Magic mushroom storage and drying methods

Magic mushrooms are a type of mushroom that contain psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychoactive compound. When consumed, psilocybin can cause changes in perception, thought, and mood, leading to altered states of consciousness and spiritual experiences.

If you've bought or grown some fresh magic mushrooms you can eat them raw, but you'll probably want to dry and store some of your shrooms for later.

To find out how to correctly dry magic mushrooms at home, keep reading.

It takes a lot to grow magic mushrooms, so the last thing you want to happen is your fresh mushrooms to rot and go to waste when harvest time eventually creeps around.

It doesn't take long for freshly harvested shrooms to go bad - to read about how long, check out this article here.

Drying, when done correctly, means your psilocybin mushrooms can be kept for months without losing their flavour or potency. It also helps to reduce the weight and volume of the mushrooms, making them easier to store and transport.

Additionally, drying the mushrooms can also increase their potency as the water content is reduced, leading to a more concentrated form of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms.

After reading this post, you'll be drying like a pro. But first...

What are some signs that your shrooms have already gone bad?

There are several signs that your psychedelic mushrooms have spoiled, including:

1. Odor: Spoiled magic mushrooms have a strong and unpleasant odor, which is different from the earthy smell that they normally have.
2. Discolouration: The color of the mushroom may change from its original color to yellow, brown, or black, indicating that it has gone bad.
3. Texture: Spoiled mushrooms may become slimy or mushy to the touch, instead of firm and dry.
4. Mold growth: Mold growth is another common sign of spoilage in magic mushrooms. The mold may appear as white or green spots on the surface of the mushroom.
5. Taste: If the magic mushrooms taste sour or rancid, they have likely spoiled and should not be consumed.

If you notice any of these signs, it is best to dispose of the magic mushrooms and not consume or dry them. Consuming spoiled magic mushrooms can be harmful and cause several health problems.

The fungi that cause spoilage in magic mushrooms can produce toxic compounds that can make you sick, which can be serious and require medical attention.

Additionally, consuming spoiled magic mushrooms can also weaken the potency of the psilocybin, the active ingredient, making it less likely to produce the desired effects.

If you don't see any of these signs, it's time to dry...

Pre-Drying Your Magic Mushrooms

Its best to gather magic mushrooms as soon as the veil separates from the cap. This component of the mushroom's structure protects the gills that produce spores. When this happens, it's time to pick your shrooms and prepare them for drying.

Pre-drying is a technique for getting rid of extra moisture from your harvest before completely drying it off. Your mushrooms should be completely dried out at this point; bending them should cause them to crack.

Any water that is still present can encourage contamination.

Additionally, the pre-drying process is crucial since it makes it much simpler to weigh out more accurate doses later on.

Place your mushrooms on a dry towel or piece of cardboard to pre-dry them. Make sure they are not touching and that they are distributed equally.

Put your cardboard or towel somewhere well-ventilated and out of the sun, such a shelf in your walk-in closet or the top of your refrigerator.

Alternately, you can air them out by setting the cardboard in front of a fan.

Your mushrooms will be pre-dry in a couple of hours using either approach.

Every so often, check in on them and observe how their look changes. Pre-drying is finished when the object appears wrinkled to the sight and rubbery to the touch.

Be aware that if you're using a towel instead of cardboard, you might need to replace it periodically to prevent moisture buildup.

Is it harmful to the potency of mushrooms to cut or tear them?

You may wish to reduce the size of any super sized mushrooms your flush has produced so they can be stored. Mushrooms may be dried more quickly with a larger surface area if they are cut or torn, but will this affect how potent they are?

On this question, the verdict is still out. It comes down to whose anecdotal tale is more credible due to the dearth of scientific evidence.

Some mushroom producers assert that there is no difference in the hallucinogenic effects between cutting or slicing their mushrooms before drying.

The cell walls of the mycelium are ruptured when fruit bodies are chopped, according to some farmers, which causes excessive bluing and the possible loss of potency, although the cell walls may remain intact when mushrooms are torn.

Which approach is the right one? We can't tell with certainty. In the end, drying your stockpile completely is more crucial than a tiny potency loss.

The Simplest Techniques for Magic Mushroom Drying

Your mushroom crop can be dried in several ways. Here, we'll outline the three simplest methods for getting rid of moisture-causing fungi:

Drying by Air

The cheapest and simplest method for drying magic mushrooms is air drying. The mushrooms won't always become completely dry with this technique, though. Additionally, it is a problematic technique in humid conditions.

Dehydrator

Using a dehydrator to dry magic mushrooms is highly recommended. In order to evaporate moisture gently and uniformly, they employ a mild heat source and steady airflow. The end result is you up with perfectly dehydrated mushrooms.

Using a Desiccant

Another simple method to remove any remaining moisture from your precious mushrooms is to buy or make desiccant. Just make sure your pre-dried mushrooms are as dry as possible before allowing the desiccant to work its magic.

Drying Magic Mushrooms by Air

Air drying is the quickest and most convenient method to dry magic mushrooms because it essentially continues the pre-drying procedure.

Most of the water content in the fruit bodies will eventually evaporate given time, heat, and adequate ventilation.

However, air drying is only effective if the environment's relative humidity falls below a predetermined level, or around 55% RH. Use a hygrometer to test the humidity in your room if you're unsure of its humidity level.

Air drying has the drawback of inconsistent drying. When the conditions are right, your mushrooms may occasionally get as dry as dust. In some, they'll be susceptible to infection and retain moisture in the centre.

What you need

• Dry piece of cardboard
• Fan
• Well-ventilated, shaded area

Draining process

1. Place the cardboard on a desk. Over it, distribute the mushrooms equally. To avoid moisture being trapped, make sure none of them are touching.
2. Set up the fan so that it is directing a steady stream of air over the mushrooms. If your environment is dry, you may put the cardboard in a position that is properly ventilated without utilizing a fan.
3. Place the cardboard next to a radiator and set up the fan to blow air over it if your atmosphere is especially humid.
4. Every day, check on your mushrooms. They'll begin to harden and dry out after only a few hours.
5. When they get so dry that they snap when bent, the procedure is finished.

Magic Mushroom Dehydration Using A Dehydrator

This is probably the best way dry magic mushrooms.

Dehydrators use an airflow and heat source to evaporate compounds' water content. This lowers the danger of contamination and enables long-term storage.

Water will be discharged from the mushrooms as a result of the heating element warming them. In order to keep heat from accumulating inside the gadget, internal fans force hot air out of the device through vents.

This is also likely most expensive method of drying mushrooms, but it's a worthwhile investment, especially if you want to grow mushrooms frequently.

Whats the best Dehydrator to use?

A few things need to be taken into account when choosing a dehydrator for your mushrooms. Budget is obviously the most important factor, but there are still many of options accessible.

Almost any store bought food dehydrator should work for you. They are intuitive and straightforward to operate; all you have to do is fill it with mushrooms, set it on, and wait for them to dehydrate.

Dehydrator Drying Techniques

1. Make sure that none of your pre-dried mushrooms are touching as you distribute them equally on the drying racks.
2. Put the shrooms in the dehydrator with the loaded trays.
3. Place on a low temperature setting (about 40°C).
4. Depending on how long you pre-dried, the entire procedure will take 4 to 8 hours.
5. Every hour or so, check on your mushrooms to see how they're doing.
6. They are suitable for storage after they break or snap under pressure.

Magic Mushrooms Dried with a Desiccant

A desiccant is a substance that absorbs moisture from the air to maintain a dry environment. It is commonly used in packaging, storage, and transportation to prevent damage caused by moisture, such as rust, corrosion, and mold growth. Examples of desiccants include silica gel, clay, and calcium sulfate.

You can also use desiccants to dry mushrooms. It works by drawing moisture out when put into a container with the pre-dried mushrooms.

Your mushrooms can be dried for less money using this technique, but you have to make sure they've been pre-dried completely.

How do you use a Desiccant?

The desiccant that is most frequently used is silica gel, but making your own desiccant is the most economical and ecologically responsible method of drying magic mushrooms.

It's simpler than it sounds - all you're really doing is baking Epsom salt, and voila!

Requirements

• Baking pan
• Epsom salt
• Hammer
• Heat-resistant, airtight container
• Oven

Desiccant Preparation

Making your own desiccant using Epsom salt is a simple process:

1. Gather materials: You will need Epsom salt, a container with a tight-fitting lid, and a baking tray or cookie sheet.
2. Prepare the Epsom salt: Pour the desired amount of Epsom salt into the container or onto the baking tray. Spread it out evenly.
3. Bake the Epsom salt: Place the container or tray in an oven preheated to 200-250°F (93-121°C) and bake for 2-3 hours, until the salt is dry and has a porous texture. Stir the salt every 30-45 minutes to ensure even drying.
4. Store the desiccant: Allow the desiccant to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Store it in a cool, dry place until ready to use.
5. You can now completely dry your magic mushrooms after preparing your desiccant. Remember that you may afterwards re-bake and reuse the Epsom salt for more harvests.

What you need

• made-at-home desiccant
• Enough room in a plastic jar with an airtight top to store your desiccant and mushrooms.
• Printed towels
• metallic mesh
• dried magic mushrooms in advance

Process

1. Add your desiccant as the bottom layer of the plastic container
2. Paper towels should be used as a layer over your desiccant.
3. To make a platform to support the mushrooms above the paper towels, insert your metal mesh in the container and bend it around the sides to fit.You don't want to take a chance on the mushrooms physically interacting with the desiccant. Your magic mushrooms should be placed on top of the metal mesh.
4. Put the container's airtight cover on it.All of the moisture from the mushrooms will now start to be absorbed by the desiccant. The container must be airtight in order for the mushrooms' moisture and any trapped air to be the only sources of moisture.
5. Every couple of days, check in to see how dried the mushrooms are. Once more, when they snap, they'll be prepared.

Dried Magic Mushroom Storage

It's time to preserve your mushrooms now that you've properly dried them. Magic mushrooms should be kept out of the way of direct sunlight, heat, and moisture, like other dry items.

Preserve your mushrooms in a cold, dark, and sufficiently dry environment to keep them edible and powerful for as long as feasible.

Buying a nice stash jar or airtight container is highly recommended.

How to store magic Mushrooms and Magic Truffles

The deterioration process will be accelerated by excessive light exposure, and moisture will once more provide a risk of contamination. To extend the shelf life of your mushrooms, store them in a cold, dark location, such as a kitchen cabinet.

People also often store them in the fridge, but that's not the most optimal thing to do as the psychoactive properties will diminish or flat out be nullified completely by freezing temperatures. That being said, you can safely freeze dried magic mushrooms without any problems.

If you're planning a trip and want some guidance on what the ideal dose is, check out our shroom dosage calculator and this handy guide.