'll be able to tell when my buddies are feeling blue 
EDIT: I fan dry my harvests for 24 hours prior to using my desiccant chamber.
-------------------- "We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness" -Thich Nhat Hanh
Take your sweet time, everything is a once in a life time experience.
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Edited by IcAnFeeLthErain (10/17/08 11:06 PM)
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Buckeye Oysters
From Zero to Hero



Registered: 08/09/08
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Nothing works faster really than putting a space heater on low behind a box fan blowing across the mushrooms placed on a screen suspended off the ground. It wont make too much heat.
-------------------- Evolution is Lamarckism in disguise. Adaptation never creates a new species or trait, but rather the new species/trait always existed within the parent DNA until circumstances allowed it to be activated. For instance, every wolf has the DNA for poodles, but that DNA would never be revealed without man selectively breeding for it.
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Libertycapper
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Registered: 11/13/04
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: SkekTek]
#9094455 - 10/17/08 11:21 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
SkekTek said: Yeah, I keep mine in front of the fan for about 48 hours, then it's into the desiccant chamber. Works perfectly and they get cracker dry.
This is me too with the same results!!!
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venomx
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Registered: 08/12/08
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: venomx]
#9094683 - 10/18/08 12:09 AM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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Thanks to everyone for all the good ideas 
@mushroomhunter10 - yeah I went through all my hardware boxes and got a few packets from them.
Would a Tupperware container be good when using the desiccant? Cheers,
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Cascadian
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Registered: 09/13/08
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: venomx]
#9095083 - 10/18/08 02:59 AM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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You want something to keep your goomies off the desiccant. My friend uses a salad spinner with his goomies where your lettuce goes, and the lower level covered with cheesecloth with desiccant on top. (holes are naturally in the bottom of the spinner for the runoff from your arugula)
The spinner is then put on top of a bowl to catch the drips.
That desiccant stuff is weird and it shouldn't be touching anything you want to eat!
I'm sure there are equally easy and cheap to construct desiccant chamber ideas, but that works just fine for my buddy.
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SkekTek
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Registered: 03/21/08
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: venomx]
#9095443 - 10/18/08 08:11 AM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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A tupperware container will work perfectly for a desiccant chamber, just make sure it's big enough. And if you want alot of desiccant for cheap just go to Lowes or Home Depot and look for Drie-rite. (Pronounced Dry-Rite)
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venomx
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: venomx]
#9095490 - 10/18/08 08:49 AM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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@Cascadian - Hm thanks, that is a very interesting way to do it 
@SkekTek - Ok, cool. Yeah, I will get a fairly big one.
I will think of something that I can use to suspend the mushrooms from the desiccant. (String,wire,etc)
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yeahbuddyyyyyyyy
Stranger


Registered: 08/17/08
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: venomx]
#9095531 - 10/18/08 09:14 AM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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I skip the fan and just put them in with the damp rid. The only downside is you go through a lot more damp rid.
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IcAnFeeLthErain
How ya like your Chang's Sauce?



Registered: 05/24/08
Posts: 331
Loc: Bright Side of the Road
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You gotta do the fan drying, I think that's just a necessity. It dries them almost to the point of being brittle, and at this point the desiccant can achieve absolute dryness. Mind you this is the best way to preserve our fruits. Fruits dried to this degree can last in the freezer for years without loosing any potency.
-------------------- "We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness" -Thich Nhat Hanh
Take your sweet time, everything is a once in a life time experience.
Cakes? No Thanks.
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SkekTek
Lurker


Registered: 03/21/08
Posts: 287
Loc: South Florida
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: venomx]
#9095647 - 10/18/08 10:02 AM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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Wire screen works best - also from Lowes or HD. You can buy a small roll of it for cheap.
Edited by SkekTek (10/18/08 10:05 AM)
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SkekTek
Lurker


Registered: 03/21/08
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Quote:
yeahbuddyyyyyyyy said: I skip the fan and just put them in with the damp rid. The only downside is you go through a lot more damp rid.
Yeah, that's a huge waste. You have to fan dry first to get rid of the excess moisture. Desiccant is mainly used as a finisher to cure it until it's "cracker dry". Otherwise, you're wasting time and money because it also takes longer without the fan.
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IcAnFeeLthErain
How ya like your Chang's Sauce?



Registered: 05/24/08
Posts: 331
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: SkekTek]
#9095664 - 10/18/08 10:08 AM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
skektek said Yeah, that's a huge waste.
Yeah, what he said.
-------------------- "We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness" -Thich Nhat Hanh
Take your sweet time, everything is a once in a life time experience.
Cakes? No Thanks.
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1red1
calamity


Registered: 08/11/08
Posts: 100
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: SkekTek]
#9095666 - 10/18/08 10:08 AM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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Keep an extra packet of silica for storage as well so they stay cracker dry. I had to make some using tea bags. Loose silica you know.
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IcAnFeeLthErain
How ya like your Chang's Sauce?



Registered: 05/24/08
Posts: 331
Loc: Bright Side of the Road
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: 1red1]
#9095684 - 10/18/08 10:18 AM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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yeah just don't get those mixed in with your lipton, you be dead san
-------------------- "We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness" -Thich Nhat Hanh
Take your sweet time, everything is a once in a life time experience.
Cakes? No Thanks.
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mister
Nature nut



Registered: 10/04/08
Posts: 2,926
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What I did, since I found silica gel as a more cost in the long run, I went on E-Bay and found a thermostatically controlled dehydrator for only $29.00!!!!!! In my book it states that 114 degrees is the plateu for temp to which it obliterates the actives. I just set it at 105 and it is less than a day and crackers. Plus it dries others herbs and makes killer jerky as well;)
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coc_diesal_MF
iven yerkinhoff

Registered: 09/14/08
Posts: 101
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: mister]
#9096298 - 10/18/08 02:01 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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you can dry 2 oz a day in a dehydrator with 4 trays. that you bout at a yard sale for 3 dollars.
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CheeWiz


Registered: 09/28/08
Posts: 276
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What I've been using over the years is smokier dehydrate that a friend of mine owns. These things were sold all over the place by stores like Kmart a few years back and can be found at yard sells. The unit is about a foot squire by about two feet high with a door that revels the insides which is nothing more than a group of wire mess selves about an inch and half a part. At the bottom there is a smoker tray and at the top an eight inch dead space for a vertically mount light bulb that acts as the heater for drying. We just replaced the light with a ceramic heater for reptiles and at the bottom we are using Damp Rid. It works great and it never over heats (there may be some type tempter switch built into the heater?).
But when it comes to packaging I use a vacuum seal a meal type of unit with their bags, plus a desiccant and oxygen scavenger in the bag and I store in the freezer.
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eightfoldmodel
Stranger


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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: venomx]
#9096863 - 10/18/08 04:22 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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I like to put my fresh mushroom straight into the dehydrator. I find that if I put them in front of a fan they get all skinny and wrinkly, really pathetic looking. In the dehydrator they retain their beautiful form and color.
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Asric
Fueled By Satan



Registered: 06/18/07
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Now I know that it is much cheaper to makes some shelves with a box fan, but the nice clean non-stoner-rigged look of it pretty much gives me wood as far as using it for preliminary drying.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=6527302
Im going to be honest, Im almost tempted to buy one and try it. At my local walmart they a are a LITTLE bit cheaper, more like $79
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alkylbenzene23
Indeed



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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: Asric]
#9096949 - 10/18/08 04:53 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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Screw all the other desiccants, invest in some drierite and be done with the worry. Stick it in the oven when its absorbed all it can and whala.
-------------------- If you try to lick your cat while tripping, and they bite you, are you even?
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IcAnFeeLthErain
How ya like your Chang's Sauce?



Registered: 05/24/08
Posts: 331
Loc: Bright Side of the Road
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Amen. Drierite is the best hands down. Fan dry first for about a day and drierite will make them dry as a bone within a few hours.
In regards to eightfoldmodel and his fondness of the dehydrator. If all that is being removed is water how is there a difference in the look of the fruits after they are dehydrated either way? I mean, I have never personally put mushies in a dehydrator, but I don't understand how it could make any difference. Unless your dehydrator isn't removing as much water as my fan which in terms of preservation is the whole point.
-------------------- "We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness" -Thich Nhat Hanh
Take your sweet time, everything is a once in a life time experience.
Cakes? No Thanks.
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venomx
psi·lo·cy·bin


Registered: 08/12/08
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Loc: Down Under
Last seen: 1 year, 4 months
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Once again, thanks to everyone that has helped out!
@Asric - Yeah that does look pretty nifty. The price tag is a bit of a big one, but if it works really well it will pay itself off in the long run.
Edited by venomx (10/18/08 06:46 PM)
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IcAnFeeLthErain
How ya like your Chang's Sauce?



Registered: 05/24/08
Posts: 331
Loc: Bright Side of the Road
Last seen: 13 years, 7 months
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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: venomx]
#9097541 - 10/18/08 07:56 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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Arsic, you want to spend 90 dollars on a fan and trays to put your fruits on!? Be my guest... Venomx, buy a box fan for $2 at a yardsale
EDIT: I try not to give Walmart 90 of my hard earned dollars in a whole year
-------------------- "We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness" -Thich Nhat Hanh
Take your sweet time, everything is a once in a life time experience.
Cakes? No Thanks.
Edited by IcAnFeeLthErain (10/18/08 07:57 PM)
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veda_sticks
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Invest in a dehdrator. Your better of getting them dry in a few hours and into storage than letting them sit in air for a few days.
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venomx
psi·lo·cy·bin


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Re: Drying Mushrooms [Re: venomx]
#9097614 - 10/18/08 08:13 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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@OnlineIcAnFeeLthErain - Heh yeah, it is a bit one the expensive side. Yeah, that would probably be the best way to go.
@veda_sticks - A dehydrator as in something like this?
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