Dear Lynne,

Do you have any advice on drying mushrooms? We got a bargain on some wild ones and want to keep them for next winter.

It seems there are two camps when it comes to soaking dried mushrooms: rinse them before soaking or after. Which camp are you in?  

–Barry in Portland

Dear Barry,

To dry the mushrooms, use a soft brush to wipe off any residual dirt, check that there are no small creatures taking residence and string them on heavy cotton thread. Place a knot between each mushroom, and separate them by about 2 inches so there’s plenty of air circulation around them. Hang in a cool, dry, dark place -- moisture is the enemy here. Drying time will vary with local climate and weather. Once they are dry, you can store them in a jar or Ziploc bag for 6-8 months.

On the soaking issue, I’ve visited both camps and prefer rinsing after soaking so all possible grit is gone. The lagniappe here is the soaking liquid, which is a readymade broth, sauce base and flavor booster.

-Lynne

[More: How to clean dried mushrooms]

Lynne Rossetto Kasper
Lynne Rossetto Kasper has won numerous awards as host of The Splendid Table, including two James Beard Foundation Awards (1998, 2008) for Best National Radio Show on Food, five Clarion Awards (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014) from Women in Communication, and a Gracie Allen Award in 2000 for Best Syndicated Talk Show.