How to dry wild mushrooms
The ancient tradition of hand drying wild forest mushrooms
How to dry, and re-hydrate mushrooms for cooking.
Mushroom hunting still very popular in Europe.
Traditional values and cultures are being lost in many developing countries, but eastern Europe is not ready to give up the age old tradition of mushroom hunting. read more...
Dried mushrooms have intense flavor
When choosing mushrooms, look for large pieces with a uniform and dark color, since darker dried mushrooms usually have more flavor.
Dried mushrooms can also be soaked ahead of time.
Soak them in cold water, then store them in a covered jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks and enjoy
Mushroom's dried to preserve and enhance flavours.
There are approx eight varieties that are readily collected from the natural pine forests that dominate this idyllic region of Podlaskie, Poland. Some of these varieties are best cooked fresh but many of them can be preserved for later in the year when fresh mushrooms are no longer available and the forests are covered by a thick layer of snow. read more about Podlaskie Mushrooms...
Cooking with dried Mushrooms.
Dried mushrooms have intense flavor. Mushrooms are mostly water, so when all of the moisture evaporates, the flavor becomes highly concentrated.
How to Re-hydrate Dried Mushrooms
Simply heat some water or red wine and pour into a bowl, add the quantity you require, but remember that dried mushrooms increase in volume to 3 to 4 times. Soak your mushrooms in the warm (not boiling) water for about 20 - 30 minutes or until fully re-hydrated stirring occasionally. You may prefer to let your dried mushrooms stand overnight.
Dry and store
Polish Mushrooms are traditionally air dried on strings.
Re-hydrate
Re-hydrating mushrooms is easy, just rinse your dried mushrooms and add them to water or red wine and stand ideally overnight.
Soak overnight
The mushrooms can then be drained from the water and used. Don't pour the used water down the sink! This is now a fantastic broth
Strain your re-hydrated wild mushrooms, chop and use in any dish, just like fresh mushrooms.
The re-hydrated wild mushrooms and strained broth can both be used in soups, stews, sautés, stir-frys etc.
They also make a wonderful addition to vegetarian dishes. For more ideas on recipes and ideas on cooking with our mushrooms visit our recipe area.
Try dried Polish mushrooms for yourself.
Free Polish Mushrooms
Email: wildaboutmushrooms@gmail.com
Website: http://polishmushrooms.webs.com
Location: Siemiatycze County, Poland
Phone: 0048 513 510 532
Facebook: http://facebook.com/freemushrooms
Twitter: @wildmushrooms