16 replies to this topic

[hallucinogeneti]

hey, just going over some ideas for harvesting and storing and was wondering whether or not you guys think that a harvest maid food dryer would work. The lowest setting is 95 degrees. It feels quite mild and works great with fruits and herbs and such. but maybe too hot for mushies?:flamer:

[reverend trips]

You may be able to modify it like our good monkey shows us here. http://mycotopia.net...food dehydrator

[SharkieJones]

I put it in a screen attach a coat hanger to it and hang it to a fan that's on high. Then I put it over some dessicant and it's hard as a rock.

[SharkieJones]

Anyone ever use a food dehydrater to dry mushrooms? Does it work? Does it affect potency?
Thanks for any info.

[Jaeger]

From good sources (I know, I am a n00b in these parts, but many VERY experienced cultivators love them!), food dehydrators are a GREAT way to dry mushrooms.
Many love Nesco Dehydrators because you can turn down the temps to 135 but, psilocybin does not degrade until 400 deg So in theory you are fine either way :)

[SharkieJones]

Funny I have a Nesco. Anyone else ever use one? I'd like to hear some more testimonials if possible.

[hogwild]

borrowed the nieghbors once but not to dry mushys, i was looking into purchasing one specifically for drying the infamous mush. Let me know if it ends up working better than a simple fan dry method or dessicant, then ill def purchase one.

[negativezer0]

Anyone ever use a food dehydrater to dry mushrooms? Does it work? Does it affect potency?
Thanks for any info.

It has been long said heat effects potency but to what degree I've never heard until the above post of "400 degrees Fahrenheit" which seems VERY HIGH

Most people unhook the heating element so that the dehydrator is just a fan with a enclosed rack over it and dries the mushrooms using room temperature air.

It should work well.

Funny I have a Nesco. Anyone else ever use one? I'd like to hear some more testimonials if possible.

see:

http://mycotopia.net...es/5/99892.html

and

http://mycotopia.net...es/5/14832.html

for using a nesco dehydrator...

but, ive checked ebay and there are a lot of older ones for sale that might not have a fan built in, therefore they are not much good if you want to dry your mushrooms with no heat as one should...

i believe the one you want is the:

NESCO American Harvest FD-60 FOOD DEHYDRATOR

psilocybin does not degrade until 400 deg

Have a reference for this?

Q: Do high temperatures, such as boiling water, truly degrade psilocybin/psilocin? If so, at what temperature does degradation occur?

A: Psilocybin and psilocin are sensitive to oxidation, with psilocin being particularly sensitive. This process is accelerated at higher temperatures. There is no specific temperature at which this breakdown occurs, however, the longer you expose the psiloc(yb)in to a raised temperature (in the presence of oxygen or an oxidizer), the more will be degraded.

To my knowledge, there has been no study or report of anyone quantifying the amount of degradation at various temperatures. Qualitative reports however seem to indicate that less than an hour of boiling or steeping seems to have little to no effect on the potency of psiloc(yb)in water solution.

aloha
psilo

taken from http://www.erowid.or...ask.cgi?ID=2984

[negativezer0]

psilocybin does not degrade until 400 deg

Have a reference for this?

[Lazlo]

I don't know man. I did a log on heat effecting the potency of psilocybin mushrooms. I did an on hands experiment using the oven. Wasted a 1/4 pound on the damn thing. I found that anything over 150 degrees tended to have an effect. 160 degrees and the potency declind dramatically. I'd stick with the American Harvest Snack Master. It has a minimal setting of 95 degrees that is perfect for dehydrating these types of mushrooms. I have several friends that use them with great results. My advice on the Nesco would be; try a very small amount first.

[SharkieJones]

No problem about the merging of threads seems to go hand in hand. I will try a small amount in the Nesco. Will keep you posted.

[SporeAddik1]

I dehydrated some field shrooms once and I didn't disable the heating element and it ruined them all. They're was absolutely no potency. I also found that the shrooms on the top rack get more soggy before they get dry because the shooms on the bottom racks are expelling their moisture.

[Jaeger]

Personally, I would go with under 150, but there have been heated debates on another forum with knowledgable people saying heat doesn't matter.

That is why nesco's are preferred because you can turn down the heat to safe levels.

[Invitro]

The Excalibur Dehydrator 2900 will set you back about $200.00usd
but its starting temp is 85f and it will dry a crapload of shrooms ,
there are also smaller models that are cheaper than 2900 if you
dont need something that big .


http://www.food-dehy...gn=Shopping2900

[Lazlo]

There were some guys at the Shroomery that saw the Oven Drying log here and did their own tests. All feedback was perfect @ 150 degrees on the dot. No complaints at all. So, do what you think is right concerning the Nesco rig. 135 degrees shouldn't matter at all. But like I mentioned; a small run would be in order IMO. Good luck..

[TVCasualty]

Oxidation seems to be the issue, not merely heat. Heat accelerates chemical reactions. Oxidation is constantly occuring whenever psil. is exposed to air, so this process simply speeds up when the air is hotter.

The reference to 400 degrees might be from some lab study of heat degradation in the total absence of oxygen; it could be the temp that psilo. breaks down from heat alone? (my speculation)

Anyhow, I have always avoided heat in drying. Never heard a complaint about potency!

I put the freshies on a window screen with good airflow all around, and put them in a spare room (the living room would work if necessary). I turn a dehumidifier on MAX (mine says "35%" at that setting), and place a small fan blowing directly on the screens. They are almost crispy by morning, sometimes 18 hrs. When they are just about crisp I stick them in a walmart bin (still on their screens, in a rack I made w/ PVC pipe) with a pan of silica gel and put a trashbag over the top before replacing the lid (closer to airtight in the bin; dries faster) for final bone-dry crisping. Then they go to the Foodsaver cannister.

New thought related to tea: If one boils some water before one makes shroom tea with it, it seems like potency might be protected since O2 is driven out of water by boiling (preventing potential oxidation). Just a thought...