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How to Dehydrate Mushrooms at Home

Photo of Susan Gast
Susan Gast, Author and Food Preservation Enthusiast
Susan has been dehydrating and preserving foods for over a decade, sharing practical, tested methods that help readers make healthy, long-lasting meals at home.

Dehydrating mushrooms is an easy way to preserve their rich, savory flavor for soups, sauces, casseroles, and other cooked dishes. You can dry whole button mushrooms or evenly sliced mushrooms using an electric food dehydrator.

The important part is drying them thoroughly before storage. Properly dried mushrooms should be brittle or crisp—not soft, flexible, or damp inside.

✅ Quick Answer: How do you dehydrate mushrooms at home?
Clean commercially grown mushrooms with a soft brush or damp cloth, or rinse them briefly and pat them dry. Slice them evenly, about ¼-inch thick, and arrange them in a single layer on the dehydrator trays. Dry at 120°F until the pieces are thoroughly dry and brittle, generally about 8–10 hours. Allow them to cool completely before packaging them in airtight containers. Mushrooms do not require a separate conditioning period.

This guide explains how to prepare, dehydrate, test, store, and rehydrate commercially grown mushrooms for use in your favorite cooked dishes.

Button mushrooms, and sliced mushrooms

Wild Mushroom Safety: Identification Comes First

Only dehydrate wild mushrooms that have been positively identified as edible by a qualified local mushroom expert. Do not rely on photographs, identification apps, websites, or casual comparisons to determine whether a wild mushroom is safe to eat.

Drying and cooking do not destroy the toxins found in poisonous mushroom varieties. If there is any uncertainty about a mushroom’s identity, do not eat or dehydrate it. For the safest results, use commercially grown mushrooms from a grocery store or trusted grower.

Pre-sliced mushrooms on a Nesco dehydrator tray and a carton of Publix brand sliced mushrooms

How to Dehydrate Mushrooms Step by Step

Prepare and Arrange the Mushrooms

  1. Choose fresh, commercially grown mushrooms. Discard any mushrooms with signs of decay, and trim away woody stem ends or questionable areas.
  2. Clean the mushrooms with a soft brush or damp cloth. You can also rinse them quickly under cold running water, but do not soak them. Pat them dry before slicing.
  3. Slice the mushrooms evenly, approximately ¼- to ⅜-inch thick. Even slices will dry more consistently.
  4. Arrange the mushroom slices in a single layer on the dehydrator trays without allowing them to overlap.
  5. Set the dehydrator to 120°F. Dry the mushrooms for approximately 8–10 hours, checking them periodically. Drying time will vary depending on slice thickness, humidity, airflow, and the dehydrator being used.
  6. Allow several pieces to cool before testing them. Properly dried mushrooms should be crisp or brittle rather than soft, flexible, or spongy. Break open one of the thickest pieces and check that no moisture remains inside.

    7. If any pieces still bend or feel damp after cooling, return the entire batch to the dehydrator and continue drying. Let the mushrooms cool completely before packaging them for storage.

💡 Outside the United States? Use my quick Fahrenheit-to-Celsius converter to find the equivalent Celsius temperature.

Dehydrated mushrooms in a bowl


How to Store Dehydrated Mushrooms Safely

Allow the mushrooms to cool completely before packaging them. Placing warm mushrooms in a container can create condensation, which adds moisture and increases the risk of mold. For additional packaging options, see my guide to storing dehydrated food safely.

Store the cooled mushrooms in clean, dry, airtight containers. Label each container with the contents and drying date, then keep it in a cool, dry, dark location.

Check the container during the first several days. If you see condensation or discover mushrooms that feel soft or damp, return the entire batch to the dehydrator and continue drying until every piece is crisp or brittle. Allow the mushrooms to cool completely again before repackaging them.

If you see mold, discard the entire contents of the container. Do not eat or attempt to redry moldy mushrooms.

A Childhood Mushroom-Shed Memory

As a kid growing up in the UK, I remember a mushroom shed on one of the farms my dad bought. What interested me was that the roof’s apex wasn’t completely closed. There was a gap of about six inches, which I assumed was there for ventilation.

The gap also let in light, but as you know, mushrooms like darkness and high humidity—which was just as well—because in northern England it rains... a lot... and I'm sure gallons of rain made its way into the mushroom shed through the roof 'gap.'

Jeez, it's funny the stuff you remember, huh? (I'm going back over 50 years here!)

Your Top Mushroom-Dehydrating Questions, Answered

How long does it take to dehydrate mushrooms?

Mushrooms generally take approximately 8–10 hours to dry in a food dehydrator. The exact time depends on the thickness of the pieces, the mushrooms’ moisture content, humidity, airflow, and the dehydrator being used. Always judge the mushrooms by their dryness rather than the clock.

What temperature should I use to dehydrate mushrooms?

Set the dehydrator to 120°F. If your dehydrator does not offer that exact temperature, use the closest available setting recommended for mushrooms in the manufacturer’s instructions.

Do mushrooms need to be blanched before dehydrating?

No. Commercially grown mushrooms do not need to be steam-blanched or water-blanched before dehydrating. Clean them, trim away woody or questionable areas, slice them evenly, and arrange them on the dehydrator trays.

How can I tell when dehydrated mushrooms are done?

Allow several pieces to cool before testing them. Properly dried mushrooms should be crisp or brittle rather than soft, flexible, or spongy. Break open one of the thickest pieces to make sure no moisture remains inside.

Can I store mushrooms immediately after dehydrating them?

Allow the mushrooms to cool completely before placing them in clean, dry, airtight containers. They do not require a separate conditioning period. Check the containers during the first several days for condensation or softened pieces, which indicate that additional drying is needed.

What is the best way to rehydrate dried mushrooms?

Cover the dried mushrooms with hot water and soak them until softened. Drain and use them in soups, sauces, casseroles, risottos, and other cooked dishes. The flavorful soaking liquid can also be strained and added to the recipe if desired.

Thanks for spending time with me learning how to dehydrate mushrooms. Once they are thoroughly dry, completely cool, and safely stored, you’ll have flavorful mushrooms ready for soups, sauces, casseroles, risottos, and homemade mushroom powder.

Don’t miss my free 5 Dried Food Recipes That Actually Taste Great PDF below—featuring carrot soup, minestrone, split pea soup, spicy beef jerky, and even banana cinnamon rolls.

5 Easy Dried Food Recipes free PDF

5 Free Dried Food Recipes
That Actually Taste Great

Put your dried food to delicious use!
Five very different recipes.
Not one dull bite...

← Get your free copy now!

5 Free Dried Food Recipes
That Actually Taste Great

5 Easy Dried Food Recipes free PDF

Put your dried food to delicious use!
Five very different recipes.
Not one dull bite...

Get your free copy now!

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More From Easy Food Dehydrating


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