# Drying mushrooms **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 6, 2015, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drying-mushrooms/712011 "2015-02-06T23:07:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SueTy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SueTy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SueTy)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drying-mushrooms/712011/1 "2015-02-06T23:07:36Z")
We tried to dry some shitake mushrooms, and though we thought they were dry, we evidently put them in the jar too soon – just now, weeks after we put them in, we took some out, and they were pliable. Is it dangerous to continue drying them, long after we first put them in the jar? Thank you in advance for any advice anyone has! ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2015, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drying-mushrooms/712011/2 "2015-02-06T23:52:30Z")
Never tried to dry shitakes, but I collect and dry a lot of [oyster mushrooms](http://www.mushroomexpert.com/images/contrib/oleskiw_pleurotus_ostreatus.jpg) and have found that it’s better to leave them a bit pliable. If they are over-dried,they take on the character of wood chips, and are nearly impossible to reconstitute. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drying-mushrooms/712011/3 "2015-02-07T01:44:30Z")
I routinely dry shiitakes to the “stiff but pliable” state, and have always been happy with the result. They keep forever, and do well in every recipe I’ve tried. ETA: I can’t think of any reason why further drying should be a problem - nor do I think it’s necessary. ---
**Author:** ![SueTy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SueTy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SueTy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drying-mushrooms/712011/4 "2015-02-07T03:36:40Z")
Thanks so much for getting back to me about this question – I really appreciate it! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drying-mushrooms/712011/5 "2015-02-07T10:17:01Z")
Some varieties seem to do this more than others. I picked a huge basket of ceps this year and dried them - they stayed pretty crisp and brittle, but the (also huge basket of) trumpet chanterelles, although they initially dried to papery crispness, have relaxed to a more leathery state in the airtight jar I packed them in. As long as the moisture content isn’t high enough for them to go mouldy, they should still keep OK.