Drying naturally takes a lot of time, which greatly saves the technical device. Its indispensability in everyday life has already been appreciated by many housewives. At the same time, drying for mushrooms has the following advantages:
- high speed of the drying process, especially in comparison with the natural method;
- no need to wait for sunny and warm weather;
- you don't have to look for a large area to accommodate all the dried products;
- rotting of products for drying is excluded;
- compliance with hygiene, since the penetration of insects or dust is completely excluded;
- the ability to adjust the drying temperature, time and ventilation, which are different when drying a variety of products.
Until recently, an oven was used for quick drying.
But after this method, combustion products may remain on the pieces of food, due to inexperience, you can overdry or even cook the food.
Drying for mushrooms and fruits - device
Electronic appliances that dry mushrooms and fruits,as well as other products are very diverse, manufacturers add their own additional functions to the device, change its appearance, equip it with various regulators. But the principle of operation remains the same. To understand the types, you need to know approximately what is needed for a particular consumer.
The general scheme of such a device consists of a heating element and a fan. This is usually the pallet on which the products are placed. It does not come into contact with the heater, and the fan blows a stream of warm air onto the products. Closed devices are very popular, because they are more hygienic. Apparatuses can be either round or square, with a different number of tiers. Drying porcini mushrooms in such a device is much easier, retaining aroma and taste.
The dryer works according to the following scheme. Prepared fruits are cut and stacked on pallets. The heated air then dries the food. The fan speeds up the process. All products are processed evenly.
Varieties of devices
The main difference that drying for mushrooms has is the heating element installed in the machine. It depends on the heating temperature of the air. According to this principle, two types are distinguished.
Convection
The device uses a heating element that creates a high temperature. Such devices are more economical and efficient. The only negative is that hot heating contributes to the destruction of useful elements and vitamins in products. The drying temperature of mushrooms should not exceed 60degrees, so you should pay attention to this fact when choosing a dryer.
Infrared
The heater has an infrared device, which makes the device itself a little bulky and the process takes longer. But such equipment will give a better result, preserve the original color of the products, and will not destroy vitamins.
Choosing a dryer by design features
The shape of the dryer can be different - it all depends on the preferences of the consumer, although the shape does not affect the process itself, which cannot be said about the material, size and internal elements.
The case, which has a dryer for mushrooms, is made of two types of materials: stainless steel and plastic for food purposes. The first option is reliable and durable. Often it is supplemented with a transparent door, which makes it more stylish. But steel increases the weight of the entire apparatus, and, accordingly, the cost. The second option is more economical and lightweight, it is convenient to disassemble and wash it.
You can visually estimate the capacity of the dryer by its size. If such a device is not used often, and a small amount of food is to be dried in it, then it makes sense to consider compact options. For those who often pick berries, it is better to find a three-dimensional structure with a lot of tiers so that they can fit as many as possible.
The location of the fan and heating element is important for volumetric devices. The trays are better blown when the elements are on the side, but for small models this does not mattervalues.
Trays that come with the dryer must meet the requirements of the consumer. When it comes to versatility, it is better to choose models equipped with containers of different heights or with height adjustment, with fine or coarse mesh, as well as a flat and solid sheet for making marshmallows.
Choosing a device according to technical data
It is important to know the following specifications that will be useful in using the device:
- Power. The value of this parameter is from 165 to 1000 W. It all depends on the purpose for which the device is purchased. With a 3-5-level design, 300 W is sufficient, while for 6 and above, up to 600 W are already required. The average value is optimal when drying is needed for mushrooms and berries. The highest value is suitable for drying meat or large vegetables.
- Temperature. Selecting this option is not always available. Often one range is set from 50 to 55 degrees, while only turning the device on or off is possible. If this function is provided, then there can be three options: 35 degrees - gentle drying (Low), 55 - the best option (Medium), 60-75 - high temperature for meat or fish (High).
- Additional functions. Such options are not always required, but they can play a role in the choice. For example, surge protection. It will allow the device to serve much longer. Drying for mushrooms can be equipped with a timer, and you will not need to monitor the process. The thermostat will provide the desired temperature, and the backlighthelps you monitor the drying level without opening the appliance.
Model Overview
Electric dryers of both foreign and domestic production are currently available.
The simple design of the device leads to the fact that often the assembly of nodes is of poor quality or using cheap materials.
In order not to become a victim of low-quality equipment, it is better to pay attention to models tested by consumers from various manufacturers. The list of the most popular dryers can be compiled as follows:
- Tefal DF 1008, which has a power of up to 525 W, has 5 removable levels and 3 modes - 40, 60 and 750.
- Zelmer 36Z011 has a compact size, 300 W power, 4 pallets, has an electronic control with two modes, weighs 3 kg, plastic case.
- VES VMD-1 - has 5 departments, power 300 W, construction weight 2 kg.
- Scarlett SC-421 - has 5 tiers, power 250 W, transparent plastic case, there is a fan.
- "Veterok-5" - holds 5 pallets, power 500 W, weight up to 4 kg, has the function of adjusting the temperature in the range of 30-70 degrees.
- "Dry M" - holds 8 trays, power 500 W, weight - 4 kg.
The price range for dryers starts from 3000 rubles.
How to dry mushrooms in the oven
You can dry them in several ways and in different devices - from natural drying to a microwave oven. It is desirable thatin the latter, convection was provided. Drying mushrooms in it will not be a hassle.
Processing porcini mushrooms is no different from the drying process of other species. The first step is to prepare the products, that is, clean them. It is better to do this without water, later it will be difficult to remove it, since the product itself already contains a significant amount of moisture. Next, they need to be cut. Pieces can be of different sizes - it all depends on the moisture content. The drier the mushroom, the thinner the piece can be. It should be remembered that the drying time will be reduced if the pieces are small. Such small mushrooms as mushrooms must be dried whole.
Drying porcini mushrooms in the oven can be done as follows. String prepared mushrooms on a string and hang near the oven door. You can hook the threads on nearby drawer handles or other objects. Cover the oven door a little so that the mushrooms are between it and the oven itself. Then turn on the heating of the stove to the smallest mode. The process will take a little over an hour.
Other processing methods
There is such an option as drying mushrooms in a convection oven. To do this, the prepared pieces should be laid out on a baking sheet, previously covered with several layers of parchment paper, so that the pieces do not touch. Then heat the oven to 60 degrees and place the mushrooms. Turn on the convection mode and wait for about 30-60 minutes.
Another way isdrying mushrooms in the microwave. This process will take a long time and require a lot of attention. It is necessary to clean and prepare the mushrooms, blot excess moisture with a napkin. Otherwise, the mushrooms will simply boil. Next - place them on a plate covered with paper. On the microwave, set the lowest power and set the time to 15 minutes. After its expiration, you need to ventilate the oven and leave the mushrooms for about 10-15 minutes. Then repeat the procedure 3-4 times.
Drying mushrooms in an electric dryer
The best option for their processing is a special device. Freshly picked mushrooms are cleaned, but do not forget that mushrooms should not be washed before drying. Excess moisture will only slow down the process. Next, cut them into pieces.
The smaller they are, the faster the process will go. The thickness should not be more than one centimeter. After that, each tier of the device is filled with forest gifts, and the drying of mushrooms in an electric dryer begins. The temperature is not more than 60 and not less than 50 degrees. Time - from 2 to 6 hours. To speed up the process, you can swap trays, lower with upper. It is very simple to determine the readiness, the pieces should visually look dry, while not breaking, but springing a little. If they are wet, then you need to dry them. When they break and are too hard, the product is overexposed.
So we figured out how mushrooms are dried.
