Contents:
- Where to store
- Where to store
- How much to store
- How to cook
Sometimes it is given a mushroom summer that without mushrooms can only be lazy. And not lazy, there are reasonable questions: how to store dried mushrooms, where and how much? Why dried? Because drying is the most optimal way of harvesting them for the winter. For example, frozen mushrooms take up a lot of space, while during drying they significantly decrease in volume. Compared with pickled, dry mushrooms are better absorbed, stored longer, and can also be used in a larger range of dishes.
What to store
To ensure the preservation of dried house fungi, you should choose the right container and place. This will extend the period of their storage. Is best suited:
- cloth bags of cotton, linen;
- glass jars;
- paper bags;
- cartons;
- ceramic cans;
- vacuum containers.
These are the most common packaging in which the product is properly stored. But each package has its own drawbacks and advantages. Cloth bags, paper bags and cardboard boxes are cheap containers that allow mushrooms to breathe. However, there is a high probability that during the storage, cereal beetles or moth will be put up.
In glass jars closed with a screwed or polyethylene lid, the pest does not threaten the product, but it will not breathe. Therefore, this storage option is acceptable only when the mushroom mixture is thoroughly dried. Otherwise it will become moldy. The same applies to ceramic cans for bulk products. Their considerable advantage is the lids with clips, equipped with a rubber gasket. This ensures tightness and protection from foreign smells. But they can only store completely dry mushrooms, as in glass jars.
Mushrooms are perfectly preserved, they will be completely protected from bugs, foreign odors and the formation of mold in vacuum containers. But their price is very high compared to bags, packages and glass jars. Ceramics, by the way, can also have a price above the average( depending on the design, appearance and decoration).
When choosing a package, from time to time, check the mushrooms for the presence of larvae of moths and bugs( bags, paper bags) or mildew( glass or ceramic jars).
Where to store
Due to the fact that dry mushrooms are prone to rapid absorption of moisture and foreign odors, the storage conditions should be selected as follows. The location must be:
- dry - otherwise the product will become moldy;
- is well ventilated;
- without strong temperature changes;
- is far from products with a bright smell( seasonings, flavored tea, garlic, etc.).
As a rule, these requirements are met by the shelves of kitchen cabinets located far from the cooker and sink.
Many housewives store dried mushrooms in the refrigerator. For this method of storage, glass jars or vacuum containers are suitable.
How much to store
Asking the question how much you can store dried mushrooms, you can get a variety of answers. The minimum period is 12 months, the maximum is as long as you want. Yes exactly. Many inveterate mushroom pickers believe that the fungi prepared by drying have almost no shelf life. There were also cases when a bag of mushroom chips was littered in a closet with other products for several years, and when it was found, the product did not lose its flavor and was not spoiled.
If you look at the labels from the purchased dried mushrooms, you can see that the producers limit the useful life to 12 or 18 months. It is believed that during this time the mushrooms will not lose any taste or flavor and their appearance will remain original, such as just after drying. Indeed, with correctly chosen storage conditions, not only the store, but also the self-prepared product for the year will not deteriorate.
Advice: before storage, make notes on the packaging with the date of "production".
Dried mushrooms have an average shelf life of 3 years. If the mistress decides to use the dried mushroom mixture stored in cooking for more than 3 years, it is worth checking it for freshness. The product should have a unchanged, "clean" smell, it should not contain bugs, moth larvae, molds. If the appearance or smell of the dried mushroom mixture is doubtful, it is better to discard it.
How to cook
Looking at dried mushrooms, you can not immediately figure out how to prepare them. In fact, everything is quite simple. They must be rinsed under running warm water, as they are not washed before drying, but only cleaned from dirt. Then, soak in cold water for 2-3 hours. After such a simple treatment, the mushrooms are ready for further preparation. Dried mushroom mixture can be used in soups, second courses, sauces.
Advice: well-known chefs advise to prepare a cream soup of fresh mushrooms add 1-2 pinch of dry, ground in a coffee grinder, to give flavor.
You can make home seasoning from dried mushrooms. This is a healthy alternative to the store "cubes".To do this, dry mushrooms are ground in a coffee grinder into dust and mixed with various flavor additives. It can be salt, dried parsley, dill, celery, cumin, sweet pepper, etc. The main thing is to choose what you like. This seasoning is suitable for adding to soups, sauces, second courses - everywhere it will enhance the flavor and add piquancy.
White mushrooms have a unique aroma and taste, but a generous harvest does not happen every summer. Drying, in this case - is the best way to save them for a year or more. If you follow the rules described in the article, the dried mushroom mixture will be stored for a long time, and most importantly - correctly.
