Hey there, fellow fungi fans! Ever wondered how to preserve those magnificent turkey tail mushrooms you’ve been finding on your woodland adventures? Well, wonder no more! This guide will walk you through the simple process of drying turkey tails, ensuring you have a delicious and long-lasting supply of these medicinal marvels.
Why Dry Turkey Tails?
Drying turkey tails is a fantastic way to extend their shelf life and enjoy their benefits year-round Here’s why:
- Preservation: Drying prevents spoilage, allowing you to store your turkey tails for months or even years.
- Concentrated Flavor: The drying process intensifies the flavor, making your turkey tail teas and tinctures even more potent.
- Lightweight and Portable: Dried turkey tails are lightweight and easy to transport, perfect for camping trips or adding to your emergency preparedness kit.
Drying Methods: Choose Your Adventure
There are several ways to dry turkey tails, each with its own advantages:
- Air Drying: This natural method is perfect for those with patience and a dry, well-ventilated space. Simply lay your turkey tails on a clean cloth in a sunny spot and let them air dry for 1-2 weeks.
- Dehydrator: If you have a dehydrator, this is the quickest and most efficient method. Set it to its lowest setting (around 95-100°F) and let the turkey tails dry for 12-24 hours.
- Oven: While not as effective as the other methods, oven drying can work in a pinch. Preheat your oven to its lowest setting and bake the turkey tails on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for 1-2 hours.
- Solar Drying: If you live in a sunny climate, solar drying is another option. Place the turkey tails on a screen or rack in direct sunlight for 1-2 days. Keep an eye on them to avoid overdrying.
Drying for Medicinal Purposes: A Special Touch
If you plan to use your dried turkey tails for medicinal purposes, follow these additional steps:
- Slice Thinly: Cut the mushrooms into thin slices to ensure even drying and easier extraction of medicinal compounds.
- Low and Slow: Use a dehydrator or oven at its lowest setting to preserve the maximum potency of the medicinal properties.
- Cool Completely: Before storing, ensure the mushrooms are completely cooled to prevent moisture buildup and potential spoilage.
Storage Tips: Keep Your Turkey Tails Fresh
Store your dried turkey tails in an airtight container in a cool, dry, and dark place. This will help them retain their flavor and medicinal properties for up to two years.
Drying turkey tails is a simple yet rewarding process that allows you to reap the benefits of these amazing mushrooms for extended periods. So, grab your foraging gear, head out into the wild, and start drying those turkey tails! Remember, patience and proper drying techniques are key to enjoying these treasures for months to come.
Harvesting and How to Use:
The Turkey Tail Mushroom has a hard “core” that attaches itself very aptly to the bark of the fallen log/tree. I found that the easiest way to harvest them, is to grab it firmly at one end, and tear it off horizontally. As seen in the video I posted below, when I tried to grab it in the middle and pull, some of the rotting bark came off right along with it! I learned after the first attempt, and the rest of the harvest was easy-peasy.
After harvesting, wash mushrooms thoroughly in a strainer with a spray nozzle. You’ll notice they turn pretty dark when wet, but that is to be expected.
Now let’s get to the use of Turkey Tail mushrooms. They are quite tough to just eat outright, or to put into recipes. With the batch I harvested today, all I’m doing is letting them dry on a paper towel for a few days. They can either be dehydrated in a dehydrator or air-dried. I’ve chosen the latter. After washing them and using a pair of kitchen shears to cut off the ends that were attached to the tree, spread them out on several layers of paper towels. Because Turkey Tails are so dense and dry to begin with, it won’t take long to dry. Check and change the paper towels if necessary, turning over the mushrooms once a day. You don’t want any moisture on the paper towels, nor on the mushrooms. Make sure you keep them in an area where there is plenty of air movement (indoors is fine). After several days, when you are sure the mushrooms are bone dry, store them in an airtight container.
- After washing, spread out the mushrooms on paper towels to dry for a few days. (Pic here, mushrooms are not yet trimmed).
The best use of these mushrooms, is to make a tea from them. This can be done by grinding the dried mushroom in a food processor or coffee/spice grinder. This tea is FULL of medicinal benefits (keep reading…), but it does taste bitter (doesn’t any medicine?!). It is best to mix it with some other tea that you enjoy, to help mask the flavor. Adding a bit of honey to the hot tea makes a good bit of difference, too. Steep the tea in just-off-the-boil clean, hot water for several minutes…and drink up!.
Identifying the Turkey Tail
- Soft, velvety texture on the top surface
- Very small, round pores on underside (approx. 2-4 pores per millimeter, maybe more. Barely visible to the naked eye. ) .
- Underside is white or light gray
- The top side features very noticeable concentric color zones, or “rings,” of brown, reddish brown, grey, or white.
- Caps are thin and pliable. They are highly pliable and resist tearing or shattering readily.
- The underside of the turkey tail mushroom is white or gray with near-microscopic pores (the lighting in this image is a little off). The underside was a whitish-gray).
Turkey Tails grow much of the year, spanning an 8-month “season. ” They are unlike any other fungi in its long-term propagation window. But like any other fungus, turkey tails thrive in conditions that are extremely moist and shaded, like the ones shown above, which were found along the bank of our creek. Turkey Tails are always found on dead and decaying logs. There are a few lookalikes, including the “Violet Toothed Polypore [VTP]” (which has distinct, tooth-like purple pores on the underside) and the “False Turkey Tail [FTT]” (which has a smooth underside and a darker color). FTT mushrooms are indeed medicinal as well, but have a more bitter flavor. However, the VTP is neither edible nor medicinal – avoid this one at all costs!.
Turkey Tail Extract 2018 – Super easy to make / very healthy mushroom -Trametes versicolor tincture
FAQ
How do you prepare turkey tails for consumption?
Can you grind turkey tail mushrooms?
How to extract turkey tail mushrooms?
Before extracting turkey tail mushrooms a couple of preparation steps will help you achieve the best results. Start by cleaning your turkey tail by brushing off dirt or debris using a soft brush or damp cloth. Thinly slice the turkey tail to increase the surface area exposure.
What are the health benefits of turkey tail mushrooms?
Turkey tail is a medicinal mushroom. It has many health benefits. Turkey tail contains huge variety of anti-oxidants. It has powerful anti-oxidants which boosts the immunity. It also help to treat the cancer. But few people may be allergic to mushrooms. They should avoid this variety of turkey tail mushroom as well.
What is the best way to take turkey tail mushrooms?
A double-extraction tincture is the most beneficial way to take turkey tail mushrooms. A double-extraction involves a mixture of both alcohol- and water-extracted turkey tail. Each method extracts different types of compounds, both of which are medicinal, and when mixed, provide the most value.
What is turkey tail mushroom?
Turkey tail mushroom is a medicinal fungi that you can find anywhere in the world except Antarctica. It has been gathered and used as medicine for centuries because it contains compounds that are beneficial to your health. Once you identify what you’re looking for knowing how to prepare turkey tail mushroom is a simple process.