How To Dry Magic Mushrooms: Everything You Need To Know

Fresh magic mushrooms can be consumed, but unless you’re planning a super-heroic, ego-obliterating trip of a lifetime, you’ll want to dry and keep at least some of your freshly picked shrooms for later use. Continue reading to find out how to properly dry magic mushrooms at home.

Growing magic mushrooms requires a great deal of attention and patience. When harvest season arrives, the last thing you want is for your mushrooms to rot and go to waste. This is where How To Dry Magic Mushrooms comes in; properly dried magic mushrooms can be stored for months without losing flavor or strength. In this essay, we’ll show you how to perfectly dry psilocybin mushrooms at home.

Pre-drying Your Magic Mushrooms

Magic mushrooms should be taken as soon as the veil separates from the cap. This part of the mushroom’s structure protects the spore-bearing gills. When this happens, it’s time to pluck and pre-dry your mushrooms.

Pre-drying is a technique for removing excess moisture from your harvest before properly drying it. You want your mushrooms to be bone dry at the end of the drying process—they should snap when you bend them. Any residual water could cause contamination and ruin all of your hard work. Furthermore, pre-drying is critical since it makes it much easier to weigh out more consistent amounts later on.

Place your shrooms on a piece of cardboard or a dry cloth to pre-dry. Make sure they are evenly spaced and not touching. Move your cardboard/towel to a well-ventilated, out-of-the-way location, such as the top of your refrigerator or a shelf in a walk-in closet. Alternatively, you can air them out by placing the cardboard in front of a fan.

Either method will pre-dry your mushrooms in just a few hours. Check check on them from time to time and observe how they alter in look. Pre-drying is complete when they appear wrinkly to the eye and rubbery to the touch. If you use a towel instead of cardboard, you may need to change it more frequently to avoid holding too much moisture.

Cutting Or Tearing Mushrooms: Is It Bad For Potency?

If your flush produced any massive mushrooms, you may wish to cut their size for storage. Although cutting or tearing mushrooms increases their surface area and makes them simpler to dry, does this lessen their potency?

This one is still up for debate. Due to a dearth of scientific data, one anecdotal account trumps another. According to some producers, slicing or chopping their mushrooms before drying makes little difference in terms of psychoactive properties. Other cultivators contend that cutting fruit bodies ruptures the mycelium’s cell walls, resulting in excessive bluing and consequent potency loss, but breaking mushrooms may preserve the cell wall intact.

It comes down to personal preference. We don’t know for sure which method is proper. Finally, drying your cache adequately is more crucial than a minor drop in potency.

What Is The Easiest Magic Mushroom Drying Methods?

There are numerous methods for drying your mushroom harvest. Here, we’ll show you the three simplest techniques to get rid of dampness fungi:

Air Drying

Air drying magic mushrooms is the cheapest and most convenient method. However, this procedure does not always result in bone-dry mushrooms. Furthermore, it is an untrustworthy approach in humid conditions.

Use A Dehydrator

Dehydrators are an excellent way to dry magic mushrooms. They use a gentle heat source and constant airflow to gradually and evenly remove moisture. Although they’re useful, they come at a cost.

Drying Using A Desiccant

Another simple technique to remove any remaining moisture from your precious mushrooms is to purchase or make your own desiccant. Just make sure you’ve pre-dried your mushrooms as much as possible before using the desiccant.

Air Drying Magic Mushrooms

Air drying is the simplest and most accessible way to dry your harvest—it’s essentially a continuation of the pre-drying process. With heat and sufficient ventilation, most of the water content will evaporate from the fruit bodies over time. However, air drying will only function if the relative humidity of the area is below than a particular threshold, which is approximately 55% RH.

If you’re not sure how humid your space is, try a hygrometer to find out. The disadvantage of air drying is inconsistency. In rare situations, when the conditions are ideal, your mushrooms will become as dry as dust. Others will retain moisture in the center and be susceptible to infection.

What You Need

• Dry piece of cardboard
• Fan
• Radiator/well-ventilated spot out of direct sunlight

The Drying Process

Position the cardboard on a desk. Distribute the mushrooms evenly throughout it. Make sure none of them are touching, as this might lead to moisture buildup. Position the fan to provide consistent airflow over the mushrooms. You can place the cardboard in a well-ventilated area without using a fan if the environment is dry.

If your surroundings are very humid, lay the cardboard near a radiator and turn on the fan to blow air over it. Every day, check on your mushrooms. They will grow more hard and dry after only a few hours. When they become so dry that they snap when bent, the procedure is complete.

Drying Magic Mushrooms Using A Dehydrator

The best way to dry magic mushrooms is with a dehydrator. These devices use a heat source and airflow to eliminate the water content of substances. This enables long-term storage and reduces the possibility of contamination. The heating element will cause water to be released from the mushrooms.

Internal fans circulate hot air via vents and out of the gadget, preventing heat accumulation. The most expensive method of drying mushrooms is to use a dehydrator, but it’s a worthwhile investment, especially if you plan on cultivating mushrooms on a regular basis.

Which Dehydrator To Use?

When shopping for a mushroom dehydrator, there are a few elements to consider. Of course, the key factor is affordability, but there are plenty of other options accessible.

Essentially, any store-bought food dehydrator will do the trick. It’s intuitive and straightforward to use; simply load it up with mushrooms, switch it on, and leave it to dehydrate. However, many dehydrators have a timer option, so you can easily dial in a precise period of time to obtain the greatest results from your mushrooms.

How To Dry Using A Dehydrator

Distribute the pre-dried mushrooms evenly across the drying racks, making sure none of them touch. Insert the dehydrator trays into the dehydrator. Set the gadget at a low temperature (about 40°C) to preserve the psilocybin.

Depending on how long you pre-dried, the entire procedure will take between 4 and 8 hours. Check up on your mushrooms once an hour or so to see how they’re doing. To determine their resistance, test their structure. They’re ready for storage once they crack under pressure.

Drying Magic Mushrooms Using A Desiccant

Heat and airflow aren’t the only factors to consider when drying mushrooms. Desiccants can also be used to extract moisture from mushrooms. A desiccant is a water-absorbing substance. It works to eliminate moisture from the fruits when placed in a container with pre-dried mushrooms. Using a desiccant is an inexpensive way to dry your mushrooms, but make sure they’ve been fully pre-dried beforehand.

What Is A Desiccant?

Simply put, a desiccant is a material that absorbs water from the air. The most common type of desiccant is silica gel. It’s commonly used in industrial packaging, but it’s also used in meals that need to keep dry. Making your own desiccant is the most cost-effective and ecologically responsible approach to dry magic mushrooms. It’s much simpler than it seems; you’re basically baking Epsom salt from your local drugstore.

The chemistry underlying it is as follows: MgSO4 7H2O is the chemical formula for Epsom salt, which is magnesium sulfate. Remember that water is H2O; did you notice the 7H2O in the formula? This magnesium sulfate heptahydrate has seven water molecules linked to it.

When the heptahydrate is baked, the seven water molecules evaporate, leaving MgSO4, anhydrous magnesium sulfate. MgSO4 will absorb water from the atmosphere until it is saturated in order to reclaim these seven water molecules. When we combine the mushrooms with MgSO4, we will extract all of the water from the mushrooms.

What are the Requirements Needed?

• Store-bought Epsom salt
• Baking tray
• Hammer
• Airtight, heat-resistant container
• Oven

Preparing The Desiccant

1. Fill your baking tray with a 1cm-thick layer of Epsom salt.
2. Preheat your oven to 230–250°C. The closer you can get to 250°, the better.
3. Put the Epsom salt in the oven and leave it to bake for about 2 hours. This will remove all of the moisture present.
4. Your anhydrous magnesium sulfate will start absorbing moisture from the air as soon as you take it out of the oven, so you will need to be quick—do not wait for it to cool down. The salt will have become one solid cake; take your hammer and break it up into pieces.
5. Place it in airtight containers as soon as possible, while still hot. You do not need to worry about your Epsom salt re-humidifying entirely within this time, but the faster you can do it, the better. You now have homemade desiccant

Now that you have prepared your desiccant, you can thoroughly dry your magic mushrooms. Keep in mind that you can re-bake and reuse the Epsom salt later on for future harvests.

What You Need

• Your homemade desiccant
• Plastic container with airtight lid large enough to hold your desiccant and mushrooms
• Paper towels
• Metal mesh
• Pre-dried magic mushrooms

The Process

1. Place your desiccant in your plastic container as a bottom layer.
2. Cover your desiccant with a layer of paper towels.
3. Bend your metal mesh around the sides and place it in the container so that the mesh creates a platform to hold the mushrooms above the paper towels.
4. You do not want to run any risk of the mushrooms coming into physical contact with the desiccant.
5. Place your magic mushrooms on top of the metal mesh.
6. Place the airtight lid on the container.
7. The desiccant will now start to absorb all of the moisture from the mushrooms. The container must be airtight so that the only moisture available is from the mushrooms and trapped air.

Check back every couple of days to see how dry the mushrooms have become. Once again, they will be ready when they snap.

Storing Dried Magic Mushrooms

It’s time to keep your shrooms now that they’ve dried. Magic mushrooms, like most dry items, should be stored away from direct light, heat, and moisture. Keep your shrooms in a cold, dark, and suitably dry place to keep them pleasant and potent for as long as possible.

How To Store Magic Mushrooms & Truffles?

Few things are more thrilling than picking your first flush of magic mushrooms or truffles. It’s a great sensation to watch the fruits of your labor finally pay off, and it provides you a far more intimate contact with the substance that will take you on your psychedelic journey. You are not, however, out of the woods yet.

If you don’t know how to properly store your magic mushrooms and Magic truffles, it can be a difficult task. It is relatively simple to harm them, reducing their alkaloid content and making them susceptible to breakdown. As a result, learning how to safely and securely store your mushrooms and truffles is essential for any aspiring psychonaut.

The Importance Of Storing Magic Mushrooms And Truffles Correctly

Magic mushrooms and truffles spoil quickly if not properly stored. And once they’re gone, they’re gone forever. If left in normal conditions, fresh mushrooms and truffles will rot nearly instantly. And dried ones require special attention if they are to be stored for an extended period of time.

If you wish to keep mushrooms or truffles for an extended period of time, they must be dried. This is particularly true of mushrooms. Because truffles contain far less water, they can last for much longer when they are fresh.

How To Store Fresh Magic Truffles Or Mushrooms?

Storing fresh mushrooms and truffles may appear to be a difficult task, but it isn’t. While there may be numerous suggestions and tips on how to do it, it is actually a simple task. Fresh, unopened truffles can be kept in the refrigerator for up to two months. However, once opened, they should be consumed within two days. If you want to dry them for later use, they can be stored for at least a year after drying.

Mushrooms are unique in that they can only be preserved in the refrigerator for a few days after being harvested. They, too, can be preserved for about a year if fully dried. So, simply make sure to keep your mushrooms and truffles properly, and they’ll last a long time. Store fresh mushrooms in a paper towel or dishcloth if necessary. Also, don’t stuff them too tightly. Mould and rot can spread quickly.

Storing Liberty Caps (Psilocybe Semilanceata)

Liberty caps, maybe the most common kind in Europe, should be dried practically immediately. They contain nematodes, which resemble small white worms or maggots. Though completely safe when dried, nematodes on freshly selected specimens will swiftly make their way through the mushrooms if left to sit. To summarize, do not strive to keep liberty caps fresh; instead, dry them as soon as feasible.

How To Store Magic Mushrooms And Truffles Long Term?

If you intend to keep magic mushrooms or truffles for any significant period of time, then they must be properly dried and stored. Here’s how to do that.

Preparing Magic Mushrooms And Truffles For Storage

They will not last if they are not completely dried. We mean brittle and “cracker dry” when we say entirely dry. They will disintegrate if exposed to moisture. They won’t go bad, but the psilocybin will degrade, and you’ll be disappointed when you try to eat them and nothing occurs. So make sure you understand how to dry mushrooms or truffles.

Storing Shrooms And Truffles In Airtight Containers Or Ziplock Bags

Ziplock bags and airtight containers provide safe and convenient storage for dried magic mushrooms and truffles. Ziplock bags are definitely the worst option because they aren’t completely sealed and moisture will likely find its way in over time. They do, however, function effectively in the short to medium term and can be aided by adding silica gel.

Airtight containers, such as jars, or curing solutions, such as CVaults or Tightvacs, perform admirably. These are typically airtight and will keep moisture out! Again, add some silica gel to absorb any moisture that may become caught or remain in the shrooms or truffles. Whichever way you use, keep it in a cool, dark area. Psilocybin is also destroyed by heat and light.

Vacuum Sealing Magic Mushrooms And Truffles

This is the choice that is most likely to keep your dried mushrooms and truffles safe for an extended period of time. Vacuum sealing eliminates all air from your shrooms and hermetically seals them. If they’ve been properly dried, they’ll stay that way until you open them.

In many circumstances, this strategy may be excessive. Only use it if you anticipate storing them for an extended period of time or if you have a large number to manage. A couple of grams left over is unlikely to justify such a procedure. Keep in mind that vacuum-sealed shrooms cannot be opened or closed. You’ll need a new storage option once you’ve pierced the plastic. Nonetheless, this is an excellent long-term storage solution.

Can You Freeze Magic Mushrooms Or Truffles?

It is possible, and it works as a storing mechanism. However, unless they are completely dry, freezing them risks diminishing their power. We would only recommend this if you are confident that your mushrooms or truffles are dry enough, such as if you used a food dehydrator. We’d go with another alternative if you just hung them next to a fan.

Storing Magic Mushrooms And Truffles As Blue Honey

Blue honey can also be made with magic mushrooms and truffles. This approach keeps shrooms fresh indefinitely and produces a delightful hallucinogenic treat. To produce blue honey, finely ground your mushrooms or truffles. Then combine them with honey. The psilocybin from the mushrooms will gradually permeate into the honey.

It can then be added to tea, toast, or consumed with a spoon. This is an excellent storing strategy. The biggest disadvantage is that you are somewhat restricted in how you may consume your shrooms once they have been blended with honey.

How Long Do Dried Magic Mushrooms And Truffles Last?

If dried and stored correctly, they should last for a long time. Certain methods will, in time, let moisture in, which will eventually degrade your fungi. But, in theory, storage methods such as vacuum sealing should allow you to store mushrooms and truffles indefinitely.

Storing Magic Mushrooms And Truffles: Drying Is Key

Unless you’re simply storing them for a short period of time, properly drying your truffles and mushrooms is essential to preserving them—moisture will destroy them. However, if you’ve dried your mushrooms or truffles properly, the methods listed above should keep them fresh until you’re ready to eat them.

Where To Store Your Magic Mushrooms?

Excess light exposure will speed up the degradation process, and moisture will, once again, pose a contamination risk. Store your mushrooms in a cool, dark place—such as a kitchen cupboard—to maximise their shelf life.

Dry Your Shrooms Like A Pro

Drying magic mushrooms is essential for keeping their flavor and potency while prolonging their shelf life. Keep this article on hand throughout harvest season to perfectly dry your mushrooms and make them last for months!