1. Drying methods:
A. Dry in the sun: Be sure to stop spraying water on Shiitakes 2 and 3 days before you pick them so as to prevent excessive moisture, moreover, it is preferred to pick Shiitakes in sunny day, Firstly, cut off stipe base with a stainless steel scissor and then classify them by cap size, thickness and water content. then lamella up, put them in bamboo mat and dry under the sun for 3 days. This method is simple and economical. What’s more, sun-dried Shiitakes are not as fragrant as oven-dried Shiitakes.
B. Dry in the oven: Timely clean and dispose the picked Shiitakes, cut off stipe base, classify by cap size and thickness. Lamella down, place Shiitakes in a bomboo sieve, preheat the dryer to 45 degrees or so, and then spread them on the drying rack. Moreover, in order to accelerate the speed of evaporation, be sure to open the air inlets and air outlets so as to lift the ventilation rate and discharge water vapor. When drying Shiitakes, raise 5 degrees in every three hours, when the drying temperature reaches 45 degrees, the evaporation of water gets reduced, in that case, close one third of air inlets and air outlets. When the drying temperature reduces to 35 degrees or so, timely stop heating and lower the temperature to 35 degrees. After 4 hours, raise the temperature to 50-55 degrees again, open a half of air inlets and air outlets and remain for 3-4 hours. After that, close air inlets and outlets, control the drying temperature to 60 degrees and remain for 2 hours.
2. The storage of dried Shiitakes: Dried Shiitakes hold the water content of under 13%, which means fragile texture. Therefore, you could store them in two-double plastic bags in accordance with grades, then seal bag mouth, package in cardboard, settle in the place where is shady and cool, dry, lucifugal, free from mice and pests, owns the room temperature of 15 degrees or so and the relative air humidity of under 50%, besides, be sure to check the storage conditions from time to time.