In the deciduous or mixed forest, you can often find aromatic and tasty gifts of nature - mushrooms. Their experienced mushroom pickers are fried, salted, pickled and dried. The last method of harvesting mushrooms is not only convenient, reliable, but also allows you to save maximum useful substances in the mushroom pulp. The process itself of how to dry boletus, deserves a more detailed study.

Mushroom Characterization

The birch bark owes its name to the fact that its mycelium is closely connected with the birch tree. It is in the birch planting that these mushrooms most often grow.

Other names of the fungus in question:

• chamomile;
• birch;
• black;
• spikelet.

They like to grow in ravines, at the edges, in bright sparse places. A feature of this species is the presence of hats, often brown shades. The young chamomile is distinguished by a white spore-bearing layer, and the old one is gray-brown. The fungus is characterized by dense white flesh, slightly darkening in the section. Mushroom pickers note a pleasant, subtle fetal odor.

More often birch trees appear at the beginning of summer.

The hat is formed in the form of a hemisphere, and after a few days it becomes pillow-shaped. Humid air makes it sticky, with mucus. The young chubby woman has a gray leg with brown or black scales. In a mature mushroom, it can reach up to 30 cm in height and 4 cm in diameter.

A mushroom grows up to 4 cm per day. The birch trees are often confused with boletus, because in the early stages of development they have similarities in color and shape. Both are relatives of the cep, because they are characterized by dense pulp.

How to dry boletus?

All tubular mushrooms are suitable for drying, and the boletus is just that. Already matured specimens are suitable for the procedure. They need to be given urgently to processing, because mushrooms spoil quickly. The process is able to enhance the mushroom aroma, which is important for soups and main dishes.

Did you know? Boletus, unlike mushrooms, during cooking, they color the water in a dark color.

Other reasons to dry birch bark:

1. All useful nutrients are retained: amino acids, vitamins, trace elements.
2. Dried stalks are compact (out of 5 kg of fresh boletus, 0.5 kg of dry product is obtained).
3. Such mushrooms are elastic, bend and rarely break.
4. They have high calorie content and protein content.
5. Can be stored for 2 years.
6. Of these, just cook soup, gravy, sauce, stew, stewed vegetables.
7. The opportunity to enjoy your favorite mushroom dish, even in winter.

How to process before drying?

Dried forest mushrooms are stored for a long time and filled with unusual aromatic and flavoring qualities.

Some rules for preparing raw materials for drying:

1. Remove adhering grass, leaves, conifers, and moss from the mushrooms.
2. With a knife, clean the rest of the ground on the legs.
3. Review each mushroom carefully; discard the worms.
4. In no case do not wash them, otherwise the mushrooms will pick up excess moisture and will not dry out (and when dried in the air they will simply rot).
5. Sort the birch trees by size: cut large ones into thin plates, leave small copies as a whole.
6. For convenience, you can string it.
7. Clean dirty hats with a sponge or soft cloth.

Important! The most important thing when drying mushrooms is to observe the temperature regime. It is impossible to dry them at a temperature above + 80 ° C, otherwise they will be steamed, baked and will become worthless.

Methods of drying at home

At home, dry birch trees can be dried not only naturally in the open air, but also with the help of the following devices:

• gas or electric oven;
• electric dryers;
• air grill;
• microwave ovens;
• Russian stove.

Dry at home using any of these methods.. So the fruits will be able to dry and not cook. Drying too slowly can also spoil the product. Assistants in this matter will be special equipment: a sieve, grids, wickers, nets.

Video: rules for drying mushrooms

How to dry in the oven?

In the electric and gas oven, you can easily select and maintain the required amount of heat. The disadvantage of these devices is that it is difficult to keep a low temperature in them, up to + 40 ° C. They are equipped with poor ventilation. When drying, it is necessary to keep the door open so that air enters. They have special grids for such a process, because mushrooms can stick to baking sheets.

Did you know? In the northern regions, the tundra, in the Far East, boletus trees can reach 40 cm in height. Deer love to feast on giant mushrooms.

If there are few mushrooms, then the oven will completely cope with the task. But a large number of birch trees can save special threads on which to string slices and tie them to the bars of the lattice. If you use a baking sheet, then be sure to cover it with baking paper.

It is important to ensure that the slices do not touch each other.

The optimum drying temperature is + 60 ° С. Just do not forget about ventilation and open the door. The procedure with changing the temperature regime is more suitable. First, preheat the oven to + 50 ° C and hold it a bit, with constant ventilation.

After 2 hours, increase the temperature to + 70 ° C, withstand the same amount of time. After that, set the indicator again to + 50 ° C and dry for another 2 hours. If during this time it was not possible to finally dry, then you can do this in the sun or in a warm, dry room.

How to dry in an electric dryer?

The most suitable method, independent of weather conditions, is an electric dryer or an oven. Nowadays, it is just so necessary to dry many fruits, because such a process does not even require special monitoring. Moisture gradually evaporates from the raw materials, useful substances remain, forest aroma, natural color.

The procedure for harvesting birch trees in an electric dryer is as follows:

1. Thin slices cut the obabe.
2. Lay them out on a pallet, put them in the appliance, close the lid.
3. Turn on the "Mushrooms" mode.
4. The process takes 5 hours and takes place at a temperature of + 55 ° C.
5. Periodically rotate the pan from one side to the other so that the workpieces are evenly dried.

With perfect drying, the birch trees spring, but do not break. The drying out is indicated by the darkening and fragility of the slices. No need to get rid of dried mushrooms. They can be ground into powder and used in sauces, soups.

Important! Do not dry the birch on metal baking sheets. Upon contact with them, the blanks turn black.

Outdoor drying

The best way to dry is on the street.. So fruits retain nutrients better. They are obtained with excellent taste, a mild odor that differs from fruits dried in a stove or oven. Only such a natural way requires certain knowledge and dexterity, otherwise the birch trees can become sour or be affected by maggots.

In the middle latitudes it is possible to dry under the sun only in sultry summer, in clear weather. In the southern regions, this method is very popular. Outdoor drying involves stringing mushrooms on threads, putting on knitting needles, laying them out on wooden grids.

Place fruit stands in places blown by the wind. To protect the workpieces from flies, dust, cover them with gauze. Do not leave blanks overnight in the courtyard; otherwise, dew or rain will wet them.

The duration of this procedure is two days. This will allow birch trees to keep a beautiful shade. During the procedure, do not forget to turn the pieces so that they do not stick to the stand.

Stretch the bundles between the posts and securely fasten.

Choose a place for this ventilated, protected from rain and dust. Mushrooms, dried in the shade, under a canopy, are better than those that were dried under direct sunlight. You can finish the birch bark in the room, only before that they should be well withered for 2 days.

How to dry on paper?

Thinly sliced ​​mushrooms can be dried outdoors in hot weather by placing on thick cardboard, paper, cloth. The main thing is that the place for the process be blown by the wind. Fruits can let in juice, so they should be shifted and turned over from time to time. This procedure can take up to 4 days.

Can I air dry and microwave?

Using a microwave - an express method for drying boletus. First put the blanks on the wire rack and turn on the microwave oven for 20 minutes. (power from 100 to 180 watts). As soon as the time runs out, drain the accumulated liquid from the pan, leave the door open for 5 minutes. Repeat the same operation up to 5 times.

Mushrooms should end up being elastic. This method must be treated with caution, because often the slices are overdried. Do not turn on the stove at high power, otherwise they may erupt.

Another way to dry the head is to use an air grill. Put sliced ​​slices on wire rack. Set the time - 1.5 hours at a temperature of + 80 ° C. Stay well hydrated mushrooms for a little longer. Follow the process from time to time, pick up dried slices, and leave the rest.

How to store dried boletus?

Well-dried boletus - light, plain, do not have red-hot, burnt areas. For long-term storage, they need certain conditions. It is better to place them in twisting jars or containers. Do not store them in plastic bags; they may become moldy.

The most suitable is glass sterilized containers, tightly closed or tightened with lids. Cotton bags can be used, but they must be placed where the air circulates well. If the slices are slightly moistened, you can dry them slightly.

Important! Dried birch mushrooms easily absorb foreign smells, so they do not need to be stored next to spices or strongly smelling products (onions, garlic).

If you have patience, follow one of the above instructions, then the stocks will delight you at any time of the year with a unique mushroom flavor. Dried birch trees can be used as a filling for pizza, pies, rolls. They are well combined with potatoes, cabbage, carrots and buckwheat.