How to dry and store psilocybe mushrooms

STEP 13. Day 32-33. How to dry and store magic mushrooms: complete guide

How to store fresh psilocybin mushrooms?

Right after harvesting fresh psilocybin mushrooms can be stored for a few days (5-7 days) in the refrigerator at +3°...+5°C (37-41°F). The same way as for edible mushrooms from supermarket.

How to store mushrooms for a long time?

Dried mushrooms is the the best way for long-term storage. This method has been tested for centuries on edible mushrooms, and psilocybin mushrooms aren't exception.

Dried mushrooms can be used for making capsules for microdosing or consuming for tripping in different ways like mushroom chocolate, mushroom tea, lemon-tek, blue honey, mushroom shake etc.

🔴 Check out Mushroom Consumption Guides and Recipes

Fresh magic mushrooms can be frozen, however you need to follow some recommendations to do it properly and save mushroom potency

🔴 Check out How to freeze fresh magic mushrooms

Basic rules for drying mushrooms

🔴 Don't put mushrooms on newspapers / magazines / prints. The ink contains heavy metals. Save yourself from an additional portion of toxic substances. Use paper towels or baking paper instead

🔴 Don't put mushrooms on direct sunlight! UV light has negative effect on psilocybin and mushrooms lose their potency faster

🔴 Recommended drying temperature up to 122°F (+50°C)

🔴 The less time mushrooms are exposed to oxygen the less psilocybin is lost

🔴 Don't chop mushrooms into small pieces, dry them full. When you chop them the area of oxidation increase, so that the loss of potency increases. However no problem if you cut them into 2 pieces to fit your dehydrator (sometimes we have huge shrooms!)

Actually, about 10-50% of mushrooms activity is lost even dried them properly. This is considered normal!

Drying rate for long-term storage

Mushrooms are 90% water. This means they dry out at least 10 times. Remains on average 7-10% of dry matter.

For long-term storage, we need to leave dry mass only. The mushrooms should be dried like cracker or fruit chips.

When you bent they should crack and break easily.

Temperature for drying magic mushrooms

Temperature range for drying mushrooms is +20°..+50°C or 68-122°F.

At a lower temperature, they will dry too slowly and will interact with oxygen for too long. This leads to the loss of mushrooms psychoactivity.

At higher temperatures psilocybin begins to decompose into psilocin, which is released under the influence of oxygen and magic disappear!

But what about mushroom tea? - you can ask. Because tea is brewed at temperature about +70°C or 158°F and higher.

When heated water to +90°C or 195°F psilocybin transforms into psilocin extremely fast. Therefore, when consumed it in the form of tea, your stomach doesn't waste time on this metamorphosis and absorb it immediately. As a result, your trip starts faster.

This is the main trick of mushroom tea. But tea with released psilocin is drunk immediately unlike dried mushrooms you are going to store for a long time. Therefore, we need to maximise the preservation of the available psilocybin in mushrooms and prevent its rapid breakdown and release.

When heated above +137°C (280°F) or prolonged boiling, the psychoactive components of psilocybin mushrooms are completely destroyed. Mushrooms are still edible after that, but meaningless.

Let us remind you during proper drying up to 50% of mushroom psychoactivity is lost. It's impossible to avoid. But proper drying can minimise these losses.

Let's check easy methods for drying mushrooms at home.

How to dry magic mushrooms

Let's check the most popular methods how to dry magic mushrooms at home.

1️⃣ How to dry mushrooms in dehydrator

The most common convenient and fast way to dry mushrooms. Shrooms in the dehydrator dry out evenly.

Put harvested mushrooms in a single layer in the dehydrator. You can lay them out on a thin cloth, so that small mushrooms do not fall through the dehydrator mesh during drying process.

Set the temperature in the range of +35°..+45°C or 95-115°F, but no more than +50°C or 122°F.

I prefer to dry at low temperature, +35..+40°C or 95-105°F.

Drying time can be from 3 to 24 hours, depending on the weight of mushrooms and temperature.

The readiness «crisp, like chips» is determined empirically.

Here you can see some experiments. Temperature and time accordingly for drying magic mushrooms. At 135°F mushrooms turned almost black

Shroomok's Choice on Amazon from Simple to Premium:

Food Dehydrator, Temp Control, 5 Trays, Gray/Black $39.99

Presto Standard Food Dehydrator, White $43.20

Professional Food Dehydrator, 5 Trays, White $48.70

Food Dryer Machine, 5 BPA-Free Trays, Dishwasher Safe $59.99

Dehydrator Machine, Digital Timer, LED Temperature Control, Silver/Red $69.98

Elite Gourmet Food Dehydrator, 4/5 Stainless Steel Trays $69.99

Food Dehydrator Machine, Digital Timer, 6 Trays, Black $98.99

Professional Dehydrator Machine - 6 Stainless Steel Trays, 50 Free Recipes, Silver/Black $159.99

But what to do if you don't have such device? All methods are listed below for your help!

2️⃣ How to dry mushrooms without dehydrator

Mushrooms can be dried at room temperature without dehydrator.

Put fresh mushrooms on a paper towel, parchment paper or a baking tray in a one layer, without piling them on top of each other. Leave them to dry out on any flat surface.

Don't expose mushrooms to direct sunlight! Put them in the shade in a draught or in ventilated room. Turn them over once a day to dry evenly.

Such natural drying process takes about 2 days, depending on the air temperature and relative humidity in the room.

If mushrooms remain soft after such drying, then try to dry them with food grade silica gel, under fan, fan heater or in the oven.

3️⃣ How to dry mushrooms with fan or heat fan

One more method for drying mushrooms without dehydrator is using fan or heat fan.

Put the harvested mushrooms in a sieve or on a flat surface in one layer. Place them under the air flow of regular fan or heat fan. This way you can significantly speed up the drying process or dry slightly soft mushrooms after natural drying

If mushrooms remain soft during this drying process, try to dry out mushrooms with food grade silica gel.

4️⃣ Drying mushrooms on radiator or heater

During the heating season you can take advantage of warmth of household heating radiators and heaters.

Put mushrooms on a paper towel or parchment. Leave mushroom on a warm radiator or heater for 1-2 days. If the heater is too hot you can put a towel under the mushroom scrolls.

To check the temperature of the radiator/heater just put a thermometer on its surface.

From time to time turn mushrooms, so that they dry evenly.

5️⃣ How to dry mushrooms in the oven

Modern ovens allow you to turn on convection (built-in fan in the oven) and set a minimum temperature +40°C..+50°C or 105-122°F. This is a great way to dry mushrooms without dehydrator.

Better to place mushrooms on a mesh tray rather than a solid tray - this allows air to circulate evenly on all sides of the mushrooms

If your oven doesn't allow you to set such temperature +40°..+50°C or 105-122°F we still recommend drying mushrooms by the methods described above.

With slightly heated oven you can finish drying soft/moist mushrooms in a warm (not hot!) oven, preferably with open door. You can even check the temperature with a household thermometer because you don't want the temperature to go above +50°C (120°F).

❗️ Be careful with temperature! Don't spoil your harvest in hot oven!

6️⃣ Food-grade silica gel for drying mushrooms

Food-grade silica gel is a water-absorbing agent in granules. It is used in packs with spices, nuts, and various snacks. Silica gel is best used to dry slightly soft mushrooms. It will help to absorb residual moisture from dehydrated mushrooms.

Silica gel is also used for further storage. Put 1-2 packs in each jar/package with dried mushrooms.

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Food Safe Silica Gel Packs Desiccants - 1 Gram - 50/100/200/400 Packs - $6.96

Premium Safe Silica Gel - 1 Gram - 100/200/400 Packs - $7.88

Safe Orange to Green Indication Silica Gel - Rechargeable - 2 Gram - 60/100/120 Packs - $8.99

Food Grade Moisture Absorbers, Non-toxic, No color - 3/5/10g - 150/80/60 Pack - $9.99

How to store magic mushrooms

🔴 It is important to avoid contact with oxygen. That is the main key to save mushroom potency!

🔴 Psilocybin dried mushrooms can be stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature (+20°..+25°C or 68-77°F) in a dark corner of any cabinet.

1️⃣ Vacuum sealer machine is my favourite option for mushroom storage. It will avoid mushrooms contact with oxygen for sure. It is convenient to make portions of 5-10 grams and open each pack, when you need it

Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:

Portable Vacuum Sealer & Reusable Vacuum Food Storage Bags - $27.99

Vacuum Sealer Machine - w/Starter Kit, Air Sealing System - $48.58

Vacuum Sealer Machine w/Starter Kit - Led Indicator Lights - $49.99

Vacuum Sealer Machine - Different Designs - $49.99

Vacuum Sealer Machine - Led Indicator With Starter Kit - Compact Size - $54.06

Vacuum Sealer Machine - Smart Control System - $84.99

2️⃣ Store dried mushrooms in airtight glass jars for food with tightly closed lids.

Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:

Glass Jars With Airtight Lids with labels - 16 oz - 6 Pack $23.99

Airtight Wide Mouth Mason Jars - 8 Labels & 1 Chalk Marker - 34oz - 4 Pack $24.99

Glass Jars With Airtight Lids and Leak Proof Rubber Gasket - 25oz - 6 Pack $25.99

3️⃣ Mushrooms are stored good in tightly closed zip bags (without air in it!)

Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:

Zip Bags - Grip 'n Seal Technology - $9.87

Zip Bags for Freezer/Storage, BPA Free - 1 Quart - 75/100/120 Pack - $9.59

Slider Storage Bags - Quart Size - 78 Count - $12.29

4️⃣ Food-grade silica gel helps to keep mushrooms dry and absorb the slight moisture in shrooms. Always add 1-2 sachets to each jar/pack with dried psilocybin mushrooms.

Shroomok's Choice on Amazon:

Food Safe Silica Gel Packs Desiccants - 1 Gram, 100 Pack - $7.79

Food Grade Moisture Absorbers, Non-toxic, No color - 3/5/10g - 150/80/60 Pack - $9.99

Premium Safe Silica Gel - 1 Gram, 200/400 Pack - $10.88

Safe Orange to Green Indication Silica Gel - 2 Gram - 60/100/120 Pack - $10.99

5️⃣ Sign each pack, indicate species, strains, flush, date, weight and any additional info on pack or sticker

How long mushrooms can be stored? Do mushrooms go bad over time?

If stored properly dried psilocybin mushrooms retain their quality and alkaloids up to 2 years.

After 2 years, they don't spoil, don't get worse or go bad, they won't dangerous for consumption. As time passes, mushrooms slowly lose their magic. It just means concentration of alkaloids is decreasing.