How to dry morel mushrooms?
I.Difficulties and core requirements for drying morel mushrooms
The morel mushroom is known as the “king of mushrooms”, and its drying process is complex, requiring extremely high equipment requirements. The moisture content of fresh morel mushrooms is as high as 90%, and there are significant differences in moisture content between different batches (such as the first and second batches of mushrooms). During the drying process, temperature, humidity, and time must be strictly controlled. Minor negligence can easily lead to bacterial breakdown, discoloration, or mold growth.
Key risk points:
High temperature and high humidity: It is easy to cause the surface conjunctiva of bacterial cells to turn black, and internal water cannot be discharged.
Heating up too quickly: Bacterial cells rapidly contract, causing the lid to roll backwards and affecting its appearance.
Unbalanced humidity control: Insufficient dehumidification can lead to mold growth, while excessive dehumidification can destroy the aroma.
II.Drying process of morel mushrooms (taking Jinlu mechanical heat pump dryer as an example)
①. pre-processing
Stem cutting grading: Based on the size and texture of bacterial cells, cut off the stem (leaving 0.5-2 centimeters) and divide it into full footed mushrooms, half footed mushrooms, and flat footed mushrooms.
Spread evenly: Place a single layer of processed morel mushrooms on a sieve to avoid overlapping.
②. Drying stage (four stage temperature and humidity control)
Phase 1: Initial color determination: 35-38 ℃ ≤ 70%, 3-4 hours of low-temperature qualitative analysis to maintain bacterial cell integrity. Phase 2: Heating and dehumidification at 40-45 ℃ ≤ 55% for 2-3 hours to reduce volume and significantly lower moisture content. Stage 3: Strengthen drying at a temperature of 48-50 ℃ ≤ 35% for 2-3 hours. The surface will be completely dry, but the interior will still become slightly softer. Stage 4: High temperature setting: 53-55 ℃ ≤ 15%, thoroughly dry for 1-2 hours, moisture content ≤ 12%.
③. Post processing
Softening: After drying, let it stand for 10-20 minutes to avoid cracking during bagging.
Graded packaging: graded by size and color, sealed and sealed with desiccant to prevent moisture.
III. Suggestions for Selecting Drying Equipment
①. Advantages of heat pump dryer
Environmental protection and energy conservation: High power conversion efficiency, saving more than 50% energy compared to traditional coal-fired equipment, in line with European and American environmental standards.
Accurate temperature and humidity control: equipped with temperature and humidity sensors and automatic dehumidification system, supporting multi-stage program settings.
Intelligent management: 7-inch touch screen operation, supports remote monitoring, reduces manual intervention.
②. Cost-Benefit Aanlysis
Operating costs: The electricity fee is about 0.55 yuan/kWh, and the electricity consumption for a single batch (200kg) is 150-200 yuan, which is much lower than the cost of coal combustion.
Investment return: The service life of the equipment is 8-10 years, and the annual maintenance cost is only 5%.
IV、 Successful Cases and Market Prospects
In 2025, the first batch of 5000 acres of morel mushrooms from Sandu County, Guizhou Province will be processed and exported to Malaysia through heat pump dryers, with an estimated export value of 6 million US dollars. European market data shows that the premium rate for high-quality dried morel mushrooms exceeds 300%, and the drying process directly affects profit margins.
V、 conclusion
Drying morel is a technology intensive industry, and heat pump dryers have become the mainstream choice in the international market due to their environmental protection, intelligence, and high yield characteristics. It is recommended that export enterprises provide customized solutions based on the climate conditions of the target market (such as the need to choose low-temperature jet enthalpy increasing technology in low-temperature areas), in order to seize the high-end market.
Contact Us: Henan Jinlu Machinery Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Phone:+86-15093311739 | Email: hedy@jljxdryer.com