20 replies to this topic

[insight]

Since I have seen a lot of posts come up regarding drying, I figured I would post my TEK for drying. I had created this Tek when I attempted to modify my dehydrator and ended up frying it. It take 4 days total to dry, but the results are so dry, they crumble instantly.
Here we go

Equipment:
10 Gallon Aquarium
Screen Lid for aquarium (or homemade substitute)
High power fan
Disassembeled Dehydrator
Damp Rid
Screening
Large Mixing Bowl
Masking Tape

Stage 1

Place 2 paper towels in aquarium and then fresh mushies on top of paper towels (images 1 and 2).
Place screen lid on aquarium (image 3).
Place fan on top of lid and set power to 'high' (image 4). This is a 'turbo fan' I got from Target for around $20.00.
Let fan run for 2 days.

Stage 2

Create the final drying chamber as pictured (image 5). This was a dehydrator with the fan/heating element removed and masking tape covering the hole. Pour a good amount of Damp Rid in a large mixing bowl (image 6). All of the racks then covered with screen and masking tape and ran along the perimeter to fasten screen (image 7). Place pre-dried mushies on racks (image 8). Screened racks are placed on top of each other, then on top of bowl. Let racks sit for a minimum of 2 days for final dry. I have left some on for a week. I have not noticed any problem with this as all that is happening is the Damp Rid is trying to pull any extra moisture.

Hope this helps.

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[tobynutz]

i like to string em up like popcorn strings and tie the ends around the pole in my closet, then i wrap a couple paper towels around em and put shirts on both sides. if u arent in a big hurry, it is real easy. another thing i did was lay em in my grow cabinet with the fans and hps light goin. they were craker dry when i woke up:)

[taoistshredder]

Kind of reminds me of this, Toby; my former drying method before I made it simpler (realizing mushrooms don't need to be strung together and that can be a waste of time) - now I use an angled Ball box from a dozen halfpints that's at an angle so it gets good airflow. Prettymuch the same idea, though.

EDIT: "It take 4 days total to dry, but the results are so dry, they crumble instantly. " Wow - that's a long time - but that's REALLY dry. Mine take about 24-48 hours to dry but could not be described as crackers until at least 72 hours. Cool tek - I like using dehydrators as it's very stealthy.

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[destroy_erase_improve]

is the dehydrator on with the damp rid in it?
if i could make a suggestion. the damprid will work better if its in a close tupperware container with the mushrooms elevated in it. otherwise the damprid is pulling moisture from not only the mushrooms but the air in the room too.

the closed tupperware does two things. dries the mushies faster, and extends the life of your damprid.
cool tek btw.

[Hippie3]

to drying teks

thx for sharing.
nice work.

[Lazlo]

Yeah man! Nice write up!

[perrch01]

We have the same mixing bowl! lol
I use yellow for salad, pink for brf

[insight]

is the dehydrator on with the damp rid in it?

The dehydrators electrical elements have been removed. The only parts that are used are the racks and the lid.

the damprid will work better if its in a close tupperware container with the mushrooms elevated in it. otherwise the damprid is pulling moisture from not only the mushrooms but the air in the room too.

the closed tupperware does two things. dries the mushies faster, and extends the life of your damprid.

On the racks, the mushys are suspended above the DampRid. The bottom rack completely encloses the bowl. If there is a space, some tape could be placed around the seal the gap.

[insight]

We have the same mixing bowl! lol
I use yellow for salad, pink for brf

I got these from Wally World. We have blue, pink, red and yellow. You could do a lot with them because of how big they are.

[insight]

I came up with this TEK for bulk drying. Trying to get 4 plates of mushrooms to dry above the fridge wasnt working anymore. In the aquaruim with the fan, you could probably get 10-20 Lbs of fresh mushys drying in there.

[Hippie3]

copied to the vaults

[igetit]

i know this is an old post..... but where can I find damp rid?

[Hippie3]

we aren't like shroomery,
we won't bitch if someone posts to an old thread,
in fact we encourage it.
feel free to add something anytime,
i do it too.

[Hippie3]

http://www.mycotopia...html?1008377555
http://www.mycotopia...html?1008500139

[insight]

Wally World, The Depot, almost anywhere ;)

[igetit]

thanks guys - i learn more and more daily on this forum

[hydrodad]

If you don't need to be in a stealth mode, I sometimes just put them on a paper plate and sit them on top of the frig if in a hurry. The temp runs about 84-86 degrees. Overnight gives dry enough to give away, 2 days and they crumble. But I really prefer sitting on raised screens at room temp for 2-3 days. Just my 2 cents...

[altered_states]

My drying technique:
1. Place freshies on absorbent material. (paper towel, cotton t-shirt, Etc.)
2. Check that you have at least a somewhat-suitable backstop. (box, wall, aquarium, Etc.)
3. Point a fan at them.
The simple addition of a wicking material below the mushies wicks the water out from under them and into the paper towel/t-shirt/whatever in the surrounding areas...
Much more surface area... It's all about the surface area.
I put paper towels (just 1 layer) over a piece of old fluorescent light diffuser grid and aim the fan at it. (Remember a backstop)
Don't use more than 1 layer of paper towels.
It may wick more, but the fan can't penetrate enough to make up for it.
This will cut a full day from (strictly) air drying, IME.
There's so little humidity in my house that I don't even consider DampRid unless they're going into the freezer and/or long-term storage.
Hope this at least saves somebody as much time as my stoned-ass took writing it.
Peace,
AS

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