Re-hydrating
Shitake Mushrooms
Chinese dried Shiitake Mushrooms (also called Black Mushrooms) have an intense meaty flavor that add to the flavor of soups, stir-fries, and Asian or Chinese dishes. However, the dried mushrooms must first be rehydrated. This is how I how you can store and enjoy them for 6 months to 25 years, with some fun information about Shiitake Mushrooms.
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Start by placing the amount of Shitake Mushrooms you need in a bowl (I normally do 2 cups) in a bowl, cover mushrooms in boiling water. I used a gallon zip lock bag and slid the bowl in. Zip it close to lock in the steam and heat. Soak for 1 to 2 hours. You can soak up to 24 hours in advance. Starting them in the morning or the night before is ideal.
Once rehydrated, remove the steams. (they are really hard to eat) with kitchen scissors. You can easily just cut them out. Lay 2 to 3 mushrooms on top of each other and slice thin. You can use the broth in soups and stews to give them a more meaty hardy flavor. Sauté them up as a side dish, or add them to stir fries, pasta dishes, or even Raman noodles. They add great health benefits to your lunch or dinner meals.
Shiitake Mushroom Information
Where do Shiitake Mushrooms originate from?
Originating from China and Asia, the shiitake mushroom is among the most commonly cultivated fungi in the world, and used in many Chinese and Asian dishes. Shiitake mushrooms are great in stir fry, for example, adding protein and meaty flavor to vegetable stir fry particularly. They add a deep savory flavor to stocks and broths, and are excellent in soups. They're also great in pasta dishes.
They are loaded in vitamins and have major health benefits.
These compounds protect against cell damage, help your immune system, and boost white blood cell production for fighting off microbes. Polysaccharides also have anti-inflammatory properties and are safe to eat everyday.
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The shiitake is a gilled mushroom, and is made up of two main parts; the mycelia and the fruiting body. The mycelia are a branching hairlike structure that penetrates the substrate, in this case hardwood logs and trees, and provides nutrients to the organism. The fruiting body is the part that we harvest and eat as mushrooms! Shiitakes are one of the easiest mushrooms you can grow on logs in the wild.
Do shiitake mushrooms grow wild in the US?
No, Shiitake Mushrooms are found growing wild in the mountainous regions of China, Japan, Indonesia, and Taiwan. The scattering of shiitake spores has been traced using typhoon wind patterns as the mushrooms were dispersed from one to the other of these countries. It is not found wild in the United States or any where else, but unless you live in the desert, you can grow them from home. You just need Shiitake Mushroom Plugs they are ideal for growing on logs, mushroom plugs work best for small to medium log inoculation projects. 100 count plug spawn packs usually are enough for 1-2 logs.
How to keep and store Shiitake mushrooms.
I order my Shiitake Mushrooms from Amazon, when they come in, I will cut the bag open, and place them in quart sized canning jars. Then to keep them fresh for a LONG time add in 1 Oxygen Absorbers (100cc) per quart jar. These will last up to 6 months. Using Mylar Bags will make them last up to 25 years if stored properly. Here is a great kit that I recommend. It has multiple size bags with oxygen Absorbers and labels. This is also how I do them with dried Wood Ear Mushrooms.
Have a question about Shiitake Mushrooms
Comment Below. Or let me know what your favorite Shiitake mushroom recipe is below.
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