As I mentioned before, I live in a small space - 360 square feet! No room for a big food dehydrator. On the other hand, I love minimalism! :D
I've also always wondered, how much $$$ in electricity do those things use? Is it worth the added cost? Are they noisy? Then, you gotta wash them. Boo! Hiss! (I have no room for a dishwasher, either, so it's all hand wash!)
So, onto drying mushrooms......
Easy Dried Mushrooms 1--Wash mushrooms thoroughly. 2--Find a sheet pan or preferably a slotted (open slits) roasting insert pan to use as a stable drying area. I prefer the slotted insert pan for ventilation/faster dying time; you don't need the roaster pan, just the slotted insert. I suppose you could use a cake cooling rack, but I prefer something with edges.
Stock photo of a Breville roasting pan insert, identical to the one I used for this. Photo courtesy: Breville USA
3--Spread a clean paper towel or unfolded paper napkin on top the pan. 4--Slice mushrooms approximately 1/8 inch thick or less to suit your preference. I have found if I slice them over 1/8 inch thick they don't dry as nicely or as quickly. 5--Arrange the sliced mushrooms on the sheet pan so they don't touch each other. 6--Keep the sheet pan in a clean, dry, not breezy area. A good breeze will flip them off the pan once they're dried, not to mention breezes often bring flying particulates! 7--Mushrooms should be fully dried in 18-36 hours!
Dried white mushrooms on a napkin on my Breville slotted roasting pan insert.
8--Place dried mushrooms in an airtight container for use later in soups, gravies and cooking.
On an extremely frugal note, not only can I skip washing a food dehydrator this way, I also set aside the used and now dry "mushroom napkin/paper towel" to pick up spilled food and cat messes off the floor, suhweet!
Any other "cheapies" out there besides me? Any decent dried mushroom recipes? Leave me a comment down below and let me know. I love to learn new things!
Rose Marie is an urban apartment dweller, seeking a simpler & more affordable life, through minimalism, frugality & urban homesteading, all while living in a 360 square foot apartment home with her trained cat companion, the ever affectionate Valentino.