The Best Dried Mushrooms

Looking for the best dried mushrooms? Below are the products that I recommend, ones that I myself have tried in the past and found to be either helpful health wise or just truly delicious. All are priced reasonably and from reputable companies.

What can you do with dried mushrooms? From condiments to teas, below are just a few suggestions:

• Reconstitute and use whole in pastas, soups, and sauces

• Grind to a powder and use to flavor any recipe

• Use alcohol to make an extract of the healthy compounds

• Add to boiling water to make a beneficial mushroom tea

Of course I always recommending drying your own mushrooms, as it's fun and can save you money in the long run. Yet if you don't have any mushrooms to dry, or just don't want to deal with the extra effort (hey, I can understand that!), give one of these products below a try.

Dried Morel Mushrooms

Morels (Morchella species) are gourmet mushrooms with an earthy, rich flavor. Add them to almost any dish, from eggs to pasta, sauces, and stews. They'll add an intensely rich and mouth-watering flavor.

These just need to be rehydrated in warm water. The dried morels from Barry Farm are reasonably priced, well packaged, and grown/collected in the USA. Oh, and they're delicious! Order Dried Morel Mushrooms, Whole, 1 oz. from Amazon. (At the time of this writing, they're around $15 for one ounce.)

Dried Reishi Mushrooms

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. The long-chained polysaccharide molecules in Reishi stabilize blood sugar, neutralize free radicals, and are thought to have a beneficial effect for those suffering from cancer, infection, anxiety, and a host of other ailments.

You can use the dried reishi mushrooms from Mountain Rose Herbs to make a mushroom tea or a ganoderma extract. You can always expect a quality, potent product from Mountain Rose Herbs. You can purchase either the whole mushroom or slices, which are easier to grind or break up.

Order dried reishi mushrooms from Mountain Rose Herbs. (Usually around $6 for 4 ounces).

Dried Porcini Mushrooms

Porcini mushrooms (Boletus edulis) are a gem in Italian cooking, imparting an incredible flavor that is both hearty and nutty. You can use these beauties in Italian recipes such as sauces, pasta, pizza, bruschetta, or as a topping for any entree.

These mushrooms are considered gourmet edibles, and aren't cheap. For this reason I like the dried porcini from JR Mushrooms & Specialties. If you purchase the AB grade, which is made up of smaller chips, you can get a pound for under $40. Depending on your budget, you can also order the powder, or the higher quality AA grade in varying amounts.

These mushrooms are tasty, hearty, very affordable, and imported from Italy. Order Porcini Mushrooms - Grade Extra AB 16 oz from Amazon.

Dried Shiitake Mushrooms and Powder

Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) are another species with a long history of medicinal use. In addition to containing many potent antioxidants, shiitake is thought to lower cholesterol and fight cancer.

You can reap the benefits of these dried shiitake mushrooms by eating them in any dish, or by making a tea, extract, or capsule. The Mountain Rose Herbs brand is reasonably priced and comes in either whole mushrooms or a convenient powder. The powder itself can become another, healthier condiment!

Buy whole shiitake mushrooms or powder at Mountain Rose Herbs.

Chanterelle Mushrooms

Chanterelles (Cantharellus species) are known for their beautiful shape and fruity, peppery taste. This delicate gourmet mushroom is a wonderful addition to seafood, poultry, eggs, lighter gravies, or just cooked on their own with a little butter and garlic. Note that these have a lighter taste than some other gourmet mushrooms, so don't overpower them with strong flavors in your dish.

I like the dried chanterelles from FungusAmongUs. They usually run about $20 for one ounce, but they're organic and tasty. Reconstitute them with a little hot water to add some tremendous flavor to your meals!

Buy FungusAmongUs Organic Chanterelle Mushrooms, 1-Ounce Units (Pack of 4) at Amazon.

Dried Maitake Mushrooms

Maitake (Grifola frondosa) mushrooms have gained a reputation for being a powerful immune system booster. Their long chained polysaccharides fight cancerous cells, regulate blood sugar, and can help control cholesterol and blood pressure.

Mountain Rose Herbs sells whole dried mushrooms, which can be used in teas, extracts, or cooking. You can get 4 ounces for under $6, or up to a whole pound for under $20. This is the maitake that I turn to when I get sick, if I don't have any I found myself on hand.

Buy dried maitake at Mountain Rose Herbs.

Wood Ear Mushrooms

Wood ear mushrooms (A. auricula-judae), with their light crunch and mild flavor, appear in many Asian dishes. They add a delightful texture and soft flavor to stir fries and soups. Just know that these mushrooms expand a lot while cooking, so you'll probably need to add less than you think.

At around $12 this 4-pack, 1 ounce set from FungusAmongUs may be more expensive than other wood ear brands, but there and 3 things I really like about them: they taste great, they're organic, and they're pre-shredded. So easy to just rehydrate a few chunks, and add a whole new dimension to your dinner!

Buy FungusAmongUs Wildcraft Woodear, 1-Ounce Units (Pack of 4) at Amazon.

Dried Chaga Mushrooms

This parasitic fungus often appears as a nondescript charred lump on the side of birch trees. Yet it has been used in Russia and Eastern Europe for centuries as a medicinal mushroom. Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is an immune system booster lauded for its antiviral, antibiotic, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties.

The chaga from Mountain Rose Herbs is reasonably priced and of good quality. You can order the ground mushroom or a convenient powder, which can be turned into a medicinal tea or tincture.

Buy organic chaga mushrooms or powder from Mountain Rose herbs.

Dried Black Trumpets

Black trumpets (Craterellus cornucopioides) are my favorite dried mushrooms. I love their smoky, rich flavor that tastes amazing with soups, sauces, seafood, meat dishes, and pasta. Again, this is a delicate flavor; so don't overpower it with a lot of other strong ingredients.

I've found that the black trumpets from Earthy Delights offer a strong, delicious taste at a fair price. At around $12 for an ounce, these keep forever and impart a great taste to any dish.

Buy Earthy Delights Dried Black Trumpet, 1-Ounce Bags (Pack of 2) at Amazon.

Dried Mushrooms: A Whole Pound of Oysters!

Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) are another species that blur the line between medicinal and gourmet. Sure their nutty, soft taste goes well with soups and stir-fries. Yet did you know that they also stimulate the immune system and lower cholesterol?

Through Angelina's Gourmet, you can get a pound of dried oysters for under $20. A pound is a LOT of dried mushrooms, so you'll be set for quite a while.

Please note that prices of dried mushrooms fluctuate due to demand, season, and harvest.

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