Morel mushrooms are expensive, high in moisture, and have many folds, making them prone to spoilage. For this reason, both domestic and international processors often use high-end, temperature- and humidity-controlled morel mushroom drying machines.
Dried morel mushrooms are valued for their unique aroma and rich nutritional content, widely used in high-end restaurants and home cooking worldwide. After rehydration, they retain their original shape and flavor, making them ideal for Western-style soups, risottos, sauces, stews, and Chinese nourishing soups.
Additionally, morels are often processed into seasoning powders to enhance the umami of dishes, making them an important ingredient in the gourmet and health food markets.
If you are interested in the morel mushroom drying business, it is important to first understand the drying process of morel mushrooms.
Working Principle of Morel Morel Mushroom Drying Machine for Morel Mushrooms
Fresh morel mushrooms are evenly placed on trays inside the drying room. The heating system raises the air to a set temperature, and a fan circulates the hot air uniformly over the mushrooms. This process moves moisture from the inside of the mushrooms to the surface, where it evaporates and is discharged.
The hot air continuously circulates within the room, allowing the mushrooms to dehydrate evenly in a short time while preserving their appearance, aroma, and nutritional content, and preventing uneven drying or mold growth.
How to Dry Morel Mushrooms in a Drying Room?
Drying Standard
- Moisture content ≤ 10%
- Mushrooms should be light and crisp, with clear folds and a natural yellow-brown color
Pre-Drying Preparation
- Select whole, pest-free morel mushrooms after harvest
- Gently clean surface impurities and sort by size
Tray Loading
- Spread mushrooms evenly on stainless steel trays without stacking
- Leave 2–3 cm space between each mushroom
Drying Stages
Stage 1 – Surface Moisture Removal
- Prevents “dry outside, wet inside”
- Temperature: 35–40℃
- Time: 3–4 hours
- Humidity: 60–65%, gradually decreasing to 50%
Stage 2 – Internal Moisture Diffusion
- Ensures folds remain intact
- Temperature: 42–48℃
- Time: 6–8 hours
- Humidity: 45–50%
Stage 3 – Deep Moisture Removal
- Prevents mold during storage
- Temperature: 50–55℃
- Time: 4–6 hours
- Humidity: ≤ 35%
Post-Drying Handling
- Allow mushrooms to cool naturally in a clean room before sealing
- Avoid immediate sealing to prevent moisture reabsorption
- Package using vacuum or nitrogen-flushed bags
- Store in a cool, dry place
How to Prevent Uneven Drying and Mold？
- Control temperature and humidity in stages: Do not start with high heat, as it can seal surface moisture and trap water inside.
- Stepwise humidity reduction: Keep relative humidity at 45–55% during the middle stage.
- Ensure even airflow: Do not stack mushrooms on trays; maintain spacing between them. Design airflow properly and dry large and small mushrooms separately to avoid uneven drying.
- Post-drying handling: Do not seal immediately. Let mushrooms cool to room temperature in a clean environment before packaging.
Recommended Heat Pump Drying Machine
Shuliy has over 10 years of experience in designing and manufacturing drying machines and cooperates with clients in more than 100 countries and regions worldwide. Our drying chambers can be heated by coal, air energy, or electricity.
Below are some of our standard models for your reference. For higher-quality morel mushroom products, you can also choose a microwave-electric drying machine or stainless steel drying rooms.
| Model | Dimensions(mm) | Drying crews | Quantity of drying material (times/kg) |
| SL-2 | 4000*1860*2500 | 2 | 300-600 |
| SL-4 | 6000*1860*2500 | 4 | 500-1000 |
| SL-6 | 7200*2300*2500 | 6 | 800-1500 |
| SL-8 | 8500*2300*2500 | 8 | 1000-2000 |
| SL-10 | 10000*2300*2500 | 10 | 1200-2500 |
| SL-12 | 8500*3300*2500 | 12 | 2500-4000 |
| SL-18 | 8500*5000*2500 | 18 | 4000-6500 |
| SL-24 | 12000*5000*2500 | 24 | 5000-8000 |