Picking, cleaning and drying mushrooms

Grow your own

Picking, cleaning, and drying mushrooms is a rewarding and relaxing hobby that anyone can learn. With the right knowledge about different types of mushrooms and equipment, you'll be quickly on your way.

Mushroom picking is a wonderful hobby that combines nature experiences with the opportunity to harvest your own food. Mushrooms are a nutritious ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. By drying mushrooms, you can also extend the season and enjoy your mushroom finds all year round. But it's important to have the right knowledge and equipment before venturing out into the forest!

Important to know

The most important thing when picking mushrooms is being able to distinguish edible mushrooms from poisonous ones. Making a mistake can be life-threatening. It is therefore recommended to start by picking mushrooms that are easy to identify and do not have poisonous look-alikes. Chanterelles, porcini mushrooms, and black trumpet mushrooms are good examples.

Fungus Control

Every autumn, the Norwegian Fungi and Edible Plant Association organizes mushroom checks around the country, where you can show up and get help from experienced mushroom experts to sort out everything that is not edible mushrooms. This is a great tip for those who are new to mushroom picking. In addition to the physical mushroom checks, you can check out Digital mushroom check at soppkontroll.no, in the Appstore and Google Play. Also digitally, you will receive help from mushroom inspectors who will review the mushrooms you have collected.

Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius)

Characteristics: Golden yellow, funnel-shaped with forked ribs on the underside.
Habitat: Among deciduous and coniferous forests, often in moss.
Risk of confusion: False chanterelle, which is edible but not as good.

Penny bun (Boletus edulis)

Characteristics: Large brown cap, thick white stem, pore layer on the underside of the cap.
Habitat: Both deciduous and coniferous forests.
Confusion Risk: No poisonous look-alikes. However, it can be mistaken for three other good edible mushrooms (black-stemmed bolete, pale-bloomed bolete, and chestnut bolete) as well as the bitter bolete (not poisonous, but useless as an edible mushroom).

Black trumpet mushroom (Craterellus cornucopioides)

Characteristics: Black to dark brown, trumpet-shaped, with no gills or distinct ribs on the underside.
Habitat:Deciduous forests, often in damp areas.
Confusion Risk: No poisonous look-alikes. However, it can be confused with the horn of plenty and the false chanterelle, which should not be picked due to their rarity.

Equipment

To pick mushrooms you need:

Basket
Plastic bags can suffocate the mushrooms and make them sweat, causing them to deteriorate quickly.

Mushroom knife
A knife with a brush is ideal for both cutting and brushing away dirt.

Clothing
Wear long-sleeved clothes and boots to protect yourself from ticks and other insects.

Picking and cleaning mushrooms

When picking mushrooms, you should cut the mushroom close to the ground - this minimizes damage to the mycelium (the mushroom's root system). Clean the mushrooms already in the forest by brushing off dirt and debris. At home, you can quickly rinse them if they are very dirty, but avoid letting them sit in water, as they can absorb too much liquid.

Drying Mushrooms

To dry mushrooms is a great way to preserve them, plus it can also enhance the flavors. Here are two methods:

Drying mushrooms in the oven

Prepare the mushrooms
Slice the mushrooms thinly.
Place on parchment paper
Place the slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Oven temperature
Set the oven to around 50 degrees Celsius, use the convection setting if you have it.
Dry with the oven door slightly open
Let the oven door be slightly ajar to allow moisture to evaporate.
Drying timeIt usually takes between 4 and 8 hours to dry mushrooms, depending on how thick they are and how much you are drying at once.

Dry mushrooms at room temperature

Prepare the mushrooms
Slice the mushrooms thinly.
Thread or place on a rack
Thread the mushroom slices on a thin string or place them on a rack - make sure the mushrooms are spaced out in one layer, not on top of each other.
Place in a airy location
Hang the string or place the rack in a dry and airy location, with good ventilation.
Drying time
This method takes longer, usually between one and two weeks. Monitor and make sure the mushrooms do not start to mold.

Edible mushrooms to pick

In addition to chanterelles, porcini, and black trumpet mushrooms, as described above, there are many other edible mushrooms worth picking:

Yellowfoot chanterelle (Craterellus tubaeformis)
Characteristics: Brownish cap, yellowish stem, clear veins on the underside.
Habitat: Damp coniferous forest, often in moss.

Cauliflower mushroom (Sparassis crispa)
Characteristics: Resembles a large, curly cauliflower head.
Habitat: Grows at the base of pine trees.

Hedgehog mushroom (Hydnum repandum)
Characteristics: White to pale yellow, with spikes on the underside instead of gills.
Habitat: Coniferous forest, often in moss.

Yellow chanterelle (Craterellus lutescens)
Characteristics: Orange to reddish-yellow, trumpet-shaped.
Habitat: Damp coniferous forest.

King bolete (Agaricus augustus)
Characteristics: Large, white to light brown cap, with gills that turn brown.
Habitat: Deciduous forests and meadows.

Button mushrooms are an option – but, as with all other mushrooms, it is very important to be absolutely sure of what you are picking. Among the mushrooms that grow in our latitudes, you can find edible varieties like wine cap mushrooms, but you must be careful, as they can be confused with the death cap mushroom, which is deadly poisonous.

When is the right time to pick mushrooms?

The types of mushrooms you can pick depend on the season and weather conditions.

Spring
In the spring, you can find some early mushrooms, such as true morels (Morchella). But at this time of year, you should know specific places where the early mushrooms grow if you are to find anything.

The weather can also be unpredictable in the spring, with a wide variation in temperatures and precipitation. The availability of mushrooms depends on how the spring develops. Early mushrooms thrive best after mild winters and in moist conditions.

Summer
In the summer, several types of mushrooms begin to appear. For example, you can find chanterelles (Cantharellus cibarius) and various types of milkcaps (Lactarius). Summer also marks the beginning of the season for porcini mushrooms (Boletus edulis).

The mushroom season in summer is greatly influenced by the weather, with rainy periods often leading to better mushroom years. It is important to be out early in the morning to find the best specimens before they become too old or damaged by insects.

Autumn
Autumn is the peak season for mushroom picking. Many types reach their peak during this time, including funnel chanterelles (Craterellus tubaeformis), porcini mushrooms, and various types of milkcaps. Autumn often offers moister conditions, which are ideal for mushroom growth. The combination of cooler temperatures and steady rainfall creates perfect conditions for many types of mushrooms.

This is a time when many mushroom enthusiasts venture into the forest, and one can often fill their baskets with a variety of edible mushrooms. It is also a period where one can participate in mushroom forays and events.

Think about this when you are picking mushrooms

Mushroom picking requires good knowledge of which mushrooms are edible and which are poisonous. It is always recommended to pick mushrooms with an experienced person or carefully use mushroom guides and apps to identify the mushroom correctly. Check out soppkontroll.no, as described earlier in the article.

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