Hi can anyone tell me the best way to preserve a glut of wood blewitts??
With thanks
Uh..they are difficult one..for start with they are very brittle musrooms and don't hold together very well.
You could try pickling..but It would only work when they are small and still quite tightly cupped..fully open ones propably goes mushy. I've only used them as fresh and straight into pan/food. You could make some foods where you use them and freeze them within that.
Am no expert, but have dried mushrooms before. Just spread out on a baking tray and leave somewhere warm, like an airing cupboard or very, very, very low oven. Wait till they look dry and leathery, then use in stews etc.
Drying is good way of doing it...but I doubt blewitts are suitable for it..they structure is not strong and substantial enough for it..mushrooms like ceps, chanterelles that have more 'bite' to them will do well with drying..if you can slice them up like 'normal' white ones that you get from shops or they don't break up easily when handled are good for that... ;)
But..."proof is in the pudding"..somebody may prove me wrong. I haven't dried blewitts, but when I've used them they almost break into hands without needing knife for chopping them. It would be good to try and really see how they work out like that.
Thanks for the replies I will try and dry some out and see how it goes. They are my favourite ever fungi and cant eat them enough so will be good to see if they do dry ok because there are plenty about this year round my way.