Welcome everyone!

It is harvest season so here is a quick and dirty guide to dry your Amanita muscaria, as best as possible, without a good dehydrator.

A good dehydrator is the best way to dry them, In a dehydrator you will convert the most Muscimol from Ibotenic Acid (stuff that makes you puke).

What You Need

• Amanita muscaria (fly agaric), or any mushroom you want to dry.
• Window Screen
• Fan (Box Fan is okay)
• Dehumidifier (optional)
• Fireplace (optional)

Step 1, Preparation

Clean your mushrooms with a damp rag and a dry paintbrush, you want to remove all the dirt and debris so they dry without any contamination. Dab dry your mushrooms with a dry towel. Cut them in at least halves so they dry faster, you may leave the stems attached to the caps.

Step 2, Air Dry

Place your prepared mushrooms on a window screen, preferably in a place where they will receive lots of sunlight. Aim your fan directly at the mushrooms and turn it on full power. You want to remove as much moisture as quickly as possible. Try and make sure the room is nice and warm to keep as much moisture out as well. If you have a dehumidifier, set it up directly next to the mushrooms an turn it on high.

If you don’t have a fireplace, this will be your last step, in 3-5 days your mushrooms should be cracker dry. They are not ready until they are completely cracker dry, that means that you can easily snap them in half.

Note: There are conflicting reports that air drying will not convert Ibotenic Acid into Muscimol, that you need heat. I have never gotten sick from air drying them.

Step 3, Fire Dry

Once your mushrooms are dry to the touch, move them to your fireplace. You can either set them on it like I have or place them in a mesh vegetable bag and hang them in front of the fireplace. Keep an eye on them to make sure you don’t burn them. Flip them as needed and if the mushrooms lose any liquid it is too hot. You do not want them to lose any physical liquid during the drying process. Again, do this step until they are cracker dry.

Step 4, Storage

Once they are completely dry, either by air or fire, you want to store them as soon as possible in an air tight container. Once they are dried it is best to make a tea for consumption to convert as much Ibotenic Acid as possible. You can learn more about that here.

You can use these steps to dry any kind of mushroom!

I hope this helps and if you have any questions please ask. Additionally, if you have any tips or ways I can improve this process please let me know! Thanks!

-@balticbadger